Hi All,
Ever since I have had my car it has had a "wha wha" vibration through the steering under load with some angle on the steering at about 1700 rpm. Mostly noticeable at low speed.

I have gone through all matter of excuses from the service department..
1. Tightening up some stuff in the suspension.
2. Gearbox software upgrade
3. Characteristic of the lock up clutch in the ZF gearbox!!
4. Moving some cables etc. around the steering rack.

Now the vibration is occurring at speed (80kmh) when feathering and backing of the accelerator especially with a slight turn on the steering. It can be felt through the whole car.

it seems people here have had similar problems but they all seem to differ slightly and have different solutions. My best guess is the front diff followed by transfer box then rear diff and lastly gearbox. Mind you it feels all the world like a wheel bearing but this would seem unlikely given the conditions under which it appears.
I will let you know what they find.
cheers,
Anthony TDV6, MYO7 Java with Ivory leather, 19 inch wheels

You may want to also look at your tires. How many miles do you have on them now? Worn tires can also transmit road noise and sound a bit like a worn bearing... PJPR
Cairns Blue HSE
180k Miles of Adventure

Yes the tyres are very worn but this wasn't the original cause of the noise as they were nearly new when the noise occurred originally. They are probably helping to create the vibration by providing some extra load on the steering but not the root of the cause. I have driven all sorts of cars old and new with worn tyres and stuffed wheel bearings etc. The closest I have come to this problem was a worn out rear diff on old alfa of mine. TDV6, MYO7 Java with Ivory leather, 19 inch wheels

Will be interested to hear what your resolution is RedRover!

I have taken it in for it's initial assessment and the the mechanic took it for a drive with me. Luckily he felt the vibration and commented how it would be very annoying. His initial guess was power steering pump but I would be very surprised if this was the case. Happy to get a new one though My guess is front diff and I will suggest they take a look at the drain plug when I take it in for a service next week. It feels exactly like a failing bearing and there would bound to be shavings on the magnetic drain plug if this was the case. TDV6, MYO7 Java with Ivory leather, 19 inch wheels

How many miles do you have on the RRS at this point?

Power steering pump might not be a bad guess... PJPR
Cairns Blue HSE
180k Miles of Adventure

It has 62000km's but the vibration has been there since I bought it at 3000km's although it was fairly subtle back then. Steering pump doesn't seem to add up, one because it doesn't happen when stationary and turning the wheel, and two is that it feels that it is coming through the drivetrain, not just the steering wheel. TDV6, MYO7 Java with Ivory leather, 19 inch wheels

The rattle/reverboration/vibration or whatever you want to call it that I have eminating from\through the steering on my car has been put down to the Steering Angle Sensor. At least That's what Land Rover UK have told Land Rover Australia. It goes in again tomorrow to have this replaced and some other matters taken care of..

Last edited by 2nd Rower on Wed Oct 14 2009 12:11pm. Edited 1 time in total

Well I got the call today from the service department. Surprise, surprise it is the front differential. They said there was virtually no oil in it so I am not sure where that all went. Now, if they could only compensate me for putting up with this vibration for years! I will pick it up tomorrow and let you all know if it is definitely fixed. TDV6, MYO7 Java with Ivory leather, 19 inch wheels

Well one new diff, new lower ball joints and flex bush's, a new brake booster and attached tubes (brake recall) and a full four wheel aligment all done under warranty I have the car back
I was particularly happy about the free alignment as I am about to fit new tyres.
I am happy to report the noise/vibration has gone. I swear I can feel a slight vibration at 1800 rpm still but I will put that down to a "characteristic" as it is extremely subtle.
It is a bit worrying the diff only last's 62000km's so hopefully they have done something to sort this out as it won't be under warranty next time  TDV6, MYO7 Java with Ivory leather, 19 inch wheels

Lovely! cheers for the feedback  Gone: RRS : HSE : TDv6 : 57 : Java Black : Ebony : 20"

Great news Red Rover... I collect mine from the dealer later today, and they cliam to have completed all required repairs! Hope like yourself to be trouble free moving foward!

The positive is that my loaner for the week has been a RRS TDV8
The negative is that I have to give it back!

They did all my fixes in 1.5 days! but couldn't even find a loner for 1 night. Oh well... 2nd Rower, let me know what they did to yours.. TDV6, MYO7 Java with Ivory leather, 19 inch wheels

redrover wrote:

It is a bit worrying the diff only last's 62000km's so hopefully they have done something to sort this out as it won't be under warranty next time

Supacat wrote:

To be fair no diff will last that long without any oil. Hopefully, they cleaned off any oil trail under the car and so it should be easy to see if you start losing any again.