Lean and wobble - Land Rovers Only

TREX · 11-26-2006, 07:16 PM

hey guys after a recent trip out into the desert, i have noticed that my defender leans to the left a little, now i thought it may have been like this to compensate for the drivers weight but it seems to have a bit of a wobble after you go over bumps, i beginning to think that one of the shocks have quit on me, but am not sure how i would go about testing/confirming this or even if it is a spring that may ahve collapsed. Is this a common problem and how long should a shock absorber last?, mine have been on there two years but don't know if they are just cheap and nasty ones that the bloke before me put on as there arn't any markings on them.
cheers

MHRead · 01-16-2007, 03:31 PM

Could be the shocks, which would cause the wobble, but would not cause the car to lean. Usually springs go over time, and would sag at the same rate, although it could be this. Easiest way to check the shock, is put your weight on the front corner of vehicle over the suspect shock, and quickly release it. The vehicle should bounce once or maybe twice, not bounce up and down, and very quickly return to a stable position. Check the other side, and is there is a marked difference, it will be that shock.

Check you spring mounts too. Also, put the car on a flat surface with no camber, and measure from wheel top to mud guard on both sides, and see what the difference is. Do this with the car unloaded. If you have a roof rack, things on top not evenly packed can easily cause the feeling of the car leaning, so watch out for this too.

Fortunately it is easy to change springs and shock on a defender, as you do not need a spring compressor.

11-26-2006, 07:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
TREX TREX Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alice Springs, Australia Posts: 12 Gallery: 0	Lean and wobble hey guys after a recent trip out into the desert, i have noticed that my defender leans to the left a little, now i thought it may have been like this to compensate for the drivers weight but it seems to have a bit of a wobble after you go over bumps, i beginning to think that one of the shocks have quit on me, but am not sure how i would go about testing/confirming this or even if it is a spring that may ahve collapsed. Is this a common problem and how long should a shock absorber last?, mine have been on there two years but don't know if they are just cheap and nasty ones that the bloke before me put on as there arn't any markings on them. cheers __________________ You only live once 2000 130CC

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01-16-2007, 03:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
MHRead 1999 Defender 110 Extreme with expedition pack and other goodies. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Adelaide, SA, Australia Posts: 8 Gallery: 0	Could be the shocks, which would cause the wobble, but would not cause the car to lean. Usually springs go over time, and would sag at the same rate, although it could be this. Easiest way to check the shock, is put your weight on the front corner of vehicle over the suspect shock, and quickly release it. The vehicle should bounce once or maybe twice, not bounce up and down, and very quickly return to a stable position. Check the other side, and is there is a marked difference, it will be that shock. Check you spring mounts too. Also, put the car on a flat surface with no camber, and measure from wheel top to mud guard on both sides, and see what the difference is. Do this with the car unloaded. If you have a roof rack, things on top not evenly packed can easily cause the feeling of the car leaning, so watch out for this too. Fortunately it is easy to change springs and shock on a defender, as you do not need a spring compressor.

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