QuestionJohn,
Thanks for the prompt reply. I took the Disco by the tire shop today and had the tech ride with me. He said that the vibration was not a wheel out of balance but to him sounded like it was in the drive train. There is a low groan that I heard previously but wasn't sure what it was until he mentioned it. I got home and removed the front driveshaft, and again it drives as smooth as silk. All vibrations are gone (40 MPH and 75-80+ MPH). Is it too simple to think that the new drive shaft may be out of balance?
Again, thanks for your help, oh and also I have a 99 D2. Does the swivel preload pertain to the D2? I tried to fing information on how to do this but couldn't.
Beau
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Followup To
Question -
Brief history:
Noticed a vibration at 40MPH and again at 75-80+ MPH that I couldn't pinpoint.
-Had tires rebalanced.
-no change
-Put new u-joints in front driveshaft
-no change
-Purchased custom GBR front driveshaft
-no change
-Had alignment done
-Purchased new tires
-no change
After each and all of this the vibration did not change. If I remove the front drive shaft the vibration is non-existent, or I cannot feel it any longer. I also notice a slight wobble in the steering wheel. I have read your other posts on the steering dampner and was wondering if this pertains to the D2 also? I am at my ropes end with this vibration. I am unfamiliar with out-of-blanaced tire vibrations, so I am not sure if the vibration at 75-80+ is a balance issue or front drive shaft. I would like to think that the new GBR drive shaft is not out of balance or defective.
Thasnk in advance,
Beau
Answer -
Hi Beau,
Here is what I found for you:
Check in the following order:
1. Wheel balance (done)
2. Tracking (new UJ; GBR; alignment done; trackrod??)
3. Steering damper, develops slack at straight ahead, check by hand off the vehicle
4. Swivel bearing pre-load, watch for movement at bottom of wheel when jacking up, check for movement by hand, bad case will cause steering wheel offset, check and adjust with big oil seal removed.
5. Steering box not centered. The steering box has minimum backlash at straight ahead, thus if tracking is incorrectly adjusted the steering box ends up off-centre while wheels steer straight-ahead. Divide all movement of the steering wheel in half to find box centre position, check that drop-arm allows an 8mm drill to go through fork into hole on box. Are wheels straight ahead? yes good, look for another cause. If not adjust drag link to move one wheel to straight ahead then bring in the other by adjusting the track rod.
So, next step is to test out your steering damper. IF you have a '98 with lots of mileage, it could be your cause. How does it handle on rough highways? Is the vibration constant or random?
Let me know and I'll look further.
JohnMc
AnswerHello John,
Here is a great website that may have better information for you and the possible swivel pin preload problem. I think it applies to all Disco's, even your '99 Disco II.
http://www.sf.hiof.no/~frodehaa/disco.html
Look for the topic: "What Is This 'Swivel Pin Preload'?"
give this site a try. It explains the subject in excellent detail...and I know you'll have no trouble with this!
Best of luck, and thanks for your patience!
JohnMc
