Orange Landy in a state!

Driven to Albania.. done literally hundreds of miles off road so far .. steering rack shakes violently when back on the road. I had a Britpart steering damper fitted replacing an OM Emu .. before I left.. I think that’s the issue.. but anyone else got some pointers??

Get underneath and you will generally see what's not right whilst someone wriggles the steering wheel back and forth.
Could be any of the ball joints, swivel ball, wheel bearing or a bush, panhard rod play causes horrible shakes and you don't need much to set off a shimmy.

Thanks, I’ll check all again.. will let you know next time I have coms.

Relying on a steering damper to iron out "violent shakes" is not really the way to go as it sounds like there is an underlying problem and the OME steering damper was merely helping to mask it.
I have an OME steering damper on my 90 and I agree that it is very powerful but even with it removed I don't think I could induce "violent shaking" in the steering even on the rough-stuff.

check you panhard bushes and your front UJs. Just saying.

Panrod bushes gets my vote, I had a sat fail halfway around Morrocco, and the results were terrifying until I got to somewhere I would pull over and inspect. I have poly's fitted and had a spare set with me, so once I had worked out they were the problem it was only a 10min job to replace both ends and I was on my way again with perfect steering and no more death wobble!

When does it shake? At what speeds? Could be something as simple as wheel balancing? I've ripped off the little weights on the wheel rims before and suddenly the front wheels where crazy at 45mph+.

I got under the car, got someone to gently wiggle the steering wheel and felt for 'slack' in any joint. I ended up replacing the steering rod bush, and one ball joint. But in the end it was the balancing that solved it.

Has anyone ever had to replace their ignition switch? Nothing happens through the first and second stages and the engine turns on the final stage but the key doesn't hold in position. Any input would be gratefully received.
PS as for the problems above in Albania, it was a steering rod bush. All sorted for a case of beer!

pete42 said:

Has anyone ever had to replace their ignition switch? Nothing happens through the first and second stages and the engine turns on the final stage but the key doesn't hold in position. Any input would be gratefully received.
PS as for the problems above in Albania, it was a steering rod bush. All sorted for a case of beer!

Click to expand...

Probably best to start a new discussion about a new issue as it will be easier to find in a search.

Easy job really, petrol and diesel switches are different if you have to hold the key against the spring for glow plugs. Two shear bolts hold the switch to the column, knock them loose with a cold chisel, they are just bolts so anti clockwise to undo, replace with normal bolts if you wish.
Make a note of where the wires go on the switch which is held on with two little screws.

All done Folks, thanks for the advise, much appreciated as always. I had to chop the bolts with a fein saw which wasn't too difficult but finding the right replacement washers was a pain! I ended up reusing one half and flattening the other with a large hammer..

Back to the guy with the steering wobble
A failed front damper could induce a steering wobble or "bounce" at higher speeds, l've had this on a car and it was quite scary