Member Since: 19 Feb 2015
Location: Ploiesti
Posts: 65
Steering wheel movement
Hi,
For more than a year now I've had some issues with the steering wheel as I will be showing below. Land Rover in Romania continues to tell me that there is no issue and that it is normal for the steering wheel to move this way. I honestly don't think this is correct especially since it was not like this from the beginning but I do accept that I may be wrong, hence the reason why I would like to have your input. Please have a look at these videos that I've uploaded on YouTube and let me know your thoughts: is it normal or not?
Issues that I've pointed out to Land Rover:
1. The steering wheel shakes almost constantly while going on highway at speeds above 60 mph:
For reasons I don't understand this shaking gets amplified on some days to the point where it feels like a steering wheel vibration:
2. Steering wheel shakes while going on rough terrain (small sharp stones):
3. Steering wheel shakes and car changes direction under heavy braking:
4. Steering wheel moves considerably while going over larger obstacles:
Are all these normal for a Disco 4?
Thanks.
26th Jan 2017 1:56 pm
adam
Member Since: 20 Sep 2005
Location: Home and Happy
Posts: 6917
Ever thought about holding it?
26th Jan 2017 2:00 pm
cos192000
Member Since: 19 Feb 2015
Location: Ploiesti
Posts: 65
Of course I'm always holding it, this was just to show the issues.
Under normal driving conditions it feels like the steering wheel is pulling my hands all the time. This makes driving nervous as it feels like one second of relaxing my hand can take the car off the road.
Please try to help if possible, not to make comments for nothing.
Thanks.
26th Jan 2017 2:06 pm
adam
Member Since: 20 Sep 2005
Location: Home and Happy
Posts: 6917
Flippant comment - but that does not look correct, especially the on-road bits
How old is your D4?
Anything changed recently?
26th Jan 2017 2:28 pm
cos192000
Member Since: 19 Feb 2015
Location: Ploiesti
Posts: 65
Thanks for the feedback Adam.
It was first registered in 2010.
The following have been changed with the aim to cure these issues: steering rack, complete front lower arms and lower steering column. Changing these has not improved the issues at all.
Although I would be grateful for any thoughts that may lead to understanding what's causing these issues at the moment I would just be happy with input from other owners on whether or not these issues are normal.
Thanks
26th Jan 2017 2:36 pm
adam
Member Since: 20 Sep 2005
Location: Home and Happy
Posts: 6917
Same age as mine - and mine is pretty solid at similar speeds to yours (60 mph / 100 kmh0 on smooth roads.
I changed the front suspension bushes / arms about 12 months ago as they were worn and had a 4 wheel alignment done as they where knocking a bit
Maybe a daft question - but are your tyres OK - unevenly worn tyres can play havoc
26th Jan 2017 2:45 pm
Biffysun
Member Since: 09 Jul 2011
Location: Central
Posts: 1787
Just a thought but have you tried checking the wheel balance (all 4), alignment and even swapping wheels front to rear to see if that affects it? Always worth checking the tyres closely for imperfections/wear too.
26th Jan 2017 2:46 pm
cos192000
Member Since: 19 Feb 2015
Location: Ploiesti
Posts: 65
Yes, I have also changed the tyres last year. They are Toyo open country A/T+ tyres manufactured in 2016. They have been balanced by Land Rover who's also done the 4 wheel alignment. Although it does seem that changing the tyres have made these issues a bit worse the issues were there way before that. I have been in contact with two members on this forum using the same tyres and they have confirmed that they have no such issues.
Also worth mentioning is the fact that it does not feel like a constant vibration at a certain speed as you would have with unbalanced tyres.
Mine does the same, albeit not nearly as badly as yours.
I have complained many times to my local dealer (when the car was under service plan), but they claimed it was 'normal'. They even had the dealer principal drive it (he also drives a D4), and he couldn't fault it either.
They claimed it was a tyre imbalance. I had the rims checked, and fair enough, one of them had a flat spot which was fixed. But the issue persisted. I changed tyres, but that didn't resolve it either.
now that the D4 is out of service plan, I am taking it to my trusted indie, and I can bet money that he will find something amiss.--
2010 Defender Puma 90 + BAS remap + Alive IC + Slickshift + Ashcroft ATB rear
2015 Range Rover Sport V8 Supercharged
Member Since: 19 Feb 2015
Location: Ploiesti
Posts: 65
Well, please let me know if he does...it's been driving me crazy...
26th Jan 2017 3:20 pm
Aaronb
Member Since: 14 Jul 2015
Location: Nottingham
Posts: 116
I had the same thing , however dealer has replaced hydro bushes and now no shudder ! Mine is a 2011D3 Java black HSE now gone
D4 santorini black landmark ( reverse camera and black lettering , black wheel centres)
27th Jan 2017 1:09 pm
cos192000
Member Since: 19 Feb 2015
Location: Ploiesti
Posts: 65
Well, I've just changed the front lower arms with bushings and ball joints and for me it did nothing.
Today I went to Land Rover again for the 4 wheel alignment required after changing the lower arms. We went out for a drive test after the wheel alignment and I've pointed out again these issues which they've previously denied. Their representative was driving and this time he has acknowledged the issue but was not able to provide any cause for it. So once again I had to leave with my problem unsolved or at least an idea about what to do next. But hey, at least I've got them to acknowledge the issue.
With front lower arms, steering rack and lower steering column already changed, going forward I can only think of 2 other possibilities:
- too much power steering pressure. Highly improbable though but I will have a pressure check just to be able to exclude it as potential cause.
- tyres being to hard. Although several members of this forum using the same tyres have confirmed not having any issues, I have to consider this possibility especially since there's nothing else that I can think of. So I'll be looking for 2 tyres to swap them on the front axle and do a trial.
Any other ideas would be highly appreciated.
Thanks,
Cosmin
27th Jan 2017 8:59 pm
PeterTh
Member Since: 06 Sep 2013
Location: Alunda
Posts: 330
Have you considered slightly sticking calipers?
//Peter2011 Discovery 4 3.0 TDV6 S Automatic
1999 Discovery 2 V8 ES Automatic
Earlier
2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Automatic
1996 Discovery 300 Tdi ES Automatic
1975 Series 3 2.25 diesel
what about warped disks could cause a similar issueRange Rover Westminster 4.4 TDV8 what a car
Discovery 3 HSE 2006 gone but never forgotten
Member of the 234,567 mile club😎
29th Jan 2017 9:45 am
cos192000
Member Since: 19 Feb 2015
Location: Ploiesti
Posts: 65
Hi,
Thanks for your suggestions.
Sticking calipers could indeed be a cause for the change in direction when braking however I think that this would not move/shake the steering wheel when braking although I may be wrong on this. I will have it checked anyway just to be sure.
Warped discs would also cause vibration on the brake pedal which is not the case here but, I'll also have it checked.
During the next days I will be able to trial a different set of tyres and see if there'll be any difference.
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Just a thought but have you tried checking the wheel balance (all 4), alignment and even swapping wheels front to rear to see if that affects it? Always worth checking the tyres closely for imperfections/wear too.
