Steering Shake

[Pete]

I have a 54 4.8is and am suffering with steering Shake when going over bumps, it is especially bad when cornering. I feel as though it is worse when a bump is on the passenger side.

Since owning it, I changed the steering rack rod ends and 4 wheel alignment - this made it 75% better but now, it is as bad as it was before they were changed.  It is really annoying to put up with.

Going off the receipts it had most front end suspension parts changed last year ( I can't see any mention of any separate front end  bushes being done at the same time though and the steering rack ends certainly weren't changed (which I feel is daft/false economy).  I also don't know the quality of the parts used. The car has had the air suspension changed to coilovers at some point too.  I can hear a suspension knock (I presume) from around the passenger footwear.

I don't really want to just throw money at this problem blindly and would like to know the most likeliest culprits. To be honest, due to this shaking, I haven't had the chance to enjoy this X5 like my previous one and I am siding with  gladly selling it on as a repair vehicle.

I'll post up a picture of the receipt for the work done.

[Smeeagain]

Do you have any issues under braking. Whilst I take your point about not spending money blindly going straight out and getting new steering rack is bit drastic unless you had had it diagnosed as defective?

There are so many potential areas to check and unfortunately, if you do a search on previous forum posts, you rarely find an immediate culprit - as you say you don't know the history of parts quality etc - what is the vehicle mileage

Things it could be range from simple and/or unlike, to likely and complex, and whilst I would agree of your approach of not throwing money at it I would suggest that it is not worth assuming that you don't need to check certain things because 'it can't be that'. Take your time and be thorough

Defective tyre
wheel nut loose
wheel balance
damaged wheel
Tracking - yes you've said it was done but it could easily be out again.
Steering rack - yes it's been done but get it checked in case something is loose
Upper and lower control arms/bushes
Brake disc issue (warped, etc) but would be evident under braking rather than steering
struts/dampers.

It is mechanical problem so it can/will be fixed. I don't see the point in selling as repair vehicle as you would likely lose far more money than the cost of a repair

Smee

That's just for starters - others may have more ideas and pointers.

[Pete]

Thanks Smee,

I am having the winter tyres put on this Friday - so that will flag up any problem with tyres or the wheels/balancing. The shaking  doesn't increase under braking, so I don't feel that it is related to that. It is very overreactive to  bumps, grids etc and I personally think it is suspension related, rather than the steering rack.

I think that having had this shake since day one, and resolving little niggles all the time, has meant that I'm not attached to the car yet. 

[Smeeagain]

well if they are putting the car up on the ramp to change them (some do, some don't), get under and have a look .....

[Pete]

Sorry, forgot to mention - I've booked it in for someone to have a good look over it. I've just read too many posts where someone has changed x, y and z...and it be none of them. I don't want to be removing good parts on a hunch and paying for the pleasure.

[Smeeagain]

And therein lies your problem. Very difficult to diagnose so folk start going through a process of elimination by replacing parts, usually cheapest first. And then, as you've identified, it doesnt necessarily sort the problem. And quite often it's more than one thing. unless something is absolutely shot to buggery, it's unlikely to be easy for your man to diagnose. What's the mileage?

[Pete]

It's on 130k

[henrym3]

Its always difficult to find anything wrong with a visual check, after all these bushes and bars are supporting approx 2 ton and even knackered are still strong, to check out your problem will require a decent pry bar. Your symptoms to me suggest anti roll bar bushes and link arm or loose mounting bolts on the steering rack. you can't really check either with one wheel jacked up cos the arb is stressed that way, you need both wheels hanging or on a ramp.

[Horizon]

[quote="henrym3"]
Its always difficult to find anything wrong with a visual check, after all these bushes and bars are supporting approx 2 ton and even knackered are still strong, to check out your problem will require a decent pry bar. Your symptoms to me suggest anti roll bar bushes and link arm or loose mounting bolts on the steering rack. you can't really check either with one wheel jacked up cos the arb is stressed that way, you need both wheels hanging or on a ramp.
[/quote]

As said, better on a ramp, also as with the air suspension it's better to drain/ unload the system of air, as there have been problems with the conventional X5 rear suspension hiding worn bushes due to the constant load of the air suspension . Once the pressure is off the ball joints are able to be tested for movement with a prybar.

[henrym3]

I think he said it had been converted to coilovers, but I think a lot of these vehicles are on the market now with cheap 99p complete suspension rebush so as to shift them on and the life span is probably a bit shorter than normal.

[Smeeagain]

So what was the verdict today Pete?

Smee

[Pete]

A knackered track control arm - they only had a look late on so it hasn't been replaced yet but I'll book it in next week.

I also had the heater control valve changed as I wasn't getting heat - now it is toasty...I'm beginning to thaw now and fingers crossed, the track control arm is the only culprit.

[Smeeagain]

Great news really. And to think you were considering selling it on as a repair vehicle .....

[henrym3]

One can get a tad depressed though with a fault no matter how simple it is. Didn't Pete say the front bushes was sorted by previous owner last year. That's typical someone putting on 99p bits to shift it on.

[Pete]

[quote="henrym3"]
One can get a tad depressed though with a fault no matter how simple it is. Didn't Pete say the front bushes was sorted by previous owner last year. That's typical someone putting on 99p bits to shift it on.
[/quote]

The spent about £600 replacing suspension parts but left the old steering rack ends and some bushes. Crazy really, for what it's worth you'd think they'd have changed the lot. The car has been getting to me, heater valve packed in, bizarre instance when the drive shaft popped out (or whatever), sat nav not reading a back up disc, I've fitted a handle carrier, the boot decided not to open for a few days (unless using the fob). All niggles that have bugged me and been time consuming when I am busy. Fingers crossed I'll have a good run now.