mikerajjers · Jan 7, 2018

I have been trying to solve my steering shake. I have changed panhard rod bushed with no difference and have inspected the bearings and axles and they look fine.

I have noticed (long time ago but didn't put the two together previously) that my driver side (car is LHD) front wheel has negative camber (top of wheel is tilted inside). I will try and get a photo up.

The shake is more pronounced with 265 tyres than 235 and only shakes around 80-100kmh

Is it possible that the axle is bent? My reasoning is that the car received a knock to this corner before I purchased it but I don't know to what extent. The front wing was changed and the engine mount was broken, but chassis wasn't bent. I can change a swivel ball, etc, but if the axle itself is bent then I'd rather buy a reconditioned one than keep throwing money at the problem.

What are the chances that it could be just the swivel housing?

mikerajjers · Jan 7, 2018

here are the pics

Mr S1 · Jan 7, 2018

Looks a nice workshop that mate

frog hopper · Jan 7, 2018

Does look a bit out of kilter there. If not axle what else could it be?
If you have access to another axle it might be possible to hold a piece of cardboard each side of the diff and draw a line on the two using a straight edge, then compare with yours. Just a thought.

Scooby22 · Jan 7, 2018

I'd check the swivel bearing.

boguing · Jan 7, 2018

Scooby22 said:
I'd check the swivel bearing.

Me too.

mikerajjers · Jan 7, 2018

Mr S1 said:
Looks a nice workshop that mate

Cheers mate...it's the garage at work which my dad has said I can use

mikerajjers · Jan 7, 2018

I will take it apart tomorrow and go from there. Will start with the swivel in question and if there is no obvious damage I will take apart the other side. Then bolt two 4mm sheets of aluminium either side and measure the distances above and below to determine whether the axle casing is bent or not.

Bantam1 · Jan 7, 2018

My defender suffered shake but we found it to be down to the drop link rod end.
Have you tried pulling and pushing the rod end to see if any play.
If it took a knock on corner has it damaged it?

Bantam1 · Jan 7, 2018

I wouldn't estimate suspension geometry relative to a defender wing it could be miles out.
What you want is one of those extreme competition off roaders to confirm its highly improbable that you bent that axle.
The thing is massive, I've seen cranes with less section modulas.

blue beasty · Jan 7, 2018

My 2a had had a big smack on the wheel at some point. There wasn't anything obvious but on pulling it apart the flange on the axle end that the swivel assembly bolts to was bent. Axle casing itself was ok.

tottot · Jan 7, 2018

Plus 1 on swivel pin damage,bent axle unlikely.Also make sure swivel pin preload is correct when refitted.

mikerajjers · Jan 8, 2018

blue beasty said:
My 2a had had a big smack on the wheel at some point. There wasn't anything obvious but on pulling it apart the flange on the axle end that the swivel assembly bolts to was bent. Axle casing itself was ok.

This is my concern as well. Did you straighten the flange somehow? Or did you need a new axle?

blue beasty · Jan 8, 2018

mikerajjers said:
This is my concern as well. Did you straighten the flange somehow? Or did you need a new axle?

Lots of heat, a sledge hammer and a giant pair of stilsons.

The impact must have stretched the bottom bolts because the flange was only bent at the top. Took some doing but got it back pretty true.

mikerajjers · Jan 8, 2018

blue beasty said:
Lots of heat, a sledge hammer and a giant pair of stilsons.

The impact must have stretched the bottom bolts because the flange was only bent at the top. Took some doing but got it back pretty true.

How did you go about measuring whether the flange was bent? Was it immediately obvious just looking at it?

flat · Jan 8, 2018

Would a straight edge across the face of it work?

blue beasty · Jan 8, 2018

mikerajjers said:
How did you go about measuring whether the flange was bent? Was it immediately obvious just looking at it?

It was obvious once everything was stripped off. Checked for true after by blocking off a spirit level just enough from the axle to clear the flange and holding a square against it

discomania · Jan 8, 2018

mikerajjers said:
I have been trying to solve my steering shake. I have changed panhard rod bushed with no difference and have inspected the bearings and axles and they look fine.

I have noticed (long time ago but didn't put the two together previously) that my driver side (car is LHD) front wheel has negative camber (top of wheel is tilted inside). I will try and get a photo up.

The shake is more pronounced with 265 tyres than 235 and only shakes around 80-100kmh

Is it possible that the axle is bent? My reasoning is that the car received a knock to this corner before I purchased it but I don't know to what extent. The front wing was changed and the engine mount was broken, but chassis wasn't bent. I can change a swivel ball, etc, but if the axle itself is bent then I'd rather buy a reconditioned one than keep throwing money at the problem.

What are the chances that it could be just the swivel housing?

Yes a bent axle is possible. Possible cause: Army International Rally team in a forest in Germany in a lightweight hitting a tree lying on it's side at about 50mph with a front wheel square on... But rare! You would know all about it, these things are strong.

I would suggest your swivel bearings are FURBAR, from the possible length of time this has existed for you I would say they may be past it, but try taking a shim out the top bearing.

Disco1BFG · Jan 8, 2018

As above, swivel bearings first, then worry about the axle after. I had the, ahem, pleasure of hitting a Sierra some years ago with the front NS corner of a D1 - wheel took most of the impact, wing, inner wing, air filter, headlamp..... No damage to axle at all - new (alloy) wheel and tyre as a precaution.....

The Sierra more or less fell in half ! ( I almost felt sorry for the Sierra driver - but he did pull out in front of me

)

mikerajjers · Jan 8, 2018

Cheers for your replies! I was going to take it apart today but had a ****e day at work and I'm just not in the mood. Your comments fill me with confidence that its just the bearing...fingers crossed. If there were to be some bending I imagine an impact would bend the swivel housing before the axle.

I will definitely keep you informed how I get on!

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Leaks an prone to bits dropping off

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Leaks an prone to bits dropping off

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Leaks an prone to bits dropping off

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