My steering wheel used to have a small shake to it thanks to a bent passenger side rim. But now it's shaking pretty bad at around 30-50Mph and stops once you go over that speed.
Now Im scared to drive the my 1993 240sx.
When I was changing the brakes not too long ago I notice that you could shake the tire back and fourth. I was a little worried but now I beleive it's time to get the thing fixed before I kill myself driving down the road.
What parts do I need to change and how easy is it?
Will new tie rods fix my problem and a new rim? Or could there be more damage?
Steering wheel shakes at around 30-50 MPH
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Emperiorjack
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2007 12:56 pm
Re: Steering wheel shakes at around 30-50 MPH (Emperiorjack)
A bent rim can cause the vibration, so can poorly worn or old tires, so can a broken front end component. Usually side to side is a bad tie rod, but it can also be a ball joint I've seen both, although up and down play is assciated with ball joints.
This is what you do, jack up the car so the wheel is off the ground and you can get under there (Use jack stands!). Have a friend (you can do it by yourself, but on the ground it's a little tough) 'shake' the tire back and forth (this is with the car off...), look at the tie rod end and see if its moving around also take a look at your ball joint, since your under there might as well. Try to move the tire the same way but up and down. I would recommend checking both sides and if your gonna replace one, might as well do the other too.
It could also be a bad bearing, but that's a long shot and chances are it would produce some much more noticeable symptoms.
This is what you do, jack up the car so the wheel is off the ground and you can get under there (Use jack stands!). Have a friend (you can do it by yourself, but on the ground it's a little tough) 'shake' the tire back and forth (this is with the car off...), look at the tie rod end and see if its moving around also take a look at your ball joint, since your under there might as well. Try to move the tire the same way but up and down. I would recommend checking both sides and if your gonna replace one, might as well do the other too.
It could also be a bad bearing, but that's a long shot and chances are it would produce some much more noticeable symptoms.
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jinjinweiwei
- Posts: 139
- Joined: Wed Jul 04, 2007 10:21 am
- Car: 95 240SX
Re: (180fan)
check your tire pressures first. happen to me when i was driving yotas.
Re: (jinjinweiwei)
Driving on a bent rim is equivalent to flooring it down a water eroded gravel road (road that leads to my driveway) it will tear apart that side of your car.
If vibration is worse now than it was before chances are the torqueing action from the vibration while driving probably damaged a majority of components on that side (tie rod, bushings, tensioner rods, ball joint)
If vibration gets bad enough it can sheer the lug nut studs right off the hub and your wheel come flying off.
FYI hub bearing going bad you can tell a couple ways.1. A strange grinding sound that gets louder and more rapid the faster you go.2. Friction from the wheel bearing parts grinding on eachother creates excessive heat build up making the rim itself get hot to the touch.Don't confuse this with brake heat dissipation.Drive a few miles and let it coast to a stop or downshift to slow the car down and lightly brake. Park and touch the rim. If it feels hot like coffee, then its the hub bearing. If its hot enough to blister your skin then you got a brake issue. (i.e. my right rear caliper didn't have a brake return spring...)
If vibration is worse now than it was before chances are the torqueing action from the vibration while driving probably damaged a majority of components on that side (tie rod, bushings, tensioner rods, ball joint)
If vibration gets bad enough it can sheer the lug nut studs right off the hub and your wheel come flying off.
FYI hub bearing going bad you can tell a couple ways.1. A strange grinding sound that gets louder and more rapid the faster you go.2. Friction from the wheel bearing parts grinding on eachother creates excessive heat build up making the rim itself get hot to the touch.Don't confuse this with brake heat dissipation.Drive a few miles and let it coast to a stop or downshift to slow the car down and lightly brake. Park and touch the rim. If it feels hot like coffee, then its the hub bearing. If its hot enough to blister your skin then you got a brake issue. (i.e. my right rear caliper didn't have a brake return spring...)