Severe steering shudder

5 replies [Last post]
Tue, 30/03/2004 - 23:47
Coenraad
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Joined: 13.03.2004
Location: Surrey

I am in desperate need of some advise. I have a 300GD 460 LWB with severe shudder on the steering wheel at around 55mph. It really is bad. To make things worse, it does not always shudder. Sometimes it is quiet even at 65mph. I can 'sense' a drumming from around 40mph, which worsens to a severe shaking at about 55mph. Is this a known problem? I've only had the G for about two weeks now.

Also can anyone suggest a reliable knowledgeable workshop in the South London, Surrey are?

Coenraad

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Wed, 31/03/2004 - 10:33
#1
VCR
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Joined: 29.03.2004
Location: Portugal - Algarve
Severe steering shudder

I’m not sure that I fully understand your problem and I have very limited mechanic abilities but have you checked if your wheels are calibrated? Severe shaking at 80Kh can be caused by uncalibrated wheels.

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Wed, 31/03/2004 - 12:06
#2
c newton
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Joined: 03.02.2004
Location: Bridgend, S Wales
Shudder

I had a simular problem with my 1989 280GE so I replaced the steering damper its now OK. I bought the damper from Euro Car Parts think it was about £70. :lol:

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Wed, 31/03/2004 - 18:40
#3
mortinson
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Joined: 06.11.2003
Location: Old beehive, Madrid, Spain
Severe steering shudder

That sound to me like your front propshaft is out of balance or that the universal joints at both ends of your front propshaft are worn out or both.

My good friend and fellow GWagen enthusiast Poul Vinther has a very comprehensive checklist of things that can cause shudder or vibrations in the G.

http://www.vinthers.dk/troubles.htm#over%2080km/h

Let us know what you find...

Cheers

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Wed, 31/03/2004 - 22:27
#4
Coenraad
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Joined: 13.03.2004
Location: Surrey
Severe steering shudder

got up early to have a look underneath before I went to the office. After a fairly quick inspection it seems that the left front shock has a lot of play on the bottom mount. Will get that looked at on Saturday morning and let you guys know

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Sun, 26/09/2004 - 20:06
#5
Tom Baldwin
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Joined: 25.03.2004
Location: Dublin, Ireland and San Antonio Texas
Severe steering shudder

I had a terrible problem with my steering wheel shuddering once I went over 64 MPH. I thought it was a problem with the car and did nothing for years. It turned out to be simple wheel balancing. Note though that the Tyre Centre which my mechanic brought my G to tried to balance them unsuccessfully 4 times. He then checked out numerous other causes. My own tyre guy, a friend said to me he was sure from driving the G that the tyres were out of balance and after many hours handed me back the car sorted! Since then.. no problems at all, just smooth driving !

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