P38A Drag link disaster

Grrrrrr · May 9, 2018

1995 P38A 2.5 DT.

As some of you know I had to replace the drag link recently. Replaced with Lemforder. I thought all was well but now at 75mph I get a REALLY nasty wobble on the steering wheel that stays until 85mph (done for testing purposes). The weird thing is she runs straight and true and below 70mph is good as gold. Obviously 70mph is the legal limit but I'm worried something is stuffed that will get worse and come and bite me with a vengeance.

So what could possibly have been done wrong that could cause such a vibration when replacing the drag link? Or is it coincidence and something else has reared its ugly head?

Just for background on possible confounding issues:

MoT done a month ago - hence the drag link replacement.
Tyres new a few months ago and all balanced and all wheel alignment done. Was perfect afterwards.
Radius arms bushes done 2 years ago.
Tie rod done a few years ago.
All new dampers (shocks) 2 years ago.
All new air-springs 5 years ago.
Steering damper done about 5 years ago.

Saint.V8 · May 9, 2018

What about panhard rod bushes, anti roll bar bushes and drop links?

Grrrrrr · May 9, 2018

Saint.V8 said:
What about panhard rod bushes, anti roll bar bushes and drop links?

You think I disturbed them with doing the drag link and now there is play there not evident before? Could be. Thanks, worth checking.

tomcat59alan · May 9, 2018

Try another steering damper mate. And watch your speed.

Grrrrrr · May 9, 2018

tomcat59alan said:
Try another steering damper mate. And watch your speed.

Do they not last that long? It has only done about 40k miles.

Grrrrrr · May 9, 2018

Saint.V8 said:
What about panhard rod bushes, anti roll bar bushes and drop links?

Actually, now I think about it the anti-roll bar bushes were done at the same time as the radius arm bushes.

tomcat59alan · May 9, 2018

Grrrrrr said:
Do they not last that long? It has only done about 40k miles.

Probably depends on the make.

Grrrrrr · May 9, 2018

tomcat59alan said:
Probably depends on the make.

Will check the receipt but it sure wasn't sh!tpart!

fucmeitsandy · May 9, 2018

Are your tyres still good ?
As in , still round and no blisters or bulges

Joss155 · May 10, 2018

Sounds like you may have lost a wheel weight by coincidence

Grrrrrr · May 10, 2018

fucmeitsandy said:
Are your tyres still good ?
As in , still round and no blisters or bulges

Tyres all good! I'll get the wheels checked. Guessing probably a rear one given it takes some speed to show up at the front?

Joss155 · May 10, 2018

Grrrrrr said:
Tyres all good! I'll get the wheels checked. Guessing probably a rear one given it takes some speed to show up at the front?

It would be a front mate if it was. Moving a wheel to the rear usually stops it showing up at the steering wheel.

Grrrrrr · May 10, 2018

I think I might have found the the issue. I think the nearside drag link ball joint might be faulty. The nearside one when twisted slightly clicks when I wiggle it up and down. No movement at all on the offside one which is what I would expect.

Joss155 · May 10, 2018

Grrrrrr said:
I think I might have found the the issue. I think the nearside drag link ball joint might be faulty. The nearside one when twisted slightly clicks when I wiggle it up and down. No movement at all on the offside one which is what I would expect.

Looks like you found it then mate

Saint.V8 · May 10, 2018

Grrrrrr said:
I think I might have found the the issue. I think the nearside drag link ball joint might be faulty. The nearside one when twisted slightly clicks when I wiggle it up and down. No movement at all on the offside one which is what I would expect.

And what did I say???

Grrrrrr · May 10, 2018

Saint.V8 said:
And what did I say???

Saint.V8 said:
What about panhard rod bushes, anti roll bar bushes and drop links?

!!!

Grrrrrr · May 10, 2018

Just goes to show. Just because it is new doesn't mean it cannot be faulty!

Saint.V8 · May 10, 2018

Grrrrrr said:
!!!

Oops, just re-read your post.....I thought you meant drop links you checked.....misread drag link as drop link....my bad.

johnnyb70 · May 10, 2018

Hope that's it mate. Just to say the drag link length alters the tracking. So any change between old and new results in change of tracking. The chances of getting the old and new the same length are pretty slim I reckon.

Rangie Disco Sportsman · May 10, 2018

Check if the pitman arm is centred correctly. Although in theory the drag link length being altered should just alter the wheel centring it can give the symptoms you state and be cured by a proper alignment - make sure the any place you get it done knows what they're doing on a P38.

P38A Drag link disaster

Technician, Bodgit & Scarper Ltd

Dyed-in-the-wool 100% RR Junkie

Technician, Bodgit & Scarper Ltd

Well-Known Member

Technician, Bodgit & Scarper Ltd

Technician, Bodgit & Scarper Ltd

Well-Known Member

Technician, Bodgit & Scarper Ltd

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Technician, Bodgit & Scarper Ltd

Well-Known Member

Technician, Bodgit & Scarper Ltd

Well-Known Member

Dyed-in-the-wool 100% RR Junkie

Technician, Bodgit & Scarper Ltd

Technician, Bodgit & Scarper Ltd

Dyed-in-the-wool 100% RR Junkie

Well-Known Member

Active Member

Similar threads