TECHNICAL BULLETIN
NO: LTB00401 (ISSUE 1)
30 AUG 2011
SERVICE PARTS WARRANTY BODY SHOP
CIRCULATE TO:
NOTE: The information in Technical Bulletins is intended for use by trained, professional Technicians with the knowledge, tools, and
equipment required to do the job properly and safely. It informs these Technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or
provides information that could assist in proper vehicle service. The procedures should not be performed by 'do-it-yourselfers'. If you are
not a Retailer, do not assume that a condition described affects your vehicle. Contact an authorized Land Rover service facility to
determine whether this bulletin applies to a specific vehicle.
©2011 Jaguar Land Rover North America LLC 555 MacArthur Boulevard Mahwah, NJ 07430
THIS BULLETIN REPLACES LA204-006 AND LM204-007; CHANGES ARE NOT HIGHLIGHTED
SECTION: 204
Tire / Wheel Balancing and Optimization
AFFECTED VEHICLE:
Freelander (LN) VIN: 2A353298 - 5A491396
Model Year: 2002 - 2005
LR2 (LF) VIN: 8H000212 - Onwards
Model Year: 2007 - Onwards
LR3 (LA) VIN: 5A000360 - 9A513325
Model Year: 2005-2009
LR4 (LA) VIN: AA510742 - Onwards
Model Year: 2010 - Onwards
Range Rover Sport (LS) VIN: 6A900290 - Onwards
Model Year: 2006 - Onwards
Range Rover (LM) VIN: 3A101029 - Onwards
Model Year: 2003 - Onwards
CONDITION SUMMARY:
Situation: The steering wheel may exhibit a vibration / shimmy while driving. This may be caused by a road
wheel / tire assembly imbalance and / or temporary tire flat-spotting.
Action: In the event of a customer concern of steering wheel vibration / shimmy, refer to the procedure
outlined below to balance and optimize the tire / wheel assemblies and identify tires which may have a
temporary flat-spot condition.
PARTS:
Wheel weights ........locally sourced Qty: as required
TOOLS:
Hunter 9700 / 9712 wheel balance machine
NOTE: To ensure that the road wheel / tire assembly is balanced correctly, Land Rover recommends
the use of the Haweka 9700 hub-to-wheel five-fingered clamp to support the road wheel / tire
assembly on the balance machine. (Figure 1)
Figure 1
NO: LTB00401 (ISSUE 1)
30 AUG 2011 TECHNICAL BULLETIN
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WARRANTY:
NOTE: Repair procedures are under constant review, and therefore times are subject to change;
those quoted here must be taken as guidance only. Always refer to DDW to obtain the latest repair
time.
NOTE: Factory wheel alignment and wheel balancing are covered for 12 months / 12,500 miles,
(20,000 km) whichever occurs first, for OEM equipment only. Refer to Warranty Policies & Procedures
manual for further information.
DDW requires the use of causal part numbers. Labor only claims must show the causal part number with a
quantity of zero.
DESCRIPTION SRO TIME
(HOURS)
CONDITION
CODE
CAUSAL
PART
Steering wheel vibration / steering shimmy 74.10.89.39 2.20 D9 RTB500220
Normal Warranty policies and procedures apply
REPAIR PROCEDURE
VERIFY CUSTOMER CONCERN
NOTE: Step 1 of the procedure is part of the initial vehicle preparation process. No claim should be
initiated if the performance of this step at initial vehicle preparation resolves the concern.
NOTE: Until flat-spots are removed, significant shimmy may be present, even if the car has only
stood overnight. A test drive is required to ensure temporary tire flat spots are removed. For longer
term flat spots, a longer drive may be required. The test drive should be carried out on normal open
roads to allow the highest speed that speed limits and road / traffic conditions allow.
1. If the vehicle is undergoing initial vehicle preparation, perform the following as part of the test drive:
• Refer to the tire pressure label and adjust the tire pressures to the recommended cold tire pressures.
• Drive the vehicle a minimum of 10 miles (15km) before attempting to assess shimmy.
• Assess the level of wheel vibration.
2. If a customer complaint is being resolved, perform the following:
• Refer to the tire pressure label and adjust the tire pressures to the recommended cold tire pressures.
• Drive the vehicle for a minimum of 10 miles (15km) before attempting to assess shimmy.
• Assess the level of wheel vibration.
3. If the level of steering vibration is considered acceptable, no further action is required.
4. If the levels of vibration remain unacceptable, refer to 'BALANCE WHEELS AS REQUIRED' below.
NO: LTB00401 (ISSUE 1)
30 AUG 2011 TECHNICAL BULLETIN
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BALANCE WHEELS AS REQUIRED
1. Refer to Workshop Manual, section 100-02: Jacking and Lifting, and raise the vehicle immediately upon
returning to the workshop to avoid inducing further tire flat spots.
2. Remove all four road wheel / tire assemblies for balancing.
NOTE: For adhesive weights, use the attachment arm on the Hunter machine to ensure accurate
weight positioning.
3. Refer to Figures 2 and 3 for correct wheel fitting attachment to the balance machine and balance road wheel
and tire assemblies until the residual imbalance dynamic is minimized.
• Target is 0g (zero grams) on each plane; maximum is inner 5g, outer 5g.
• Use the 'bulls-eye' balancing mode to minimize residual imbalance.
4. The maximum tire road force variations (RFV) for each
road wheel / tire assembly should be 60 Newton (6.1 kgf /
13.4 lbf) first harmonic RFV, 100 Newton (10.2 kgf / 22.5
lbf) peak-to-peak.
5. If these levels cannot be achieved, perform the following:
• Remove the tire.
• Follow the match mounting procedure as detailed by
the Hunter machine.
• Mark the high point of 1st harmonic RFV on the outer
(and inner for future reference) sidewall of the tire.
• Install the lowest 1st harmonic RFV wheel / tire
assemblies to the front axle.
• Print out the results of balance and force variation
(before and after); attach to repair order.
NOTE: If RFV equipment is not available and the tire
has not been removed from the wheel and the RFV
spot (red dot) is still visible this, should be installed at
the top.
6. Prior to tightening the wheel nuts, the high-point of RFV
should be marked and the road wheel / tire assembly
installed to the vehicle with the RFV high point at the top.
(Figure 4)
Figure 2 Figure 3
Figure 4
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30 AUG 2011 TECHNICAL BULLETIN
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NOTE: Nothing should be used to brace the wheel while tightening the nuts as this can disturb the
match mounting.
7. Install all four road wheel / tire assemblies.
8. Tighten wheel nuts to the specified torque.
9. Lower the vehicle.
10. Drive the vehicle for approximately 5 miles (7km) on normal roads and up to speeds of approximately 50 mph
(80kph) to verify correction of steering vibration.
