Steering wobble on new GU?

[jm2004]

Hi All,

I have checked a lot of threads (and youtube videos) about wheel/steering wobble at certain speed (usually around 80 to 100 kph), but they are mostly related to vehicles which are at least several years old.

My problem is that the GU9 I have (bought new) has only done 13,000km (build date late 2013) but it already has that symptom. I could not recall if this happened from new (as I rarely travel at that speed, mostly only up to around 80kph stretch of roads) but in the recent months I noticed slight wobble on the steering wheel. Never precise, sometimes at around 90-95kph, sometimes 100kph. Sometimes it appears but seems to be affected by uneven roads, and as the road becomes smooth, the wobble just disappears again (no change in speed). The wobble may come back when the tyres hit small bumps on the road.

All tyres had been recently rotated and balanced, and I rebalanced the front tyres, still the same effect. The vehicle still runs on standard suspension, rim and tyres. My wheel alignment specialist (also a 4WDriver) is adamant it shouldn't be, but after 2 wheel balancing effort, it pretty much still shows the exact same symptoms (haven't tried swapping tyres around yet though).

So, is that the characteristics of this vehicle i.e. I just need to live with this and not to worry (unless it gets worse)? Any comments from fellow owners of GUs with low kms?

Thanks in advance and regards,

[Stropp]

Hi mate there are tyre shops and there are tyre shops that know what they are doing, I would take it to someone else and get them rebalanced, has it only started since tyre rotation?

[the evil twin]

If it is still factory rims and original rubber then the car is still under warranty so "High Ho, High Ho it's off to Nissan I would Go"
Don't forget to take your sense of humour, it could be a loooooooooooooooong process

[mullet_hunter]

Its ur tyres budd... hopefully pick up my rig tomorrow 04 gu... does same thing arnd 80kms.. vibration/death wobble.. speed up to 100km nudda... he had it all checked over and wheels balanced.. running 33 micky t's.. swappd to 31s all good..

[Winnie]

Its ur tyres budd... hopefully pick up my rig tomorrow 04 gu... does same thing arnd 80kms.. vibration/death wobble.. speed up to 100km nudda... he had it all checked over and wheels balanced.. running 33 micky t's.. swappd to 31s all good..

There are a lot of things that could contribute to the wheel wobble.
Just because you had one problem with a similar symptom does not make all wheel wobbles the same problem. The 80kph wobble is fairly common in Patrols and there are many things it could be...

[mullet_hunter]

Fair enuff... He asked... I answered.. Just trying to help him out.. Can be an expensive exercise trying to diagnose problems... Wheels balanced... Replacing parts and still no improvement.. Just letting him know what worked for me firsthand...

[the evil twin]

If it is tyres then it is usually a constant issue at whatever speed, doesn't come and go and more noticeable on smooth bitumen.
I'd be suprised if it is tyres seeing as he is running standard rims and 31's that have been rotated and rebalanced.
It could be... but... you have to take his post on face value that he trusts his tyre guy

When you get a wobble that needs something to set it off and is more prevelant on bumpy stuff it is usually suspension related thru the bushes and ball joints.
Most common cause across the board is Panhard Bushes but it could be any of a multitude of things.

[mullet_hunter]

well said..

[threedogs]

My wheel wobble was aslightly loose wheel bearing which was worse under brakes causing a shudder.
Tightened up the wheel bearing and all good, and I rotate tyres every 5K

[megatexture]

Mines got bad shakes ATM as my bushes are shot so I've been running 30 psi in my tyres on the blacktop(cheap AT duealers).
if I was to have 40+ psi I would have the shakes every time I hit a bump but at 30 psi I never get the shakes.
I don't want to replace the bushes yet as I plan on getting super flex arm so I'm putting it off a bit while running sh!t tyres