Front end wobble at 100kmh.

[stuey]

Hi guys, just wondering if anyone has experienced bit of a shimmy in the front end at about 100kmh, i've had a look at the front hubs and drums and it looks like the drums aren't perfect in the round depatrment short of getting them machined(which i can get done at work) i'll have to opt for finding new ones, i dont think i want to go the way of disc conversion as the van is on declaration and i'd probably have to cert the whole thing! I will also be replacing all bushings and springs on the front end soon.
Any thoughts?
Thanks. Stuey.

[vanpyre]

if its a steering wobble at the ton look at balance on the front wheels first mate before you open a can of worms

[John Abbott]

I would also be checking the front shocks as well. Pull them out and see if they have good resistance still.

[stuey]

Thanks for that guys, but i've already had the wheels balanced(a couple of times) and the shocks were installed not long ago(4-6 months ago).
I've already got bushes and ball joints ready for a long weekend of messing around with the front end and with the wheels off i can visibly notice the drums aren't true yet i dont seem to have any pulsing in the brake pedal. I'll wait until i have some jumbo springs to fit then do the lot, hopefully i'll either get the drums machined or ill find some good second hand ones.
Stuey.

[Sammy]

in my experience warped discs/drums only seem to cause a pulse in the pedal or shudder in the steering when you apply the brakes

[BusyKiwi]

Check your steering rack for play, where the shaft goes into the rack, at the knuckles (under the boots), and tie rods
Also check your stay arm bushes (the arms at the back that come from the chassis to the front end), check both bolts are in each (suspension end) and check there is no day light between bush and mount (which could be the nut is loose)

[Bean]

I had a similar issue, Had the wheels balanced, didn't help - Had the rims balanced separately and then fitted the tyres and re balances - still no joy.My problem turned out to be that the wheel nuts weren't holding the wheel centrally ,I had a bush made that located them true and now she is super smooth up to 130,
I'm quite sure she'll be smooth all the way up to 180 but Mr Plod may not be too impressed.

[johnb44]

also check the 8 bolts that hold the lower wishbone to the frame as I had a few nuts fall off the rest were loose and the lower arm fell off lucky I was at a servo not doing 100kph like I was 5 mins before, I put all new spring washers on and replace the missing 3/8 nuts with h/t nuts

[stuey]

Awesome guys, looks like i'm going to be busy this weekend, underneath my Beddy!! I'll let you know how it goes.

[Sundownernz]

Hi Stu,

I assume that when you say the drums don't look round it an observation on the outside of the drum. The inside of the drum that mates with the brake shoes could be fine hence no pulsing when you apply the brakes, but the outside could be out of round and therefore out of balance. Therefore balancing the wheels won't cure the problem. You could try balancing the wheels, hubs and drums on the van which will balance the whole rotating assembly.

Have fun.
Garry.