steering wheel wobble above 60mph

[con1981]

Its become really apparent that as I get above 60mph i get a vibration through the steering wheel. Now I know the first port of call would be wheel balancing but what else should i be looking for and in what order. Last year for MOT it had both track ends replaced and when i took it for alignment the guy mentioned that he thought there was play in the rack this though was not picked up at MOT.

So i'm thinking wheel balancing
Steering rack bushes

what else?
If it is the rack how will i be able to tell?

 

[JD_RS172]

Like you say go straight for balancing and as to the rack I think they do a replacement bush because the standard ones wear over time.

I'm new to clios myself so somebody else may be able to clarify this. I know I replaced it on my megane

 

[con1981]

Yep I'm hoping it is just bushes or wheel balancing and not inner track rods or the actual rack playing up. I'm thinking im going to go with poly bushes. But don't want to replace if not required

 

[roryb]

That's started happening to mine too, only 3/4 times over the last 2 months. I'm getting lowering springs soon so its not worth getting it all checked and aligned until i have changed the springs

 

[con1981]

That's started happening to mine too, only 3/4 times over the last 2 months. I'm getting lowering springs soon so its not worth getting it all checked and aligned until i have changed the springs

With it lowered it will make it more obvious. Dependent on how low u go could mean they will wear out quicker which should mean you will see any deficiencies easier

 

[roryb]

With it lowered it will make it more obvious. Dependent on how low u go could mean they will wear out quicker which should mean you will see any deficiencies easier

Sorry meant after i have the springs fitted ill get the tracking done

 

[con1981]

Sorry meant after i have the springs fitted ill get the tracking done

Definitely required as your geometry will be out

 

[STEVE.M]

1)Check the wheel bolts are tight.2)get wheels balanced and make sure they check the tyres for correct seating on rim ,sidewall damage or rim kerb damage at the same time.
Incorrect tracking will not produce steering wheel shake if it drives in a straight line with the steering wheel close to central.
Get tracking done after final lowering/camber adjustments.

 

[Briv6]

What's tyre tread like ? Can vibrate over 60 with worn tyres badly making think you something else

 

[con1981]

What's tyre tread like ? Can vibrate over 60 with worn tyres badly making think you something else

The tyre tread is fine. I guess I'm just a bit worried that the guy that did the tracking thought there was play in the rack but this was never brought up for its multiple MOT failures.

 

[JD_RS172]

I'd just give it a once over yourself like Steve said check tyres for any damage like egging. That can be a nightmare.

Check what you can to your ability/accessibility. If you have a jack and stands you can check most things.

 

[-J-]

What happens when you get up to 'wobble speed' and knock it in to neutral?

If the wobble remains it will be wheels buckled, missing wheel weights, budge in tyre or drive shaft.

If it goes then it's box related (mine was a dead diff in the box)

 

[James28]

Mine was wheel balancing

 

[con1981]

What happens when you get up to 'wobble speed' and knock it in to neutral?

If the wobble remains it will be wheels buckled, missing wheel weights, budge in tyre or drive shaft.

If it goes then it's box related (mine was a dead diff in the box)

Cheers mate will try popping it into neutral and see what it does

 

[con1981]

Mine was wheel balancing

There is no wheel bearing rumble. This weekend though I'll get it up on stands and give it a good going over just to be certain

 

[con1981]

I've googled how to check the inner tie rods for play any suggestions as to how I check the actual rack?

 

[MWright]

Solved similar issue by replacing TRE's, they even passed through an MOT without being noticed.

 

[con1981]

I've already replaced the outer ones in April so they should be fine

 

[con1981]

Couldn't wait till the weekend with this so I've had a quick look this evening. Everything appears fine. The only fault I can find is a knackered outer arb bush. Could this cause the vibration?

Looks like it is between this and wheel balancing.

 

[STEVE.M]

Couldn't wait till the weekend with this so I've had a quick look this evening. Everything appears fine. The only fault I can find is a knackered outer arb bush. Could this cause the vibration?

Looks like it is between this and wheel balancing.

Don`t you just love it when you get bowled a bouncer.

Maybe those not so budget Marshall Matrac`s you raved about in March as not as good as you thought.

 

[con1981]

Don`t you just love it when you get bowled a bouncer.

Maybe those not so budget Marshall Matrac`s you raved about in March as not as good as you thought.

Ha! You could be right. Very good use of the search function. I'll get them balanced at the weekend. I have a spare set of alloys now which will be getting powder coated soon. Perhaps may be time to invest in a slightly for reputable tyre

 

[STEVE.M]

Couldn't wait till the weekend with this so I've had a quick look this evening. Everything appears fine. The only fault I can find is a knackered outer arb bush. Could this cause the vibration?

Looks like it is between this and wheel balancing.

Don`t you just love it when you get bowled a bouncer.

Maybe those not so budget Marshall Matrac`s you raved about in March this year,at £55 a corner in March this year are not as good as you thought or even round.
B rated in the wet Linglongs might be a better bet.At £33 a corner.

Then there is the non centering steering issue at the end of August.Did it cure itself,but now the steering wobbles/shakes?

Given the aircon deletion /steamy windows thread,take it home.

 

[con1981]

Don`t you just love it when you get bowled a bouncer.

Maybe those not so budget Marshall Matrac`s you raved about in March this year,at £55 a corner in March this year are not as good as you thought or even round.
B rated in the wet Linglongs might be a better bet.At £33 a corner.

Then there is the non centering steering issue at the end of August.Did it cure itself,but now the steering wobbles/shakes?

Given the aircon deletion /steamy windows thread,take it home.

Is there an echo in the room or did u just post the same thing twice?

I'm a little confused you don't seem to make any sense

 

[STEVE.M]

Is there an echo in the room or did u just post the same thing twice?

I'm a little confused you don't seem to make any sense

Read it again,wandering dogs paw pefore completion

 

[dann2707]

Switch front wheels with the rear and see if it persists. I'd go for wheel balancing although a dead wheel bearing carrier caused my wheel vibration. Didn't hum like a dead bearing.

Symptom was wheel moved when wobbling wheel up and down at half 12 positions

 

[con1981]

Switch front wheels with the rear and see if it persists. I'd go for wheel balancing although a dead wheel bearing carrier caused my wheel vibration. Didn't hum like a dead bearing.

Symptom was wheel moved when wobbling wheel up and down at half 12 positions

Already checked. My money is on the wheel not being balanced.

 

[con1981]

Read it again,wandering dogs paw pefore completion

Wandering dogs paw? Pal I have no idea what you mean?

 

[STEVE.M]

Wandering dogs paw? Pal I have no idea what you mean?

Sorry,my attention seeking dog gets fed up with me for spending too much time in front of the computor.
He jumped up on my lap,turned his back to me and banged his paws down on the keyboard.

 

[con1981]

Well I had it up on the ramps yesterday to do oil , filters and replace a dead lambda sensor and couldn't see anything a matter with rack, tre, inner cv joints. Took it down to a tyre specialist and it turns out Steve m was right. Front wheels completely out of balance. Problem now solved

 

[Darren S]

Thread bump.

Worth commenting on here just for anyone else in the same boat. Mine did the same - in particular between 50-70mph saw the steering wheel rapidly wobble side-to-side. Luckily, I'd recently bought a set of Turinis over my OEM alloys and even with new tyres - the wobble was still there. It clearly wasn't an alloy and tyre combination causing the issue.

Balancing was confirmed as being true on all corners and the tracking bob-on. Not long after, I had the driveshafts replaced and with everything bolted back together, the wobble was still there.

In my head, I kept thinking it was the front discs. They had been on a while and I was thinking that just one of them with a slight warp might be enough to induce a wobble. More so, the wobble increased/decreased in severity depending on the steering input. I started to think of that science lesson that you did a school - where sat down with a spinning gyroscope, you could turn direction in your seat.

i had the front discs removed to check. No cracks and the measurement reading of one of them being 'out' was so minuscule, it hardly mattered. Still, I bought a new set of discs and pads from George on here.

Left it a few weeks and finally got around to having them replaced. Took the car out and BOOM - arrow straight. The wobble went away completely and I'm back to happy driving at motorway speeds again. I just wish I'd changed them sooner!

 

[imprezaworks]

Good update Darren.