The Defender "DEATH" Wobble (Steering Damper and Panhard Rod)

[@imminicheddars]

It’s always interesting to see what videos KZbin recommends to me from my subscriptions. Normally I’d tap straight on to a Linus Tech Tips or Doug DeMuro video when I load up my iPad when I get home from work, but whenever I see a new TirsbaekTV video I always tap on that one first. Always enjoy your content and my favourite videos are when Nisse’s featured in his second habitat - under a Defender as opposed to off-roading. Keen to see if you sort out that death wobble. I hear chunky tyres can be highly affected by grooves in the road left by heavy vehicles like lorries. Maybe see if it gets better or worse if you try some other wheels from another Defender in your fleet.

[@landyrescue3068]

Radius arm bushes and swivel pins. Its also worth adjusting the steering box carefully as that solved my recent issue after changing all the bushes first.

[@mackiechris1989]

The new damper will mask the issue, take a look at the swivel bearings.

[@sammysinglefin]

Had the same issue with my Defender and it ended up being the swivel pin bearings completely collapsed and also had a new steering box installed, it's much better now like new 👍

[@marquisbois990]

I would think the swivel preload needs to be checked.

[@captainclarke]

I would definitely try having your wheels balanced. How long have you had the wobble - has it appeared after you had the new tyres fitted on the front? If that doesn't work, try swapping your wheels front to back (side to side at same time), as you may have an issue with one of the wheels not running 'true'.

[@chunkyfecalbreakfast]

Mine appeared immediately after 4x 2nd hand BF Goodrich AT installed. Another shop nearly eliminated it with nearly 500g of weight on each wheel but I think I will bin the tyres very soon.

[@jonathanyates8826]

I work in a suspension garage. Make sure to check your tie rod bushings. Wheel bearings and your steering box. Check the fluid as well. But the major thing is the wheel bearings and the tie rod bushings

[@snowhiterover]

You have to check the nut on the Pittman arm... panhard bushing.... then all ball joints.... then arm bushings.... then swivels and preload.

[@landiemark]

I had a horrible wobble made worse when hitting a bump or pothole. It was that bad the wobble killed the panhard bushes and damper. The cause was swivel preload. They needed quite a few shims removing to cure the wobble.

[@ibizacarpintero5722]

Had the same problem with mine intermittent wobble mainly on smooth roads,turned out to be the rear shocks needed changing ,done them NO wobble ,

[@scorpionrgp]

Steering damper is just going to hide the cause 😉 biggest chance is going to be your swivel housing preload, check and set them up first

[@scottchadwick3621]

i have this wobble on my 90, was thinking of getting a damper to see if that helps, please post updates on how youve fixed

[@DakarFourByFour]

I'd say the old damper, and even the bushes, didn't look that bad. If there's no obvious play in any of the remaining bushes or joints, check the steering swivel pre-load.

[@mre.w.2850]

I had the same, was over slack in the steering box, another problem it could be is ball joints are slack, problem if had was a bearing, couldn't move it by hand but at speed it happened, I would try that as main option

[@alan2804]

Check the play in your swivel bearings and wheel bearings, the symptoms you describe can be due to issues with those.

[@ejc8858]

Check steering box mounts, this happened to me, albeit a much worse. Mine was a snapped tie bar mount. Bolt rattled loose from the chassis and caused flexing to the tie bar mount.

[@ouisi7]

Mine was a snapped tie bar. The previous owner ignored the torque specs, and the order of install which is almost guaranteed to cause breakage. I didn't see it until I started taking things apart.

[@ejc8858]

Sounds the same as mine, although someone put a completely wrong sized bolt! Unfortunately I found that out before pulling on to the M5 with a horrendous steering wobble.@@ouisi7

[@imiles5548]

check the swivel preloads its free

[@amcf2000c]

You should of got heavy duty steering rods

[@greenbike9475]

Is very simple listen carefully. 1. Bushes for the phanard 2. Steering dumper 3. Bad wheel alignment 4. Shivel pins might need tightening 5. Steering ends 6. Enjoy the tractor. The answer why sometime it dose wobble is simple: go past 60mp hit a bump on the road :) no bumps no wobble... it depends how much the phanard bushes are gone.

[@tatankacleary]

What happened to your wing ?? ..... see your wheels that’s where your wobble is try balancing them first but modular are well know for buckling the hub ... I have as set here with the same problem.... off roading does it

[@032254855]

had the death wobble on my Defender 110 ended up being the front Radius Arm Bushes

[@dazzleyd]

check your wheel balance and your tracking also love the landys and the 101fc clips as well

[@MacSaxe]

Quick question - what’s that half width dog guard behind you? Great idea for protecting driver but can’t seem to find one online.

[@TirsbaekTV]

It's a legal requirement here in Denmark for certain types of vehicles. We worked together with ORE 4x4 to create our own version as it got so much interest: ore4x4.co.uk/shop/land-rover-defender-interior-accessories/defender-modular-cargo-system/#upper-bulkhead-kit

[@MacSaxe]

@@TirsbaekTV that’s fantastic many thanks!

[@joeever1905]

pit some more shims in the swivel pin

[@vic6820]

Remove

[@bruceb2817]

Jack tyres up 1/2 inch off ground and spin to see if they are still true. Look for deviation or high/low spots using ground to wheel gap as your gauge.

[@vulcangaming7535]

Anyone know what this song is called. Cheers

[@willcowell8197]

Like you said it could be a whole bunch of things. Check steering arm u-joints, drop arm maybe needs replacing. How's the steering box? How long since you replaced bushes all around and when were the hubs/wheel bearings last checked?

[@maddogmcfly5504]

yes the drop arm can come loose and cause the wobble

[@LukeNielsen]

I really like these kinds of videos!

[@gmoose777]

Is you defender lifted? more than 2" of lift changes the steering geometry enough to cause wobble or as mentioned below the swivel pin preload or tyre diameter assymetry

[@TirsbaekTV]

Nope, not lifted. Thanks for the suggestion though. -Liam

[@shaunmcguire2]

Track rod ends and drag link ball joints are worth a look!

[@MrPadraigmccarthy]

What he said ⬆️⬆️. I'd go as far to bet my house on it, that it's the track rod ends and ball joint on drop arm. I'd change all 3 track rod ends and drop arm ball joint. The drop arm on td5s are well shit, very bad design in my opinion. Dont buy brit part track rods either, buy something reasonably good. I didn't mention check power steering fluid or leak at steering box, because I assume yous done all this before yous bought damper etc.