really bad steering wheel vibration, please help
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Joined: Jan 2005
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really bad steering wheel vibration, please help
yesterday i was going 90 on the highway to and from work and was steering with one finger, this morning as soon as i hit 50 the vibration starts and gets worst. at 60-65 its so unbearable that i cant hold the wheel. wheels and tires look fine, it doesnt seem like i lost any balance weights off the wheels, i dont know what to do, any help will be appriciated. I have made NO changes, parked it after work and got up the next day to go to work. should i get the wheels balanced. could it be bad tire??? I have to drive at 50-55MPH so it does not vibrate, anything above is unbearable.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 20,179
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From: Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.
St. Jude '03 thru '24
First and easiest, check the torque on the lug nuts.
Shake the front end looking for loose tierod ends.
Have the front tire balance checked.
Shake the front end looking for loose tierod ends.
Have the front tire balance checked.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
9 times out of 10, a wheel shimmy or vibration is tire and/or balance related. When I was a punk kid, we used to streal the wheel weights off cars to make sinkers for fishing. I feel bad about it now. We probably gave hundreds of people fits 
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 22,209
Likes: 12
From: OBAMA IS HITLER
Originally Posted by Pete K
....When I was a punk kid, we used to streal the wheel weights off cars to make sinkers for fishing.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 12,518
Likes: 19
Originally Posted by Hot Rod 90
but look at the fine American you've since turned out to be
My bad actions make me a bit more tolerant of the neighborhood monsters(kids). What comes around, goes around, I guess.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,833
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, Alberta
Originally Posted by djxib
A long shot, but I have heard of people with very old tires that run great when the weather is warm but terrible if it gets colder.
My Tires are 3 years old and when its cold out it takes awhile till they settle down..warm up.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 0
From: Miami FL
I had a bad shake in mine. The tires looked fine, but when they put it on a lift, and I looked at the drivers side tire from the front, It was bulging out from the center out all the way around. It looks like it was seperating internally. I couldn't see it when the vette was on the ground.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 9,036
Likes: 13
From: Edmonton AB
- 90 MPH on tires your alignment guy told
you were worn. - Car has 91k miles.
- You've already swapped fronts with rear tires
to investigate an earlier problem
separation in the tire.
Is there any chance that you mixed up the direction
of rotation when the tires were moved? Pass rear
needed to go on the pass front & so on.
Since the vibration seems to be at the front (steering
shake versus wiggles in the seat), I'd consider moving
which ever front appears to be the offender to the rear
to see if this makes a difference.
Shocks are another consideration - look for wetness
but at 91k, OEM ones have been dead for a while.
As mentioned wheel weights can come off.
.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 798
Likes: 116
From: OAKLEY CA
Vibration
Keep going 90 mph until something falls off. No seriously dude, why are you still driving an obviously dangerous car. Does someone have to get hurt or killed before it dawns on you that this car belongs in a repair shop that can spin the wheels and see whats up. You probably have a tire coming apart, cracked wheel, bearing busted, or steering arm about to let loose, all of which could cause you to loose control of 3000 pounds of metal in public. I was in the towing business so I guess I have a different perspective. Looking at wrecked cars all day some with blood and hair matted into whats left of the windsheild kinda makes you think twice about avoidable situations.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Do the following until the problem goes away or until you find a substantial change.
1. Check lug nut torque.
2. Have Wheels balanced.
3. Rotate tires.
4. Inspect rim for buildup of mud, rocks, etc that can throw wheel out of balance.
5. Have a tire shop inspect tires for a tread separation.
6. Raise front end and inspect all steering and suspension components for wear or damage; Tie rod ends, ball joints, control arm bushings, shocks, sway bar bushings, steering rack, wheel bearings. Refer to your factory service manual on the procedure to check each.
7. Replace any worn components and get a 4 wheel alignment. If nothing is worn, have an alignment shop check alignment specs and perform a 4 wheel alignment as necessary.
That's pretty much all there is that can cause a front end vibration.
Remember, your car is 16 years old. Your suspension bushings are in all likelihood worn out. If you are nearing 100K miles, it's probably time to look at replacing the rubber parts. How old are the shocks? This is one of the most overlooked culprits of vibration.
Remember, troubleshoot, don't throw parts (and money) at it hoping the problem will go away.
1. Check lug nut torque.
2. Have Wheels balanced.
3. Rotate tires.
4. Inspect rim for buildup of mud, rocks, etc that can throw wheel out of balance.
5. Have a tire shop inspect tires for a tread separation.
6. Raise front end and inspect all steering and suspension components for wear or damage; Tie rod ends, ball joints, control arm bushings, shocks, sway bar bushings, steering rack, wheel bearings. Refer to your factory service manual on the procedure to check each.
7. Replace any worn components and get a 4 wheel alignment. If nothing is worn, have an alignment shop check alignment specs and perform a 4 wheel alignment as necessary.
That's pretty much all there is that can cause a front end vibration.
Remember, your car is 16 years old. Your suspension bushings are in all likelihood worn out. If you are nearing 100K miles, it's probably time to look at replacing the rubber parts. How old are the shocks? This is one of the most overlooked culprits of vibration.
Remember, troubleshoot, don't throw parts (and money) at it hoping the problem will go away.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
Originally Posted by Pete K
Thanks Brad.
My bad actions make me a bit more tolerant of the neighborhood monsters(kids). What comes around, goes around, I guess.
My bad actions make me a bit more tolerant of the neighborhood monsters(kids). What comes around, goes around, I guess.