violent GU shudder

Submitted: Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 18:40
ThreadID: 45270 Views:2752 Replies:10 FollowUps:14
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Evening All,
Some ideas please, about a week ago my GU developed a very bad front end shudder at exactly 80-85kph. Absolutely fine at other speeds. Now I am familiar with the much loved "Patrol wobble", had it in the GQ and very slightly in the GU. But this came on suddenly which suggests to me a Failure of some sort. On visual inspection I can't see anything out of sorts BUT I can seem to feel some movement in the front wheels like when a bearing is gone in a two wheel drive, "that's what I am thinking" i say feel movement but can't see any movement. I don't recall hitting anything to damage a rim or tyre so I believe that is not it. So any ideas to check out tomorrow would be great

Thanks Stefan
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Reply By: ROBLIA (QLD) - Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 18:45

Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 18:45
Stefan hi,i am not a patrol owner but have you checked your wheel nuts/studs.Cheers Bob.
AnswerID: 238858

Follow Up By: Member - stefan P (NSW) - Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 18:47

Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 18:47
Should have added, yes nuts and studs seem fine as I had both wheels off about an hour ago.

Stefan
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Reply By: Member - Uncle (NSW) - Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 18:54

Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 18:54
Hasnt dropped a wheel weight off ?
AnswerID: 238863

Follow Up By: Member - stefan P (NSW) - Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 18:57

Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 18:57
worth a look hey :)
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Follow Up By: geordie4x4 - Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 23:01

Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 23:01
Yes, wheel out of balance is a likely cause. I just fitted a badly balanced spare tire to the left front of my 2005 GU and got that same violent wobble at about 80 to 90km.

Took it off had it balanced and no wobble now.
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Reply By: Boldjack - Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 19:52

Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 19:52
Hi Stefan
Do GU's Have a steering damper? If so, maybe something's come loose or it is getting a bit worn. If not ,have you got any clumps of dried mud stuck in your rims on the inside which can be cause a wobble? Or maybe your clever BIL could have a look at it for you.:)
Cheers Boldjack
AnswerID: 238880

Reply By: RosscoH - Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 20:56

Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 20:56
80klm/hr is one of the critical speeds that will show up any sort of problem in the front end, sounds much like the first option would be a wheel balance.
cheers Rossco.
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Reply By: isey76 - Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 21:46

Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 21:46
Hi Stefan I had the same problem in my troopy a couple of years ago at about the same speeds, I had the wheels balaced and a wheel alignment done but the problem was still there in the end it was just the steering dampner that had failed as soon as I replaced it the problem was gone.

I don't know if that is your problem but may be worth checking out.

Clint
AnswerID: 238941

Follow Up By: Steve T - Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 22:08

Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 22:08
Hi Stephen,
Steve here from Blue Mountains 4wd Club, I spoke to you at 4WD Club Expo last Sunday. Sounds like loose front bearing, happened to me a while ago. Turned out the 2 small screws holding the lock ring worked loose allowing the locking ring to slack off. Email me direct, can show you how to adjust if you want to. Steve
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Follow Up By: Member - stefan P (NSW) - Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 15:41

Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 15:41
Hi Steve, I reckon your on the money as there does feel like some movement in the bearings, whats your e-mail? mine is in my rig profile.

Thanks Stefan
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Follow Up By: Member - stefan P (NSW) - Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 16:51

Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 16:51
Thanks for that isey76, when your dampner went was it leaking oil or anything? mine looks OK but I know looks can be deciving.

Cheers Stefan
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Follow Up By: Steve from Top End Explorer Tours - Friday, May 11, 2007 at 22:00

Friday, May 11, 2007 at 22:00
Hey Stefan

I am not familiar with Nissan's could it be a swivel hub bearing.

Cheers Steve.
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Reply By: WA 1968 - Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 22:34

Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 22:34
Stefan,

You didn't say what year or model your vehicle was. I had a 99 GU, the old 2.8Ltr 6 and had the same problem.

It turned out to be a timing wheel problem which supposed to be fixed under warranty. Mine was outta warranty and I didn't bother fixing as I was going to offload it soon anyway.

Hope this helps

Ash
AnswerID: 238958

Follow Up By: Member - stefan P (NSW) - Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 16:52

Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 16:52
Yep I got the 2.8, timing wheel? what the hell is that?? LOL

Cheers Stefan
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Follow Up By: WA 1968 - Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 18:41

Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 18:41
hmm..where do I start. i would check with your local Nissan Dealer. They will know about the shudder..mine was nothing to do with tyres or anything..

But i do remember them having a wheel balancing issue as well...and the service guys had to follow a certain procedure to fix it.

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Reply By: Peter - Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 07:59

Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 07:59
Another answer
Check for wear on ends of suspension arms.
I had the same sort of problem. Checked all the things mentioned in posts above . Turns out can be a common problem. The front axle start gets a bit of movement and tramps. the wobble just gets worse.

Took me 12 months to get it sorted. But now new suspension rubbers all good as new.

Peter S
AnswerID: 239006

Follow Up By: Member - stefan P (NSW) - Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 16:54

Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 16:54
Was going to upgrade the coils and shocks with my Tax return anyway as its all 140,000kms old now so maybe I can all that stuff looked at then

Cheers Stefan
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Reply By: brett patrol - Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 08:00

Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 08:00
Hi, i had the same problem in my 03 GU. It turned out to be the front panhard rod bush's were warn causing movement in the front diff.
AnswerID: 239008

Follow Up By: Member - stefan P (NSW) - Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 16:55

Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 16:55
I replaced those things in my GQ, pain getting the old ones out!! Still feels like movement in the bearings, but open to all suggestions

Cheers Stefan
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Reply By: Member - Glenn D (NSW) - Friday, May 11, 2007 at 21:56

Friday, May 11, 2007 at 21:56
Hows it going Stefan ,

You could try jacking the whole front end up and trying to move the wheels back and forth to see if any thing is worn , but try it holding top and bottom of wheel then front and back ,

If you find nothing try swapping front and back wheels around , you should feel front wheel imbalance though the steering wheel and back wheel imbalance through the seat of your pants !

Patrol front wheel shimmy is usually from lifted suspension with no castor correction.

If its only happened recently something must have broken or departed ! , if you cant find it you may have to go to a mechanic.

Hope this helps you out .

Glenn.
AnswerID: 239412

Follow Up By: Member - stefan P (NSW) - Friday, May 11, 2007 at 22:21

Friday, May 11, 2007 at 22:21
G'day Glenn, I am great mate hows ya self, being so busy with work I hope to get a good go at the car tomorrow. I have firm dates for a over nighter trip in july at the camp grounds next to the turon river. Sat 21st and Sun 22nd July. I will Post it on the forum soon

Cheers Stefan
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Follow Up By: Member - Glenn D (NSW) - Friday, May 11, 2007 at 22:37

Friday, May 11, 2007 at 22:37
You could also check the four bolts on the top and bottom of each swivel hub for tightness.

The 22nd is my Birthday so I dont know how I will go getting a players pass ! Maybe I just have to pick the right present !

Glenn.
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Reply By: geordie4x4 - Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 00:43

Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 00:43
What is it about the Patrol front that makes it so prone to wobbles?

My GU series IV is only just two years old and done 48,000 km. It has stayed standard until now when I have fitted an ARB set of springs and shocks giving a 2" lift. Now it feels very light in the steering and wobbles if the wheels are even slightly out of balance.

I had the wheel alignment done and it does not really need caster correction bushes (as they go too far).

Can anyone suggest a way to lessen the wobbles, slight caster correction. Has anyone tried the spacers that fit on the lower control arm to move it forward by 20 mm.

Will any of this help fix or prevent the wobbles.
AnswerID: 239458

Follow Up By: Member - stefan P (NSW) - Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 16:49

Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 16:49
G'day geordie4x4,
Just having a good look under my car with my brother inlaw, We have come to the conclusion that its a number of things that cause it. I belive in my case with 140,000 kms and all original stuff there its a case of small movement in the bearings being magnifyed through other worn components. So I am going to check my bearings and when I do the shocks and coils will do the dampner and other bushs ect so its all nice and tight again. Makes sense to me

Cheers Stefan
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