S Type steering wobble

[wayne95]

Hi all,

Just moved over from the TVR pages having acquired an S Type 4.0 last month :-)

Love the car, but have a slight problem with steering wheel wobble. It is not a balancing vibration - had that re-done but no better.

The steering just oscillates a few mm when going down a straight good surface road. Any ideas?

[dave_3d]

I had this on my old 4.0 S-Type.

This is a common "feature" of the early S-Types. They seem to be VERY fussy over the tyres. You could log on to www.jagtalk.com and search for the word "shimmy".

In the end most people had new tyres - NOT the standard Pirellis - fitted and balanced professionally ON the car.

I never fully got rid of that problem - even after 2 tyres were replaced under warranty - one of the reasons I changed to the later model with the re-designed suspension (opened up a WHOLE can of worms with that move, getting the worst Automatic I have ever experienced).

There are also some bushes that wear/fail quickly at the front - might be worth checking with your dealer.

Dave

[GavinPearson]

There are some fixes.

1) Follow the Jaguar TSB regarding balancing on a Hunter 9700 and correct fitment of wheels to the hub. It ensures the tyres are still within specification, then optimises the fitment.
2) There are some service rear subframe bushings that take out some tyre vibration and stop the steering column from shaking.
3) Later lower front steering arms had a retuned hydrobush that improves ride and takes out vibration.
4) There is a service steering wheel that also reduces the level of vibration.

[wayne95]

Cheers.

I thought it was just me being over sensitive.

Wayne

[appledell]

go to BMTR in birmingham. They have a hunter 9700.

They did my wheels and the shimmy has 99% disapeared! on fresh tarmac - 100%

Cost £40 and a tank of petrol to get there and back.

[thesilverfox]

Also check that one of the brake caliper is not seizing up when the brakes warm up, normaly after about 5 miles or more, this a very common problem on Jaguars, this also makes the steering shake
Give it a good run then feel if one of the wheels is hot, then jack it up and see if the wheel turns freely.

[PVN]

Had a similar thing on my 2001 S type when I bought it two years ago. The dealer diagnosed warped brake discs. All 4 were changed (at no expense to me) and the problem disappeared with no recurrence to date. Mine is a 3.0 litre - I don't know if the 4.0 litre is different.