Hey guys ! I understand the shakes in the steering wheel are quite a topic here. I have a very slight one when driving, but can live with it. However, it gets scarier when braking, especially at higher speeds (80kmh +). Steering is still responsive, but the wheel goes kinda crazy. No shakes in the brake pedal though.

My car is a 2000 V8 4.0L

I have replaced all 4 discs, and refurbished the front calipers myself (pistons, seals). No leaks and braking is consistent. Everything is tightened to spec. I have fairly new front wheels, and had a geometry done.

I've worked extensively on the engine but only on axle stands, so as far as I can tell, everything is tight when I try to move the wheels around. The one thing I find strange are the steering ball joint (or outter tie rod ends). The locking nuts seem tight, but the rod in itself can rotate by a few degrees. I haven't worked on the system, and haven't seen that many different suspension, but this seems odd ?

Do you know where I should look ?

Thanks !!

 

Check the lower front ball joints &.
The Tie rods, & Inner tie rods for movement.

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/...ies%5B%5D=2462
https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/...ories%5B%5D=51
https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/...ries%5B%5D=914

How is the tyre wear, another good indication of what is wrong, inner edge feathered?

Take a 2 x 4 wooden batten with the car up off the ground, and give the wheels and suspension bushes a good push and pull.

What your looking for.
see.
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/s...deo-faq-68290/

Once you have found the issue, check all wishbone bushes, and tie rod joints for damaged dust seals, check for wear, and renew replace.

Once All that is done, have the 4 wheel alignment carried out by someone competent. It will drive like a new car.

"The locking nuts seem tight, but the rod in itself can rotate by a few degrees. I haven't worked on the system, and haven't seen that many different suspension, but this seems odd ?"

This is Normal. the tie rod can rotate on the ball joint a few degrees. You are looking for sloppiness at the tie rod ball joint, or the lower ball joint, or even the inner tie rod to the steering rack, but less likely!

 

Tire balance maybe. I had a front lose the weights once and it did same while braking

 

Tire wear is very homogeneous. I'll double check for wheel weights, could be a cheap fix !
Otherwise you are right @bydand , every silent block, bushing, seals should be replaced cause they are all worn. But that so far I've rocked around the front suspensions several times and couldnt detect any unusual movement. I'll get to refurbishing the suspensions in a few more paychecks ^^'.

 

Since the S type 4.0Ltr wheels are not staggered, and an easy check to rotate front to back diagonally and see what happens.

Ah! "every silent block, bushing, seals should be replaced cause they are all worn"!
"But that so far I've rocked around the front suspensions several times and couldnt detect any unusual movement"

So did I, on the rear wishbones, after having the MOT inspector from Hell carry out the MOT recently and reported a rattle from everywhere on the suspension front and rear!.
The LH rear was going to have the dust seals/ bushes renewed, with a swapped out lower arm anyway.

On removing the old lower wishbone and inspecting, the bushes while full of grease and not giving any sloppiness, thou the dust seals were rotten through, were changed out anyway.

After removal and washing out the bushes in diesel, the sloppiness was evident, 1.5 to 2mm play in the ball to bush fitment. These bushes were carefully pressed out by the way, so not damaged in removal etc.

Now, this has nothing to do with your front wheel shimmy under braking. But looking for play with limited force on a greased filled ball joint does not alway show up what you are expecting.

Before you get too carried away, you may want to fully check the rear sub frame, and the sills under the plastic covers. Assuming the timing chain guides have been done at some stage.

May be not too much of a concern in the South of France, but near (on the) Coast and North East France underbody corrosion can take its, heavy toll.

 

I've done the timing chain myself with ad-hoc tools and the sills aren't corroded. So I think it would be a worthy investment to refurbish the suspension, but definitely a costly one, even if I do it myself !

 

Usually when that happens to me is because the tyre are not evenly worn because i skipped several tyre balance and rotation. but you said that tyres are almost new.

 

So a second suggestion to check the tires for those exact symptoms. I've got decent tires, but not sure of the quality of the garage that changed them so maybe have to get the balancing redone, will keep you posted

 

Couldn't find anything unsual when rebalancing the tires. Suspensions silent blocks are worn but not shaky. As suggested by a specialized jaguar mechanic in France, I will try to swap front and rear tires. He told me that my front Hankook tires are probably **** and the structure is too weak ...