Steering wheel shake
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 0
From: Bucks county Pa
Steering wheel shake
When driving i feel my steering wheel shake. Its not like a loose column. It definitely feels like its in the suspension. Kinda a left and right back and forth shake. It is worse on shizzy roads. Not horrible but noticable. I shook down the whole front end checkin the usual suspects, ball joints are new, rack bushings seem tight, tires are new and in balance yes i re-checked. I dont know about the alignment but i dont think it would affect it and the wheel is staight. I talked to my bud at a vette shop and their telling me it is typical of the convertible C4s it could be the whole firewall assembly shaking. I dont understand it. Anything else you suggest i check? :steering:
[Modified by blk90rdstr, 10:29 PM 5/2/2003]
[Modified by blk90rdstr, 10:29 PM 5/2/2003]
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
From: Queens NY
Re: Steering wheel shake (blk90rdstr)
Sounds like my '86 in between when I got the ball joints done, and when I got it aligned. I don't see how brake pads could cause that, but if it's a possible cause I'd love to know more about that
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,182
Likes: 2
From: Almost all Skyline Cruises Vettes at Waterside 1-5
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Steering wheel shake (blk90rdstr)
:cheers: Assuming everything else checks out, how are the shocks?
They can wear out without signs of oil leaking, etc. When I bought my car, a few year ago, it had a similar problem (not an issue!)
This is not a C4 usual problem...oh yeah, what tires and pressure are you running? I found my car likes lower tire pressures with no signs of exceeive wear
:steering:
[Modified by jackdaroofer, 8:20 PM 5/2/2003]
They can wear out without signs of oil leaking, etc. When I bought my car, a few year ago, it had a similar problem (not an issue!)
This is not a C4 usual problem...oh yeah, what tires and pressure are you running? I found my car likes lower tire pressures with no signs of exceeive wear
:steering:
[Modified by jackdaroofer, 8:20 PM 5/2/2003]
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 0
From: Bucks county Pa
Re: Steering wheel shake (jackdaroofer)
Good question. I dont know how the shocks are but I will check them out. I do run 44lbs. im my 275/40/17 eagle F1's. But i have run them at around 35 lbs and still noticed the shake.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,182
Likes: 2
From: Almost all Skyline Cruises Vettes at Waterside 1-5
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Steering wheel shake (blk90rdstr)
Good question. I dont know how the shocks are but I will check them out. I do run 44lbs. im my 275/40/17 eagle F1's. But i have run them at around 35 lbs and still noticed the shake.
GM went to the 8.5 inch front whell because of this problem
:seeya
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,196
Likes: 0
Re: Steering wheel shake (jackdaroofer)
Get the car alined...I had the same problem a few weeks ago around 90 and over I would get a shake, the colum was vibrateing up and down, after the alinement it is smooth a silk. Good Luck
Another question, what kind of tires are you running? On my Camaro I had a softer compund tire and when I would let it sit for awhile one spot on the tire would form flat with the ground. When I would take it out to drive it I would get a shake for alittle while before the tires for thier act together.
Another question, what kind of tires are you running? On my Camaro I had a softer compund tire and when I would let it sit for awhile one spot on the tire would form flat with the ground. When I would take it out to drive it I would get a shake for alittle while before the tires for thier act together.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 0
From: Bucks county Pa
Re: Steering wheel shake (MongooseLT4)
I have goodyear F1's on it. I had flatspots on my T/A before and this seems different. The Vette never sat more than 3 weeks on these and there is no noises like flatspot produce. Yeah an alignment sounds like the the next step it couldnt hurt. :)
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: lakeland fl
Re: Steering wheel shake (blk90rdstr)
My 86 coupe has always done that, too- less noticible when the hardtop is in place vs the clear top, so I figure it's just some cowl shake. I've seen this pop up in threads the last couple of years, seems to be a bit common. A solution mentioned on other threads are those tie bars- people seem to be happy with them.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 0
From: Bucks county Pa
Re: Steering wheel shake (johncazin)
Really. So would it be worth it in my case to buy a camber brace? I'm happy with handling but if it will reduce that skake it would be worth every penny.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,182
Likes: 2
From: Almost all Skyline Cruises Vettes at Waterside 1-5
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Steering wheel shake (blk90rdstr)
:cheers: IMHO, solve the shake first! Shake is not normal...adding a camber brace may help, but if it does, it issimply masking the problem.
Add the camber brace after you solve the shake if you wnt tighter suspension...IMHO, the brace is an upgrade, not a fix!
:steering:
Add the camber brace after you solve the shake if you wnt tighter suspension...IMHO, the brace is an upgrade, not a fix!
:steering:
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 0
From: Bucks county Pa
Re: Steering wheel shake (jackdaroofer)
Good Point. But if it is cowl shake then there is no real fix. So if it would stiffen the front end that would be fixing it. This is a PITA but its all thats wrong with it so I would like to figure it out.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 11,182
Likes: 2
From: Almost all Skyline Cruises Vettes at Waterside 1-5
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Re: Steering wheel shake (blk90rdstr)
I don't believe it is "cowl shake" either. Cowl shake is what it says, the cowl, which is the engine firewall and the windshield frame "shake from side to side, over bumps...British sports cars gave birth to that phrase, mainly because of the way there bodies were fastened to the frame.
Yes, I do get a little, very little cowl shake with the top down, but it is hardly noticeable and just enough to remind me that my vette is a roadster.
You have some other problem...either some of the things already mentioned or may be some not.
Have you had a good mechanic check out the front end? Loose assembly's, steering rack, etc could also contribute.
Just trying to help
:steering:
Yes, I do get a little, very little cowl shake with the top down, but it is hardly noticeable and just enough to remind me that my vette is a roadster.
You have some other problem...either some of the things already mentioned or may be some not.
Have you had a good mechanic check out the front end? Loose assembly's, steering rack, etc could also contribute.
Just trying to help
:steering:
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,498
Likes: 0
From: Bucks county Pa
Re: Steering wheel shake (jackdaroofer)
No it hasnt been to a shop. Only I have checked it out since last state inpection. I tried to take it to a corvette shop and thats where i learned this cheesey "cowl shake" theory.I didnt really buy it either.They told me they couldn't fix it even if they rebuilt the whole front end. Thats why i figured i would post here. I will let my local mech. give it a once-over after the alignment. I hope its something stupid I missed.
