Shaking Safari steering (GQ)

[CLUMZ1]

Gidday,

Looking to find a workshop in the Wellington area to fix my truck for a reasonable cost, preferably somewhere with experience with Nissans or even better, Safaris.

Basically my issue is that when I'm driving; if I don't hold the wheel the truck will go over a bump, cause bump steer which vibrates itself into a worse and worse state, eventually (5 seconds ish) the wheel will be moving 2-3 inches either way, and won't stop until I grip the wheel hard.

Any ideas of cause/shop recommendations would be appreciated.

CLUMZ1

[badnuz]

a decent alignment/balance and steering damper

GGuys

[muddy]

Most likely needs new panhard bushes. Not a difficult job - especially if you have access to a decent press, although I managed to do mine using an ordinary bench vice... But first check the panhard bolts are nice & tight...

[CLUMZ1]

Just purchased a 3" lift kit (springs, shocks, brake lines & castor correction bushings)

Most likely needs new panhard bushes. Not a difficult job - especially if you have access to a decent press, although I managed to do mine using an ordinary bench vice... But first check the panhard bolts are nice & tight...

Wondering if rather than replacing bushes I'm better off replacing the panhard rods with adjustable ones?

Something like; http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-par ... 547538.htm
Tough Dog Adjustable Panhard Rod GQ/GU $600 (front and rear)

[Taz]

Borderline worth it for only a 3" lift imo. Other opinions may vary. If you've got the cash to burn I'd go for it otherwise you'll do bushes for both for less than the price of one adjustable arm.

[CLUMZ1]

Cheers for that Taz, I'll have a look

[Sadam_Husain]

quick question coz its not that clear, have you put the 3" lift kit in and now you've got problems or have you got problems without the lift kit installed

[DaveM]

Can be a number of things. I run 80mm lift, and standard panhards without problems. My last 4 shaking problems have all been different, panhard bushes, radius bushes (chassis end), king pin bearings and the castor bushes chewing out within 6mths (rubber bushes too). I now have vibrations while braking, so new rotors will be next
Have a nosey underneath and check all bolts etc are there on panhards, radius arms etc

[CLUMZ1]

Can be a number of things. I run 80mm lift, and standard panhards without problems. My last 4 shaking problems have all been different, panhard bushes, radius bushes (chassis end), king pin bearings and the castor bushes chewing out within 6mths (rubber bushes too). I now have vibrations while braking, so new rotors will be next
Have a nosey underneath and check all bolts etc are there on panhards, radius arms etc

Thanks mate I'll be doing that ASAP

quick question coz its not that clear, have you put the 3" lift kit in and now you've got problems or have you got problems without the lift kit installed

No - lift not yet delivered. Brought it in from Aus at what looked like a sharp price... then I got sprung with GST at the border. OUCH!

[Sadam_Husain]

No - lift not yet delivered. Brought it in from Aus at what looked like a sharp price... then I got sprung with GST at the border. OUCH!

get the kit put in before you go spending a whole pile of money getting the old suspension fixed and overhauled just to rip it all out to put the new stuff in, x2 on G.Guy they live and breath safaris down there albiet supercharged LS1 Saf's

[DaveM]

No - lift not yet delivered. Brought it in from Aus at what looked like a sharp price... then I got sprung with GST at the border. OUCH!

get the kit put in before you go spending a whole pile of money getting the old suspension fixed and overhauled just to rip it all out to put the new stuff in, x2 on G.Guy they live and breath safaris down there albiet supercharged LS1 Saf's

x2, once the lift is in, the problem may disappear, but have a look at the obvious in the meantime or get it to G Guy to have a look, as you don't want to be driving a vehicle with that type of problem while waiting for the kit.

[coxsy]

get drop boxes not caster bushes .the front arms will point downward and will not lift over bumps, the arms need to be flat to work, honest

[ToyRover]

mate of mine safari was doing this turned out to be the steering box

[SV1K]

get drop boxes not caster bushes .the front arms will point downward and will not lift over bumps, the arms need to be flat to work, honest

I don't agree with this, I have castor correction bushes and don't have any problems at all.

Reece

[Nizzanman]

From what I understand, caster bushes up to a 2 inch lift and drop boxes for anything 2 inch upwards. I have drop boxes on my 3 inch lift and they are great.

The death wobbles could be caused by a whole host of things, steering damper, worn panhard rod bushes, worn radius arm bushes, incorrect king pin bearing preload or worn king pin bearings.

[DaveM]

Drop boxes were originally designed for 4"+, now they go as low as 3", but are not necessary on that size lift. You lose articulation if you go castor bushes, but save hundreds in the process too, so personal choice really. Anything 4" or more I run boxes.

[mudtroll]

Gidday,

Looking to find a workshop in the Wellington area to fix my truck for a reasonable cost, preferably somewhere with experience with Nissans or even better, Safaris.

Basically my issue is that when I'm driving; if I don't hold the wheel the truck will go over a bump, cause bump steer which vibrates itself into a worse and worse state, eventually (5 seconds ish) the wheel will be moving 2-3 inches either way, and won't stop until I grip the wheel hard.

Any ideas of cause/shop recommendations would be appreciated.

This might be stating the obvious, but given the picture of your truck covered in mud check that you haven't got a build up of mud on the inside of the rims & or in the tyres. Only time I've seen death woobles as bad as you're describing is because of this or badly bent tie rods etc from hard off roading

[CLUMZ1]

Interesting that you mention drop boxes verses castor correction bushes, I've bookmarked a thread over on patrol4x4.com with some discussion over this;

http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/suspensi ... ewb-95928/

If you can afford plate you can afford to save a little more for drop boxes! Lol
Heirachy of caster correction:
Bushes
Plates 150/200
Drop boxes 350/400
Drop arms
Superflex/drop arms
LONG ARMS!!!!

[DaveM]

Drop boxes are good, but once you factor in the cost of boxes/cert, they get up there in price pretty quick

[keithal]

Drop boxes are good, but once you factor in the cost of boxes/cert, they get up there in price pretty quick

your gonna have to pay for cert for a 3" lift anyway so why not do it all at once instead of having to cert again later on down the track

[DaveM]

Drop boxes are good, but once you factor in the cost of boxes/cert, they get up there in price pretty quick

your gonna have to pay for cert for a 3" lift anyway so why not do it all at once instead of having to cert again later on down the track

I've had mine checked by cert guy and told it doesn't require one. Even so, my Safari is fine with castor bushes, so still save $300-600 for the price of drop boxes, but each to their own.

[keithal]

Drop boxes are good, but once you factor in the cost of boxes/cert, they get up there in price pretty quick

your gonna have to pay for cert for a 3" lift anyway so why not do it all at once instead of having to cert again later on down the track

I've had mine checked by cert guy and told it doesn't require one. Even so, my Safari is fine with castor bushes, so still save $300-600 for the price of drop boxes, but each to their own.

if im not mistaken you must have cert if suspension is raised more than 50mm

[DaveM]

if im not mistaken you must have cert if suspension is raised more than 50mm

I guess when you have a lift that is 80mm new, that has sagged since, the cert people might take a different view? Not sure, but it's been checked and cert guy said it's no problem, but he pointed out as soon as I had modified panhards, castor plates or drop boxes, I would need one.