Steering Vibration at High Speed

[markjp]

When I accelerate between approx 75-85mph the steering vibrates. I don't think it does it if you accelerate very gently, but I need to test this more to be sure of this.

Here's some background info:

My car is fitted with 19" Luganos wheels and the car has covered only 6000 miles.

During this last Winter/Spring I have hit two potholes one on each front side. They made a horrible noise when I hit them and after inspection of the wheel both times there were rubber marks on the outside edge of the rim and on one of the wheels there is a scrape on the outside edge of the rim approx 1" long. Initially I didn't experience any issues with the steering but for peace of mind I had both wheels re balanced and had the wheel alignment checked. I wasn't told if the wheels were out of balance, not sure if they check that anyway before rebalancing. Wheel alignment was only out by a small amount on one parameter.

I have done a bit of googling and wondered whether it may be the result of a buckeled wheel. What do people think?

Do any wheel alignment machines check for buckled wheels or is it just from a visual inspection that you can tell?

[Cuprabob]

You don't get OEM 19" Interlagos wheels therefore you're wheels are probably Luganos if 19". Interlagos.are 18".

Wheel alignment won't pick up a buckled wheel but you would notice it on the wheel balancing machine.

First thing I would do is swap front and back wheels around to see if issue remains. If it does, it's the suspension, if nit it's the wheels/tyres.

Alignment wouldn't cause vibration unless it was a mile out.

Vibration at a particular speed points towards an.out of balance rotating part, whether it be a wheel, driveshaft, CV joint or a fecked wheel bearing. If the wheel bearing was bad enough to cause vibration, you would hear it. Could also be a track rid end or a ball joint.

You really need to take your car to someonr who knows about suspenion, if it turns out not to.be the wheels.

[uklee]

Cuprabob is right - it definitely sounds like a wheel issue to me too.

You say that the steering wheel is shaking - do you mean that the wheel column is shaking vertically ? (body shake) or that the wheel itself vibrates left to right ( shimmy) ?

A wheel & tyre assy with high RFV (Radial / Road Force Variation - google it !) can manifest itself in different ways - if you have shimmy then its almost definitely a front wheel / tyre issue , and swapping the wheels front to back will help diagnose the problem. If you're getting vertical shake then it could be from the front or the back wheels or maybe even a driveshaft ( though driveline vibration is often a higher frequency and most noticeable through something like the rear view mirror buzzing)

A decent balancing machine will have the facility to measure wheel rim run out and also RFV . If it's a wheel balance and /or high RFV issue , then you may be able to have the wheel & tyre match mounted to cure the issue . If the rim is bent (but not cracked) then there are places that can get them to run true again.

Bottom line is , you need to find a place with a decent piece of wheel balancing kit (the Hunter GSP9700 is a good one) and get them to diagnose the root cause of the vibration

Lee

[Gaz r]

I've had similar issues with my last car. It was fitted with aftermarket alloys, a couple of different sets actually. I found that when I had new tyres it didn't happen, but as the tyres became worn it would start again. I had lots of checks done but to no avail.
Then my mechanic told me that if there is uneven wear on the tyre, the rapid acceleration causes to the tyre to heat very quickly and you would get steering vibration. But as you say a more gentle acceleration to those speeds and it would be fine. So another possibility for the mix. Hope you get to the bottom of it, I just accepted it at the time and got used to it.
Oh yeah forgot, can also be caused by break discs too.

[markjp]

Cuprabob is right - it definitely sounds like a wheel issue to me too.

You say that the steering wheel is shaking - do you mean that the wheel column is shaking vertically ? (body shake) or that the wheel itself vibrates left to right ( shimmy) ?

A wheel & tyre assy with high RFV (Radial / Road Force Variation - google it !) can manifest itself in different ways - if you have shimmy then its almost definitely a front wheel / tyre issue , and swapping the wheels front to back will help diagnose the problem. If you're getting vertical shake then it could be from the front or the back wheels or maybe even a driveshaft ( though driveline vibration is often a higher frequency and most noticeable through something like the rear view mirror buzzing)

A decent balancing machine will have the facility to measure wheel rim run out and also RFV . If it's a wheel balance and /or high RFV issue , then you may be able to have the wheel & tyre match mounted to cure the issue . If the rim is bent (but not cracked) then there are places that can get them to run true again.

Bottom line is , you need to find a place with a decent piece of wheel balancing kit (the Hunter GSP9700 is a good one) and get them to diagnose the root cause of the vibration

Lee

The wheel vibrates left to right, shimmy as you say.

Thanks for detailed info.

[markjp]

Cuprabob is right - it definitely sounds like a wheel issue to me too.

You say that the steering wheel is shaking - do you mean that the wheel column is shaking vertically ? (body shake) or that the wheel itself vibrates left to right ( shimmy) ?

A wheel & tyre assy with high RFV (Radial / Road Force Variation - google it !) can manifest itself in different ways - if you have shimmy then its almost definitely a front wheel / tyre issue , and swapping the wheels front to back will help diagnose the problem. If you're getting vertical shake then it could be from the front or the back wheels or maybe even a driveshaft ( though driveline vibration is often a higher frequency and most noticeable through something like the rear view mirror buzzing)

A decent balancing machine will have the facility to measure wheel rim run out and also RFV . If it's a wheel balance and /or high RFV issue , then you may be able to have the wheel & tyre match mounted to cure the issue . If the rim is bent (but not cracked) then there are places that can get them to run true again.

Bottom line is , you need to find a place with a decent piece of wheel balancing kit (the Hunter GSP9700 is a good one) and get them to diagnose the root cause of the vibration

Lee

Do you know of any tyre place that has a Hunter GSP9700 in Sussex or South East England or know the best way to find out short of ringing round numerous tyre places?

[uklee]

Do you know of any tyre place that has a Hunter GSP9700 in Sussex or South East England or know the best way to find out short of ringing round numerous tyre places?

I dont mate I'm afraid - I'm from the Midlands .Although I can pretty much guarantee that any Jaguar / Landrover dealership you find down there will have one - their labour would be more expensive than an independent though.

Pro-Align are the UK importer and service agent for all Hunter products , i'm sure that they will have a list of all the garages that have the equipment in the UK (they're usually on a service & calibration contract). I'd give them a bell , tell them that you want your wheels match mounted on a Hunter GSP9700, and can they suggest a service centre in your area.

It's only 1 phone call , and you have nothing to lose !

http://www.pro-align.co.uk/proalignprod ... ebalancer/

Lee

[markjp]

Do you know of any tyre place that has a Hunter GSP9700 in Sussex or South East England or know the best way to find out short of ringing round numerous tyre places?

I dont mate I'm afraid - I'm from the Midlands .Although I can pretty much guarantee that any Jaguar / Landrover dealership you find down there will have one - their labour would be more expensive than an independent though.

Pro-Align are the UK importer and service agent for all Hunter products , i'm sure that they will have a list of all the garages that have the equipment in the UK (they're usually on a service & calibration contract). I'd give them a bell , tell them that you want your wheels match mounted on a Hunter GSP9700, and can they suggest a service centre in your area.

It's only 1 phone call , and you have nothing to lose !

http://www.pro-align.co.uk/proalignprod ... ebalancer/

Lee

Thanks Lee.

After I posted this last night I googled my way to the Hunter Importer in the UK and I emailed them.

I got a reply today and there is a Tyre place in Christchurch, Dorset, 76 miles away. I have a week off next week so will probably go one day next week. Think I will get all 4 wheels done if I'm doing a 150mile round trip.