Steering wheel vibration at 60 MPH

Steering wheel vibration at 60 MPH - Printable Version

+- 968Forums.com (https://968forums.com/forum)
+-- Forum: FIXING MY BABY - OEM REPAIRS (https://968forums.com/forum/fixing-my-baby-oem-repairs)
+--- Forum: TRIAGE AND DIAGNOSING YOUR PROBLEM (https://968forums.com/forum/triage-and-diagnosing-your-problem)
+---- Forum: What is that noise? (https://968forums.com/forum/what-is-that-noise)
+---- Thread: Steering wheel vibration at 60 MPH (/steering-wheel-vibration-at-60-mph.html)

Steering wheel vibration at 60 MPH - Jay 968 - 09-13-2009

At about 60MPH, plus or minus 5 miles per hour, my steering wheel vibrates. The deflections are maybe half an inch, and there are three or four cycles per second.

I figure this is probably an out-of-balance or out-of-alignment wheel, or maybe worn suspension, but since I'm unfamiliar with the car (just got it) I thought I'd ask here first. On my other car (1990 BMW 535i) this symptom is a telltale sign of pooched steering link bushes.

What do you think? Thanks in advance.

Steering wheel vibration at 60 MPH - flash - 09-13-2009

vibration at a particular speed is almost always balance, either a tire, a wheel, or believe it or not, a rotor - there is a small chance that it is a castor block - they can do that if they are really bad, which can happen if they get soaked in any kind of oil

Steering wheel vibration at 60 MPH - 968rz - 09-13-2009

Flash is right, my bet would be tire or rim (front?). A rotor at that speed would get worse if you lightly ride the brakes.

Steering wheel vibration at 60 MPH - SILVY968 - 09-13-2009

I had a similar experience at about 55 mph. It was a front tire that was out of round. A balance only machine will not show it.
Ask if you tire guy can check for out of round tires.
Brian

Steering wheel vibration at 60 MPH - wiseman - 09-14-2009

Its probably the tire. Just make sure you take the car to a reputable dealer. They will find it. Avoid the mass merchandisers. Those kids aren't trained to solve problems just bolt up tires.

Steering wheel vibration at 60 MPH - flash - 09-14-2009

yeah - radial force first harmonics are fairly easy to diagnose, if you have the right equipment, but if it is a lateral issue, as in the case of conicity, it is a lot harder - sorting this stuff out can make you nuts

i had one that was really hard to find, and not for any odd rare problem with the tire - it turned out that the balancer had not been calibrated in over a month - a quick calibration, and i was good to go

i agree - stay clear of the budget tire shops - they tend to cut a lot of corners

Steering wheel vibration at 60 MPH - Jay 968 - 09-14-2009

Thanks everyone!! I'll start with the tires, and I'll take 'em to a good shop I know.

Steering wheel vibration at 60 MPH - porsche - 09-18-2009

Jay,

Check to make sure you don't have a BENT wheel.

"crawl" over speed bumps and avoid "pot holes" and other road obstacles at all costs.

Porsche wheels are big and thus have tires with very small sidewalls.

This setup doesn't have a lot of "give."

Thus, even a minor road hazzard can and will bend wheels.

The above may seem obvious, but "straight/true" wheels are the first step.

Porsche

BTW, if a "pot hole" is simply un-avoidable, "punch it" (rather than brake), this way you "raise over" the hole (vs. "diving in" and destroying your wheels and suspension)!!!! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif[/img]

Steering wheel vibration at 60 MPH - Jay 968 - 09-18-2009

Thanks!

I only have 16" wheels, so I actually have quite a lot of tire sidewall. I will check 'em out, though.

I always goose the gas slightly over potholes and speed bumps to unweight the front suspension. It's a good tip.

Steering wheel vibration at 60 MPH - bob blackwell - 09-18-2009

QUOTE (Jay 968 @ Sep 18 2009, 07:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Thanks!

I only have 16" wheels, so I actually have quite a lot of tire sidewall. I will check 'em out, though.

I always goose the gas slightly over potholes and speed bumps to unweight the front suspension. It's a good tip.

Jay968, I recently had the same vibration on "ol blue" and drove my tire shop crazy making them rebalance the wheels over and over. Finally determined that the bushings in the front control arms ("A" arms) were worn. I had replaced the castor blocks already and they were still good. The vibration disappeared after replacing both control arms. Hope your vibration is only a tire or bent rim. Good luck, Bob Blackwell.

Steering wheel vibration at 60 MPH - Jay 968 - 09-19-2009

Bob, thanks. Yeah, that's actually what I'm betting on. How much did the control arms set you back?

I've had and fixed this problem on my BMW. It was the control arm bushings.

Steering wheel vibration at 60 MPH - bob blackwell - 09-20-2009

QUOTE (Jay 968 @ Sep 19 2009, 03:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Bob, thanks. Yeah, that's actually what I'm betting on. How much did the control arms set you back?

I've had and fixed this problem on my BMW. It was the control arm bushings.

Jay, I bought new ones for $375 each and the labor to install and align was $270. I still have my old ones if you are interested in using them for cores. $100 plus shipping for both. Good luck, Bob Blackwell.