wheel wobble
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,065
Likes: 39
A better possibility is probably a bad tire, run your hand over the tire and see if you feel uneven high or low spots in it. Make sure there are no steel wires pointing out of it from excessive wear. I did that one time and it wasn't pretty. Also look to see if it has uneven wear from a misaligned suspension, this would typically cause a pull, but I don't see why it wouldn't also cause the steering wheel to shimmy.
Next is a few other things that are less common, bent hub, bent rim(maybe), and bent axles, but you don't have front axles so that not a possibility.
I'd say hub, tire, or rim. If you hit a curb, that could do it. You will need a dial indicator to diagnose a bad hub.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,752
Likes: 276
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
It could be warped brake rotors, but you would only feel this while braking.
A better possibility is probably a bad tire, run your hand over the tire and see if you feel uneven high or low spots in it. Make sure there are no steel wires pointing out of it from excessive wear. I did that one time and it wasn't pretty. Also look to see if it has uneven wear from a misaligned suspension, this would typically cause a pull, but I don't see why it wouldn't also cause the steering wheel to shimmy.
Next is a few other things that are less common, bent hub, bent rim(maybe), and bent axles, but you don't have front axles so that not a possibility.
I'd say hub, tire, or rim. If you hit a curb, that could do it. You will need a dial indicator to diagnose a bad hub.
A better possibility is probably a bad tire, run your hand over the tire and see if you feel uneven high or low spots in it. Make sure there are no steel wires pointing out of it from excessive wear. I did that one time and it wasn't pretty. Also look to see if it has uneven wear from a misaligned suspension, this would typically cause a pull, but I don't see why it wouldn't also cause the steering wheel to shimmy.
Next is a few other things that are less common, bent hub, bent rim(maybe), and bent axles, but you don't have front axles so that not a possibility.
I'd say hub, tire, or rim. If you hit a curb, that could do it. You will need a dial indicator to diagnose a bad hub.
Jack the car up and spin the wheels check the wheel and tire are not out of round or any wobble. (i have had tires with high spots, tread staring to seperate)
It is very common for the people balancing the wheels don't know what they are doing, especially with wide rims get it checked at a reputable tire retailer get a second opinion.
Brake disc warping will shake the steering wheel, with heavy shuddering during braking.
There are a few specialized places that can ballance wheels on the car.
Check you do not have worn universal joints, that can cause some vibration but will be audible.
I usually ask for stick on weights only, make sure they clean the rims
thoroughly before applying them. Clamp on weights can slip.
Should be a easy fix, Tires? buckled rims or disc's and yes a bad wheel alignment can cause a shudder.
Make sure the hubs that the wheels bolt onto are free of rust and are clean so there is no problem there.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 993
Likes: 3
From: Iowa
If the steering wheel is wanted to move left and right on you I would look for play in the steering (tie rod ends specifically). That's where the slack will build up over time and and allow for the symptoms that you are describing. Just my .02
