Strong vibrations on Nissan Patrol

Have you checked your wheel nuts are tight??

Shamal,

A couple of questions for you, what model exactly is your GQ??? The SWB GQ never came from the factory with a 2.8td, so has it had a transplant??

Is your vehicle lifted at all?? If it has been, make sure it has been done properly, and has had the castor angle corrected.

Check the whole suspension system. Look for a broken spring, worn shockies, and worn suspension bushes.

Another possibilty is the driveshaft. Check to insure that it is not bent/damaged in any way, and also check that the uni's are properly aligned.

I have heard of the usual 'GQ vibration', but this sounds much more serious.

Tristjo.

This has been mentioned before.

But there were 100 'things' that caused it.

Check all the rubbers in the steering, front end, like control arms, etc, wheel bearings, Bearings on the swivel, steering boxes wear out on GQ's so could some of them things.

Also what are the tires like? worn, new, average? have them balanced again wont hurt.

Shamal,
The vibration you describe is trigered by a bump and then miantianed by an out of round or out of alinment wheel or tyre, the job of the shock absorbers is to dampen out any vibrations, I sugest you swap the front tyres on to the back, and if that changes any thing look for a delaminated tyre, that is a bump in the tread, the other thing that is probably worn is the shock absorbers, disconect the front shochers and test them by pulling them up and down with you hands, they should be hard to move quikly, Eric.

Sounds more like an out of balance tyre, and can be compounded by models with split rims, check front wheel bearing clearance and most importantly, the steering damper device located on the steering connection arm. Remove this from the vehicle and clamp one end in a vise in the horizontal position, and try to work the other end in and out as quickly as you can. If you have no resistance to movement, then it is faulty. If it is stiff and difficult to move, then it's OK. Also the swinging shackle at the front of the spring pack may have excessive sideways movement. Easy to nip them up a tad and re-grease. U-bolts can also work loose, get a socket on to them and see if you get any movement out of them. Try all this and let me know how you go.

I seem to recall that early GQ's had a problem where the support at the steering box to the chassis was inadequate and subject to a factory recall. The fix was a very substantial reinforcing bracket to prevent the chassis from cracking. Mine, (an 89 LWB) certainly has this mod fitted. I believe the symptoms were as you have described - check for this bracket and/or cracked chassis at the steering box.

What sort of tyres do you have on it Shamal? We had a similar problem years ago and it turned out to be a steel belt moving inside the tyre. Once you got the wobbles up they didn't go away until you got back to a slow enough speed for the inertia to return to the belt. The first thing I would do is get a loan of a second set of wheels and tyres to see if the problem goes away. If it's still there on a second set . . . hmmm!"Live today as if there may be no tomorrow"

Wombat

THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND USEFUL INFORMATION

Just a quick note to thank you guys for being so responsive and providing me with so much information quickly! I am impressed.

I also posted a few days ago in 3 spanish 4x4 forums, and no one has answered yet... I think I'm not going to bother with them anymore.

I will investigate based on all the tips you posted, and let you know how it goes.

Cheers,

Shamal

Shamal.
You asked about testing shock absorbers, There is no diference in the test for leaf or coil springs, you disconnect the lower end of the shocker and then with your back on the ground pull and push the shocker up and down, it should move easily when slow and have a lot of resistance when moved fast. good luck, Eric.

A friend told me the other day on a trip away a SWB Patrol travelling with them also started to shake badly to the extent he had to return home. The problem I believe was a worn bush in the steering box somewhere which was easy and cheap to repair. I,m sorry I cant be more specific as to the exact part though.

Shamal
I had a similar problem with my patrol check all the steering joints and tie rod ends as when i replaced the tie rod ends it was fixed. Symptoms wherer started as a very slight vibration in the steering wheel building very quickly whith bad steering wheel shake , pull over and stop. Is this what it sounds Like??