steering arm bolts come loose

[new2zukes]

well ive had this problem ever since i built my truck the steering arms on both sides come loose almost every run they all get finger tight i have locktighted every stud both ends one stud has broken off as i gave it a bit too much abuse at the last club run but i will fix this very soon. i also get the mean death wobble when going 50ish km/h (guess as have no spedo) front wheels feel like they are about to self destruct this is on gravel roads but they look as if they do it on bumpy stuff too but cant notice like you can on gravel roads. the truck is all custom links on the rear but rangerover front arms with panhard rod i was told it could be pinion angle but have no idea what the angle should be. hope someone with a bit more knowledge will be able to help me out, i need to sort this death wobble as i want to start winch challenge events next year. thanks.

martin

[Steve_t647]

check the kingpin bearings, I had a bearing going and this allowed more movement in the arm loosening the nuts. Bigger wheels have the same issue as out of balance the torque on these nuts even with the cone washers and locktite loostened them.

Jaffa made up 6 stud arms
Rockhound added a 5th stud
Some add a keyway or some pin's

you need to identify why the arm's are flexing out of balance wheels or bushes worn or something is causing the death wobble this wobble could be the cause of the nuts loosening, these threaded bolts also stretch.

[rokhound]

What size tyres do you run?
Who built all the suspension and how much geometry homework did they do?
How old are the control arm bushes?
How old are the panhard rod bushes?
Does the panhrad rod articulate on the same plane as the tie rod?
When were the trunnion bearings last replaced and were the hubs packed correctly?
Does it run a steering stabiliser shock? if so, will it run without it?

Lots of things to consider with bad suspension builds.

[Lynx]

gotta agree with rok here, and is your kingping bearing shimmed correctly? whats you steering geometry like?

Cheers Daniel

[new2zukes]

What size tyres do you run?
Who built all the suspension and how much geometry homework did they do?
me and a fair bit but still shouldnt be too bad
How old are the control arm bushes?
all bushes have no or minimal play in them
How old are the panhard rod bushes?
no idea but again no play and look like new(but muddy)
Does the panhrad rod articulate on the same plane as the tie rod? yes as good as i could get it
When were the trunnion bearings last replaced and were the hubs packed correctly? no idea what these are but no barings have been replaced but all bearings were packed well at finish of build which wasnt really that long ago
Does it run a steering stabiliser shock? no i dont
if so, will it run without it?

Lots of things to consider with bad suspension builds.

oh and as for tire size i run 35x13.5 r 15 mudzillers. no idea if the bearings are shimmed correctly and the kingpins dont have play in them when you try twisting the wheel.

[new2zukes]

had a look at some pics of my build and this pic shows that the tie rod and the panhard rod are not really on the same angle. i am also running beadlocks so big out of balance tires arnt helping my cause.

this is the pic the arm in the background is panhard.

[niblik]

i tried to have the mounting points for the panhard emulate the tie rod.. that and the length as close as applicable possible to tie rod length also.... therefore the panhard would follow as close as possible to the arc of the tie rod.. it all comes into the factor of angles, lengths and mounting points..

(best pic i could find sorry..)

[new2zukes]

hey thanks for that the pic shows exectly what i need to know. so i think its just a case of lots of little things i need to adjust will have to start making up some new mounts soon, might take it to a m8 to use his welding and engineering skills. will make do for this weekends run but will change it as soon as i have a bit of time. like xmas holidays:)

[haydgq]

If your running beadlocks with 35's and they are not ballanced then that could be one of the main problems, my 35 inch simexs on beadlocks would cause a HUGE shimmy at 50 that i couldn't drive out of but as soon as i had them ballanced i can now do over 100kph easy and up to 160 the other day with no issues.

If you built the front end yourself and didn't read up on the correct geometry for caster angles etc then that could be another major problem with the way it drives