Steering wheel wobble 98 XJR
Discussion
CHJ said:
I would probably try 4 wheel laser alignment first. The two wheel tracking is not the same.
The check is usually foc, with adjustment of all 4 wheels (if needed) costing about £50.
I would get the suspension bushes checked out firstThe check is usually foc, with adjustment of all 4 wheels (if needed) costing about £50.
They can have a habit of looking firm when they are in fact rusted solid
You may have a slightly buckled wheel, a out of round or flat spotted tyre, some wear in the suspension or possibily a failing shockabsorber - or maybe the wheels may not have been balanced properly.
If you've just had new tyres take it back and get the balance checked - a more accurate method is to mount the wheel on the balance machine on a 5 stud adaptor rather then through the centre hole - if your tyre fitters don't have this adaptor then go somwhere that does. I've found this is enough to make a difference on XJs in the past, my experience was three attempts using the centre hole, all of which went straight back, and the first balance with a 5 stud adaptor (which dispite the fact it was right next to the machine all the time the tyre monkeys initially couldn't be arsed to use until I pointed out that's what it was intended for) was spot on.
If this is no help then have the wheels checked by a specalist - even a a tiny amount of distortion or ovality can have an effect. This is oftem overlooked as a distorted wheel can often still be balanced perfectly.
Check the tyres for flat spots - jack up each corner and turn the wheel by hand looking and feeling critically under bright lighting at the tyre for any out of true indication. Try swapping front to rear to see if it goes away - if it does there's another clue. Try the high speed / full load tyre pressuses too, if you've got temporary flat spots from leaving the car standing causing the wobble for a while after you start driving this should help prevent it.
If high tyre pressures makes it worse then you may have a shockabsorber loosing efficency or as a real long shot check to see there's no slack in the steering at the wheel. Some XJ lowerer steering columns wear which allows play which in turn makes any slight imbalance seem far, far worse than it is.
Try one thing at a time, road test for a few days and see what's changed. XJs can be very sensitive to combinations of wheel/tyre/balance problems which can take some paitence and time to get to the bottom of.
If you've just had new tyres take it back and get the balance checked - a more accurate method is to mount the wheel on the balance machine on a 5 stud adaptor rather then through the centre hole - if your tyre fitters don't have this adaptor then go somwhere that does. I've found this is enough to make a difference on XJs in the past, my experience was three attempts using the centre hole, all of which went straight back, and the first balance with a 5 stud adaptor (which dispite the fact it was right next to the machine all the time the tyre monkeys initially couldn't be arsed to use until I pointed out that's what it was intended for) was spot on.
If this is no help then have the wheels checked by a specalist - even a a tiny amount of distortion or ovality can have an effect. This is oftem overlooked as a distorted wheel can often still be balanced perfectly.
Check the tyres for flat spots - jack up each corner and turn the wheel by hand looking and feeling critically under bright lighting at the tyre for any out of true indication. Try swapping front to rear to see if it goes away - if it does there's another clue. Try the high speed / full load tyre pressuses too, if you've got temporary flat spots from leaving the car standing causing the wobble for a while after you start driving this should help prevent it.
If high tyre pressures makes it worse then you may have a shockabsorber loosing efficency or as a real long shot check to see there's no slack in the steering at the wheel. Some XJ lowerer steering columns wear which allows play which in turn makes any slight imbalance seem far, far worse than it is.
Try one thing at a time, road test for a few days and see what's changed. XJs can be very sensitive to combinations of wheel/tyre/balance problems which can take some paitence and time to get to the bottom of.
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