steering wheel shaking BAD
10-19-12, 09:36 PM
#1
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent wa
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
steering wheel shaking BAD
85 gs with the gsl rear end.
So my steering wheel shakes really bad mostly going straight between 35 and 45mph. I turn a little in either direction and it goes away for the mostt part. Any other speeds it's fine. When i bought the car all the tie rod ends were loose (the tie rods were fine, it was the actual bolts that were loose) but there was no vibration, just really loose steering. Now that i tightened then up, replaced the idler arm Bushs, and tightened up the steering box i have the vibration. I got an alignment the other day and they told me the tie rod adjuster it's bent and the lower control arm "appears to be bent". Would that cause the shake? Either way they're gonna get replaced but i want to get this issue figured out first
Sent from my XT912 using RX7Club
So my steering wheel shakes really bad mostly going straight between 35 and 45mph. I turn a little in either direction and it goes away for the mostt part. Any other speeds it's fine. When i bought the car all the tie rod ends were loose (the tie rods were fine, it was the actual bolts that were loose) but there was no vibration, just really loose steering. Now that i tightened then up, replaced the idler arm Bushs, and tightened up the steering box i have the vibration. I got an alignment the other day and they told me the tie rod adjuster it's bent and the lower control arm "appears to be bent". Would that cause the shake? Either way they're gonna get replaced but i want to get this issue figured out first
Sent from my XT912 using RX7Club
10-20-12, 02:30 AM
#2
Lives on the Forum
Yes, it would. The first thing to do would be identify & replace any bent/broken pieces.
You could post a "parts wanted" thread in the proper section of the forum, and with luck
find someone parting out a car nearby.
.
You could post a "parts wanted" thread in the proper section of the forum, and with luck
find someone parting out a car nearby.
.
10-20-12, 12:20 PM
#4
Fix the bent parts because they for sure aren't helping.
Other possible causes:
Worn/unbalanced tires as Ray said. Possibly coupled with a failing strut.
Loose /worn wheel bearing
Bent rim
Bad ball joint
The alignment guy should have checked the ball joints and bearings before aligning it (shops use alignments to find other potential repairs); they would not necessarily sopt a balance or bent-rim problem.
Other possible causes:
Worn/unbalanced tires as Ray said. Possibly coupled with a failing strut.
Loose /worn wheel bearing
Bent rim
Bad ball joint
The alignment guy should have checked the ball joints and bearings before aligning it (shops use alignments to find other potential repairs); they would not necessarily sopt a balance or bent-rim problem.
10-20-12, 01:45 PM
#5
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent wa
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
thanks for the advice. i know i do have a some worn tires. both front tires have some pretty good + camber wear. i was gonna try switching them to the back and seeing if that helps. dont know about the balance though. ive been meaning to check the bearings but dont have a spring scale, and not quite sure where to find one. the local harbor freight doesnt have them. will one for hunting/fishing work? ball joints are good. as far as a bent rim, wouldnt that cause the vibration at all speeds? not just 35-45 only going straight?
10-20-12, 04:11 PM
#6
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent wa
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Update:
I switched the tires to the back and its way better. I can still feel it some from the back but not nearly as much as the front. The wheel is still shaking a little though. Hopefully replacing the bent parts will fix it. Going to pick them up Monday (thank God for rx7/miata only shops, don't know what id do with out this guy!)
As far as the wheels I'm gonna go have the balanced checked and replace those worn tires as soon as i can afford it
Sent from my XT912 using RX7Club
I switched the tires to the back and its way better. I can still feel it some from the back but not nearly as much as the front. The wheel is still shaking a little though. Hopefully replacing the bent parts will fix it. Going to pick them up Monday (thank God for rx7/miata only shops, don't know what id do with out this guy!)
As far as the wheels I'm gonna go have the balanced checked and replace those worn tires as soon as i can afford it
Sent from my XT912 using RX7Club
10-20-12, 04:52 PM
#7
thanks for the advice. i know i do have a some worn tires. both front tires have some pretty good + camber wear. i was gonna try switching them to the back and seeing if that helps. dont know about the balance though. ive been meaning to check the bearings but dont have a spring scale, and not quite sure where to find one. the local harbor freight doesnt have them. will one for hunting/fishing work? ball joints are good. as far as a bent rim, wouldnt that cause the vibration at all speeds? not just 35-45 only going straight?
Far as spring scales go, I found one on Amazon (for science class use) a while back; wasn't expensive either. Even calibrated in kilos.
But you can check bearings by attaching a known weight to a lug bolt, hanging vertically from the bolt at 3'oclock or 9'oclock position; I used dive weights before I ever found a spring scale. Gravity works just the same as spring tension for linear force.
Trending Topics
10-20-12, 06:22 PM
#8
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent wa
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok that makes sense, let's hope it's just the balance or tire, don't know where i would find a matching wheel...
And i actually just found a cool little digital spring scale at harbour freight for$15, so I'm gonna go pick that up
Sent from my XT912 using RX7Club
And i actually just found a cool little digital spring scale at harbour freight for$15, so I'm gonna go pick that up
Sent from my XT912 using RX7Club
10-22-12, 02:17 PM
#11
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent wa
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
10-22-12, 03:13 PM
#12
But if you've got a caliper that's not working, you should fix it before the next time you put the key in the car!
10-22-12, 03:28 PM
#13
I think you've just crossed that line where you need to park the car, put it up on jacks and trouble shoot the entire suspension and brake system yourself.
Get a Haines manual, find out what parts you need and put in a Rock Auto order for half the cost of your "rx7/miata only" shops. Post up any questions you have on this thread, with lots of photos. You'll get answers: We've been there, done that. Then do it yourself.
In the end you'll spend less money than a single visit to a mechanic (especially the ones who charge extra because it is a rotary engine), your brakes will work the way their supposed to and the suspension and steering will be tight. And you'll know your car a whole lot better.
I can even show you how to do your front end alignment in your driveway with a piece of string. For free.
Then use the money you saved to buy a new set of tires and the knowledge you've gained to save more money.
Get a Haines manual, find out what parts you need and put in a Rock Auto order for half the cost of your "rx7/miata only" shops. Post up any questions you have on this thread, with lots of photos. You'll get answers: We've been there, done that. Then do it yourself.
In the end you'll spend less money than a single visit to a mechanic (especially the ones who charge extra because it is a rotary engine), your brakes will work the way their supposed to and the suspension and steering will be tight. And you'll know your car a whole lot better.
I can even show you how to do your front end alignment in your driveway with a piece of string. For free.
Then use the money you saved to buy a new set of tires and the knowledge you've gained to save more money.
10-22-12, 04:12 PM
#14
tire balancing is like $15 so get that out of the way, next jack up each corner of the car and do a 4 point push/pull test on the tire. there should be marginal play of a few mm at the top and bottom edge of the tire(more than that means the bearings are failing or need to be repacked and adjusted), horizontal play can easily be associated to worn steering components as there are many linkages on the FB that wear.
10-22-12, 06:56 PM
#15
Full Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent wa
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, if it's not touching the pads there's no way for it to cause a shimmy directly (uneven braking would cause a serious pull toward the side still working, but only with brakes applied)...
But if you've got a caliper that's not working, you should fix it before the next time you put the key in the car!
Sent from my XT912 using RX7Club
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
