Help help shaking steering wheel violently

[Liam@redmonkey]

Hi guys,

I was on the motorway earlier and the steering wheel began to shake really violently, almost as if I had a blown tyre it was trying to force me off the road, took quite some effort to hold onto be honest.
I slowed down to about 40 then it stopped.

This happened te other day but not quite as bad and I noticed if I accelerated it would stop but when feet of the pedals it would shake like mad afinthis lasted about 30 seconds.

Today even when accelerating it did it.

Any ideas guys

 

[DrR]

Wheel weights come off?

 

[Liam@redmonkey]

Just came back on the Motorway and it did it again mainly over 55 60 mph. S**t scary feels like the car is gonna get thrown about all over the place, strange?????

Cheers DrRollo, any other ideas before i take it in tomorrow

 

[James.f]

wheels bolted on properly?

 

[DrR]

If it does it at a certain speed it's the wheels needing balancing, mine does it at a certain speed

 

[Liam@redmonkey]

That even crossed my mind, ive noticed when i turn in a hard circle or in a multistory i can here a clicking clunking as if the wheel is hitting rubbing against something BUT i doubt that would cause what is happening on the motorway because of how violently the steering wheel is shaking it feels like severe aqua plaining constantly

 

[Liam@redmonkey]

I thought the wheels needed aligning/balancing the first time, but surely it wouldnt do it that heavily

 

[James.f]

would it be a wheel bearing? i think can cause the wheel to wobble and eventually come's off

 

[Liam@redmonkey]

Im a proper mechanical biff anyone shed any light on any the above?

 

[James.f]

Urm how can i explain it, the wheel bearing is in the flanj, the circle thing on the hub that has 4 holes, the 4 holes that your wheel studs hold onto, so if the bearings fail the wheel will wobble and eventually just fly off, and your wheel will overtake you

 

[Liam@redmonkey]

Sounds fun! In away thats kind of what it felt like a wheel that was wobbling like crazy but then stopping. A few of my mates have said wheel bearings and because of the rubbing noise when hard turning maybe the wheel has moved a fair bit.

Price of a wheel bearing?

 

[James.f]

Can you remove the hub yourself?

if not, then a garage would charge about £100ish, as the hub needs to come off and get the old bearing remove and press in the new one.

it would be cheaper if you removed the hub yourself tho.

 

[Paul_LY-182]

get your wheels balanced to start with as that ll be cheapest, then if that doesnt solve it look into wheel bearings etc, wheels not being balanced can cause quite bad wheel wobble.

 

[Liam@redmonkey]

My old man is sales manager at a volvo dealership so its going in tomorrow for them to have a look, are the wheel bearings obvious if there nackered?? As i could get the wheels balanced then i would have to go down the motorway for abit and hope it doesnt do it to test it.

 

[Liam@redmonkey]

Also wanted to say thanks for all your replys guys, bloody number plate light has gone out now and a new bulb didnt do the trick, looks like its another problem lol

 

[Nickharding]

Check your Wheel bolts and that all weights are still on, if not, theres your problem.

 

[James.f]

Also wanted to say thanks for all your replys guys, bloody number plate light has gone out now and a new bulb didnt do the trick, looks like its another problem lol

check the connection, sometimes it can work itself lose, pop a flat screwdriver and pop it up,

 

[Liam@redmonkey]

wheel bolts,
weights,
balancing
bearings

nice list for the lads to check on tomorrow

 

[Liam@redmonkey]

check the connection, sometimes it can work itself lose, pop a flat screwdriver and pop it up,

I think it might be the bulb holder, could see abit of muck and rust where the bulb sits when i put the new one in

 

[James.f]

I think it might be the bulb holder, could see abit of muck and rust where the bulb sits when i put the new one in

clean it out and whack some Wd40 in there, should do the job. but if your gettin water in there then could be the lens is cracked.

 

[Liam@redmonkey]

had the wire checked and there is a current so got to be the bulb holder, gave it a good scrape but no joy, think i ll get hold of Joh at clisprare tomorrow.

Bit worried that one of my wheels might come off at the moment lol

 

[James.f]

Best replace it then. you could always check if its the bearings yourself tho, but if your not planning on using it tonight and can wait till the garage look at it, then i wont explain how

 

[Nicolasticity]

Run your hands over the tyre walls looking for bulges - had a tyre fail in the wall and it caused all sorts of vib issues, wheel weights shoudn't cause a violent vibration, loose wheel nuts will, or excessive suspension wear, or tyre moved on rim (hit a curb can cause all sorts of issues)

You can check a wheel bearing tyre of ground by turning and pulling on the wheel looking for movement and a grinding / rumble from the bearing. Can also turn wheel and listen to the bearing with a large screwdrive clse to bearing (non sharp end in your ear) or piece of wood also works.

 

[Liam@redmonkey]

I ll mention all these things tomorrow morning and wil let you know the outcome

cheers guys

 

[jaysjetski]

have you checked the offside driveshaft.....

i had this very problem. the cv joint at the gearbox end had almost smashed to bits. it was fully drivable but would wobble like mad at 40 mph plus.....

a very easy check. lift one wheel of the floor. put in gear, try and turn wheel buy hand if it move then its most likely the driveshaft...

also while its in the air try and ROCK the wheel up and down side to side(hold 12 and 6 o'clock and 3 and 9 o'clock) to see if there is any movement(would surgest wheel bearing) check both sides

wheels weight would not make the wheel unholdable unless you wheels are so f@@ked that they have tons on weight.

hope this helps. let us know

 

[MikeB]

could be a tyre?

 

[Liam@redmonkey]

This expensive??????

have you checked the offside driveshaft.....

i had this very problem. the cv joint at the gearbox end had almost smashed to bits. it was fully drivable but would wobble like mad at 40 mph plus.....

a very easy check. lift one wheel of the floor. put in gear, try and turn wheel buy hand if it move then its most likely the driveshaft...

also while its in the air try and ROCK the wheel up and down side to side(hold 12 and 6 o'clock and 3 and 9 o'clock) to see if there is any movement(would surgest wheel bearing) check both sides

wheels weight would not make the wheel unholdable unless you wheels are so f@@ked that they have tons on weight.

hope this helps. let us know

 

[Liam@redmonkey]

weird that its only done it on the motorway and 3 times, but its clearly speed related.
Hopefully it will be something obvious and i wont have to take it to a renault spechialist

 

[jaysjetski]

This expensive??????

i bought a complete driveshaft from renault dealer in bristol(s j cook) it cost me £144 inc vat with £11.50 surchage( so about £132.50) orderes on a monday came on thursday. i fitted it myself so wasnt to bad(but mine is a ph1)

i did get a quote from a good garage in bristol(about £200 fitted)

there is how ever a few threads about 3 weeks ago about a company selling reconed units for £90 inc vat plus £50 on top for surcharge plus extra postage to send to the company.

 

[Liam@redmonkey]

Mines a Ph1 172 as well. Hopefully my old mans work can get them through the parts department cheap then i ll give one of the mechanics some cash in hand to do it after work.

I have twated some nasty pot holes recently down some country lanes and probably doesnt help having these apex springs on like riding on bricks,
fingers crossed it wont be to expensive!

 

[jaysjetski]

yeah.... you wont find many suppliers for a driveshaft. i found about 3, one in leed(refurb the one on the car. renault and the one i mention above)

the one from renault came from france as none in the country, local factors couldnt get one either......

they have had about 3 revisions since the car was released....



hope all goes well.

 

[Liam@redmonkey]

OK had wheels balanced, bearings are all fine, wheels on securely, all we found was a rer shock pissing out!

I honestly have no idea what is causeing it can anyone help???

 

[James.f]

did they check the tracking?

 

[Liam@redmonkey]

Tracking is fine aswell.

The car and steering wheel is so violent though its got to be something serious.
And its only at about above 60mph.

 

[James.f]

im absolutley puzzled then,

this is what i would check:
Bearings
Tracking
suspension
Track rod ends
suspension bushes
driveshafts
wishbone bushes
wheels

everything in the front tbh, if you can find the fault yourself it will be cheaper.

 

[Liam@redmonkey]

I ve got to get new rear discs and and rear shocks put on in a couple of weeks at jms so maybe get tom and james to have a look then

 

[James.f]

Ye deffinatly get them to check it over, could be something small in the end, probably a lose bolt etc

 

[jaysjetski]

OK had wheels balanced, bearings are all fine, wheels on securely, all we found was a rer shock p**sing out!

I honestly have no idea what is causeing it can anyone help???

did you check the driveshaft?????

 

[rich-6]

You got aftermarket wheels?

You would hear if the bearing had gone if the wheel is vibrating as much as you say it is too, If it had chucked a CV joint and split the shaft it would pull one way too

 

[Liam@redmonkey]

no, standard wheels, it is pulling but mostly to the left but i mean really pulling!! And shaking like a maniac at the same time, but only above 55mph ish.