P38A Vibration through Steering wheel

awkwardbob · Mar 27, 2023

Hi again,
Sorry but I need to tap into your experience again as the jobs I have to do on the P38 mount up and up.

after some ankle surgery, I’ve been using the RR as my daily driver and she’s just started to develop distinct vibration which I can feel through the steering wheel. It seems worse, or at least more noticeable at lower speeds.

now, amongst the jobs I need to do are to replace the Ball joints, steering damper, track rod and drag link and I wondered if any of these might be a culprit ?

I replaced the front and rear diffs last year and the VC is new too but I wondered whether one of the UJs might be on the way out .

I don’t think it feels (or sounds like) a wheel bearing.

I’m not sure if it’s relevant / related but I am having EAS issues too which nanocom seems to blame on a faulty Right Rear height sensor.

I know it’s a loaded question but would anyone care to hazard a guess as to where to start looking ? -and whether I should be worried ?

thanks again

Bob

Datatek · Mar 27, 2023

awkwardbob said:
Hi again,
Sorry but I need to tap into your experience again as the jobs I have to do on the P38 mount up and up.

after some ankle surgery, I’ve been using the RR as my daily driver and she’s just started to develop distinct vibration which I can feel through the steering wheel. It seems worse, or at least more noticeable at lower speeds.

now, amongst the jobs I need to do are to replace the Ball joints, steering damper, track rod and drag link and I wondered if any of these might be a culprit ?

I replaced the front and rear diffs last year and the VC is new too but I wondered whether one of the UJs might be on the way out .

I don’t think it feels (or sounds like) a wheel bearing.

I’m not sure if it’s relevant / related but I am having EAS issues too which nanocom seems to blame on a faulty Right Rear height sensor.

I know it’s a loaded question but would anyone care to hazard a guess as to where to start looking ? -and whether I should be worried ?

thanks again

Bob

Prop UJ's are a good place to start. Also check the tyres for a bulge in the inner side wall.
Worn swivels will allow steering vibration.
Look at live data for the sensor and see if it changes correctly as you raise or lower heights. It might just be a connector problem.

awkwardbob · Mar 27, 2023

Thanks….

the RR height sensor resolutely reports a value of 29 whatever height the suspension is actually at -the others seem much closer to target. I’ll check and clean the connection, I think I may have a replacement I can swap out -auk though I suppose that calls for recallibration ? -I’ve a whole air block to ‘refresh’ and a drive pack
I can swap in too if needs if only I had a week spare… the jobs keep mounting up !

Datatek · Mar 27, 2023

awkwardbob said:
Thanks….

the RR height sensor resolutely reports a value of 29 whatever height the suspension is actually at -the others seem much closer to target. I’ll check and clean the connection, I think I may have a replacement I can swap out -auk though I suppose that calls for recallibration ? -I’ve a whole air block to ‘refresh’ and a drive pack
I can swap in too if needs if only I had a week spare… the jobs keep mounting up !

It will need calibrating after a sensor swap unless you are lucky.

Grrrrrr · Mar 28, 2023

Datatek said:
Prop UJ's are a good place to start. Also check the tyres for a bulge in the inner side wall.
Worn swivels will allow steering vibration.
Look at live data for the sensor and see if it changes correctly as you raise or lower heights. It might just be a connector problem.

+1 on UJs. Especially if you can feel it coming up through the seat.

awkwardbob · Mar 30, 2023

Grrrrrr said:
+1 on UJs. Especially if you can feel it coming up through the seat.

What’s the best way to check a UJ ?

dubbleRR · Mar 30, 2023

Jack up one corner ,hand brake off ,in neutral ,chock the wheels and axle stands safety first

.,That will take all the strain ,windup ,off the drive line then wiggle them shafts up down turn left n right if theirs a wee bit of movement ,try greasing

,also turn steering left n right , with both front wheels off the ground spin the front wheel n listen for clicking ,might be the cv joints ,if the wheel hard to spin brakes might be sticking ,that can cause vibration as well when it heats up

...

Grrrrrr · Mar 30, 2023

awkwardbob said:
What’s the best way to check a UJ ?

As above.

I put up links to a YouTube video sonewhere. It was very good, sponsored by Britpart, I think. Or maybe Rimmer Bros. Might have been Land Rover workshop or similar. A search on my username and Hardy-Spicer might find it.

awkwardbob · Mar 30, 2023

Grrrrrr said:
As above.

I put up links to a YouTube video sonewhere. It was very good, sponsored by Britpart, I think. Or maybe Rimmer Bros. Might have been Land Rover workshop or similar. A search on my username and Hardy-Spicer might find it.

Here’s the thread:

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/hardy-spicers-ujs.333956/

and here are the vids:

Diagnosis

Removal

Replacement

Thanks so much for this !

Mark Piercy · Mar 30, 2023

Could also of lost a wheel weight. Another trick is to swop the wheels to the rear and the vibration comes up through the seat it's a wheel. Whenever you have any of the wheels off the ground turn them and check the inner side for buckles. My lad has two wheels that are buckled

I have one on mine also

tyregeezer · Mar 30, 2023

A tyre out of shape or a bulge will do same thing feels worse at low speed do at same time as looking for buckles sometimes shows up as a bald patch

P38A Vibration through Steering wheel

awkwardbob

Well-Known Member

Datatek

Well-Known Member

awkwardbob

Well-Known Member

Datatek

Well-Known Member

Grrrrrr

Technician, Bodgit & Scarper Ltd

awkwardbob

Well-Known Member

dubbleRR

Well-Known Member

Grrrrrr

Technician, Bodgit & Scarper Ltd

awkwardbob

Well-Known Member

Mark Piercy

Well fumbled member....

tyregeezer

Well-Known Member

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