Help Please, Steering Wheel Shaking Options

[circuscatch85]

I have a problem with my steering wheel shaking. It does it when:

- I exceed anywhere from 50-65 mph (it's inconsistent as to when it shows up)
- When I brake

I have recently put on new rims and tires, balanced and all that, and it still does it, though not quite as severe. My old tires did not have any uneven wear to them when they were taken off. I have had alignments done, re-balances, and even had my rotors rotated but it still does it. Anyone have any ideas as to what it might be? Thanks in advance

[bccentaur3]

You probably need an alignment. Now when you brake, do you feel the brakes pulsate?

[circuscatch85]

You probably need an alignment. Now when you brake, do you feel the brakes pulsate?

No, I don't think so. I'm assuming i would really notice it if they were. But I had the news tires, rotor rotation, balancing, and alignment done at the same time.

[bccentaur3]

well then do the brakes pulsate when you try to stop?

Maybe you bent a tie rod. Do you recall running into a curb or anything?

[bseaman_5]

I would have assumed they were out of balance but you negated that, and I really don't think an alignment would fix that because its not quite the same thing. The only thing I could think it possibly could be is that your rotors are warped.. Mine were so far warn that they had warped and it shook pretty bad.. The other thing tho I also doubt this is maybe a wheel is bent?? I have a bent wheel and at higher speeds it shudders in a regular pattern.. my only guess would be warped rotors...

[bccentaur3]

Thats why i asked if the brakes pulsated when applied.

[circuscatch85]

when I had the rotors rotated the mechanic didnt say anything...would it be something that would stick out pretty bad? Also, i did run over one of those like isolated sidewalk things that gas stations use to make clear entrances and exits. It was dark and they must have just put them in because i ran right over the top of it haha. So what is a tie rod and where would it be? sorry, i'm not too good with cars.

edit: i did have one of my new rims bent, front right, but it was doing it before that with the all new rims as well as with my snow tires on (different rims with those).

This post has been edited by circuscatch85: Dec 5, 2008 - 7:20 PM

[bccentaur3]

I don't really no what rotating rotors do, but if you mean turn them down then they should be warped. I would think you bent some sort of suspension component.

[circuscatch85]

I don't really know what it does either haha, my mechanic said he should do it when he put the new rims and tires on though. He's a family friend so i doubt he tried to pull one over on me. But thanks for your help man, i'll send it in and tell him to look for anything wrong with the suspension or tie rod, etc. (btw, is it tie rod or tire rod?) thanks again

[bccentaur3]

tie rod

[richee3]

At first I thought your tires needed balancing, but like bseaman said, you ruled that out already. It could very well be a bent tie rod, but I'm still thinking like bccentuar said, warped rotor. My front left rotor is warped. Not enough to notice when you just look at it, but when you are driving, you can feel it. It's very irregular, like you said. I'd say that's what it is. Have your mechanic check everything out though, just to be safe.

[bccentaur3]

But he said that his mechanic turned the rotors or in his words rotated them. I hope he didn't just rotate them like they do with tires lol... But a bent tie rod would cause this issue.

[richee3]

But he said that his mechanic turned the rotors or in his words rotated them. I hope he didn't just rotate them like they do with tires lol... But a bent tie rod would cause this issue.

I'm curious what he means by that. When he said rotated them, I thought he DID mean like with tires, just take the left rotor and put it on the right side so it's wearing the opposite direction. Can somebody shed some light? A big reason I'm on this forum is to learn

[circuscatch85]

Sorry, yeah, i mean turned. That's just my car ignorance coming out haha. I'll have him check out both the tie rod and the rotors then. Thanks for the help

[bccentaur3]

I thought you meant turned them down. Okay since we've ruled out the warped rotors, I really think its a bent tie rod now.

[circuscatch85]

Oh, i think another important thing to add that i forgot earlier is that it doesn't do it quite as bad when i'm taking a corner as it does when i'm on a straight-a-way.

[richee3]

Oh, i think another important thing to add that i forgot earlier is that it doesn't do it quite as bad when i'm taking a corner as it does when i'm on a straight-a-way.

Taking that into consideration, I'm willing to put money on bccentaur's analysis. That definitely sounds like a bent tie rod. And hey, don't be worried about your so-called car ignorance. We all have to start somewhere. That's one of the biggest reasons I'm on this forum, is to learn what I'm doing and what I need to do before I do it. You're definitely in the right place to get started

[circuscatch85]

Oh, i think another important thing to add that i forgot earlier is that it doesn't do it quite as bad when i'm taking a corner as it does when i'm on a straight-a-way.

Taking that into consideration, I'm willing to put money on bccentaur's analysis. That definitely sounds like a bent tie rod. And hey, don't be worried about your so-called car ignorance. We all have to start somewhere. That's one of the biggest reasons I'm on this forum, is to learn what I'm doing and what I need to do before I do it. You're definitely in the right place to get started

Thanks man, and thanks for your help

[richee3]

Sorry I'm not much help lol. Bccentaur is the one to thank. He's had this called the whole time.

This post has been edited by richee3: Dec 8, 2008 - 6:52 PM

[bccentaur3]

You're so modest hahaha. Thanks for the credit.