GU "twitchy" steering
Submitted: Saturday, Nov 20, 2004 at 08:49
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V8Diesel
Howdy all, got a set of 50mm Lovell's, a return to centre steering damper and Koni shocks fitted to my '99 GU Patrol Wagon the other day by a very reputable company. Got it back and it was all over the
shop. (alignment within spec according to printout) Sent it back and had the front wheel bearings done after finding about 3/4" slop in the right one and had a second alignment done. (Don't know how you can wheel align it like that in the first place) Also removed the spring from the RTC damper in case that was causing the drama's.
The vehicle is still a pain in the @%&# to drive as it wanders all over the place and requires constant correction. The wheel alignment figures apparently are just within spec (borderline). Has anyone experienced this before with only a 50mm lift? Will a set of castor correction bushes remedy this problem or am I just throwing good money after bad?
Also, at low revs,
the springs vibrate and make a 'ringing noise'. Any ideas on how to prevent this (apart from more revs obviously) as the original springs never did it.
1,000,000% impovement off road - just don't want to drive there in the first place.
Reply By: fourstall2000 - Saturday, Nov 20, 2004 at 09:09
Saturday, Nov 20, 2004 at 09:09
Mu gu 3.0 litre has a 50mm lift (ARB) although I had no steering problems the alignment was slightly out, and the castor correction bushes were fitted.
Result-steering excellent,worth every penny ($250 fitted).
Regards
AnswerID:
85123
Reply By: Mr Z - Saturday, Nov 20, 2004 at 09:22
Saturday, Nov 20, 2004 at 09:22
same,
ome 50mm lift with caster, all ok
i can only go by what the guy at arb told me, and in my case a caster kit was required
he said without it my car was tracking and darting all over the road so maybe you need the caster correction?
what did th company that did the job say?
AnswerID:
85126
Reply By: Member - Browny (VIC) - Saturday, Nov 20, 2004 at 09:33
Saturday, Nov 20, 2004 at 09:33
V8D,
Had 50mm Kings & Konis fitted to
mine(98GU) no kit req'd drives like a Ferari.....................
Well, better than b4 (No steering dampner fitted though)
Browny
AnswerID:
85127
Reply By: brian - Saturday, Nov 20, 2004 at 11:34
Saturday, Nov 20, 2004 at 11:34
Had 50mm lift ome no caster kit required steers great no problems,re the sound from your springs sounds like they are not seated correctly
AnswerID:
85136
Reply By: Geoff- Saturday, Nov 20, 2004 at 12:11
Saturday, Nov 20, 2004 at 12:11
V8Deisel,
My Series 1 GU steers fine with 50mm lift & Koni's, but without RTC damper.
Fitted by Guests about 2 years ago (excellent service, highly recommend them).
Like you, I did notice the rear springs making noise at low revs.
It sounded like an exhaust rattle to me.
Some plastic tube over the bottom coil or 2 of each offending spring fixed it.
(If you have a look at the stock springs, you'll see someting similar ex-factory - surprise, surprise!!)
Hope this helps.
Geoff
AnswerID:
85141
Reply By: Yeah Mate - Saturday, Nov 20, 2004 at 12:35
Saturday, Nov 20, 2004 at 12:35
V8Diesel ,
Those symptoms sound very much like, not enough positive castor, which is very common when doing
suspension lifts, go for the caster correctors.
AnswerID:
85144
Reply By: awill4x4 - Sunday, Nov 21, 2004 at 11:19
Sunday, Nov 21, 2004 at 11:19
V8 diesel, if you have the facilities, lift both front
wheels off the ground and support your front axle on axle stands. Now with both
wheels pointing straight ahead turn the steering wheel to the left and count the number of turns until it stops. Next turn the steering wheel back to its original position by the same number of turns and then count the number of turns to the right until it stops.
There should be the same number of turns from left to right if there aren't then the wheel alignment
shop has been lazy and moved the steering wheel on its shaft.
The GQ-GU steering boxes have a sweet spot which is dead centre in the box, if it's either side of that spot it can produce the symptoms you describe.
Regards Andrew.
AnswerID:
85240
Reply By: sub - Sunday, Nov 21, 2004 at 14:01
Sunday, Nov 21, 2004 at 14:01
hi v8.I have just fitted king springs &rancohs shocks to my 02 patrol. also put cooper 265x75 on.had wheel alinment done and was still pulling left was told a camber bearing correction kit would fix the problem.it has stopped it pulling left but now has exactly what you have discribed .very vague steering and allways have to correct the steering wheel.went into ARB on sat morning but no one there who could give advice .i was thinking along the lines of there caster correction bushes even if it means taking out the camber kit and replaceing it with a standard one if it needs it.will go there through the week to talk to their tecnicans. hope to solve the problem soon.
cheers sub.
AnswerID:
85251