Vibration in steering wheel 50MPH+

[volp]

I get a vibration in the steering wheel at 50 MPH+ I just got an alignment done about a month ago so I doubt it is that. 99 qx4 about 65,000M on the clock by the way. Any ideas?

[SnowSurfLax]

Did they balance the wheels? That can cause it.

Are your front bushings in good shape? That can cause it.

How well do you trust this alignment shop? That can cause it.

Keep plugging!

[volp]

the wheels are brand new from the stealership when I bought the car in september so I'm guessing they are balanced. haven't looked at the bushings to be honest I don't know what bushings are. what am I looking for? And I trust the alignment shop, never had a problem with them before.

[Almatti]

You may have lost a weight on the wheel - causing the shimmy. I presume it's a shimmy in the steering wheel.... Have the balancing checked. If that doesn't do it, rotate wheels front to back and vice versa. if the shimmy is in the seat of your pants now, it's a bad wheel or out of balance tire. Did you hit a good sized Pothole?? That could result in a bent wheel (rim).

[volp]

Drove on the highway to the hospital today and there was no vibration. felt fine. On the way back however, it was there. Does that fit any of these scenarios?

[InfinQX4]

If it's always better on the way too, and worse on the way back, it could be the road

I'd go for a balance and rotate first (cheapest also). Don't know your wheels, but you may be able to see where the weight was if it fell off.

Does it go away around 65 / 70?

[pathfinder_se_black]

try the tires. i have the exact same problem. also check the psi and un-even wear.

[Chuck Tribolet]

It's NOT a shimmy. Shimmy happens on king post steering, which hasn't beenseen in 40 years. My mom's '50 Chevy DeLuxe Coupe had king post steering,and if you hit a pot hole just wrong, it would shimmy. The steering wheel wouldturn about 90 degrees every half second. It was REALLY REALLY scary. Theonly solution was to slow down a LOT. I'm really glad that car was gone before I started driving.

[Almatti]

Chuck: "Shimmy, Shimmy, Coco Pop", was the song of the 50's..... by shimmy, I mean, a steady shaking in the streering wheel. Usually it's from out of balance front wheels or a bent rim. I've had loads of problems balancing wheels on my 01 PF with the OEM tires Dunlops, with Michelin LTXs and now too with the new Goodyear Grabbers HTSs (btw, fabulous tires - rated no.1 by Consumer Reports for SUVs, They're Right).

[volp]

If it's always better on the way too, and worse on the way back, it could be the road

I'd go for a balance and rotate first (cheapest also). Don't know your wheels, but you may be able to see where the weight was if it fell off.

Does it go away around 65 / 70?

It's not the road as it happens on multiple roads. and it seems to come on around 65/70. It's not a shimmy. It's actually kind of hard to explain. I can only feel it in the steering wheel its like its moving left and right but only like a millimeter in either direction very rapidly. and again what do the bushings look like?

[Infinitidood412]

My 99.5 Q has the exact same problem. sometime vibrates sometiems it doesnt..WEIRD

[pathfinder_se_black]

have you tried new strusts yet? how many mi. does your Q have

[volp]

have you tried new strusts yet? how many mi. does your Q have

Nope, haven't tried it. It has about 65,000 miles.

[Almatti]

It's not the road as it happens on multiple roads. and it seems to come on around 65/70. It's not a shimmy. It's actually kind of hard to explain. I can only feel it in the steering wheel its like its moving left and right but only like a millimeter in either direction very rapidly. and again what do the bushings look like?

That's exactly what I mean by a Shimmy: Moving just a bit left and right. Did U get this repaired?

[volp]

That's exactly what I mean by a Shimmy: Moving just a bit left and right. Did U get this repaired?

the steering wheel moves just a little bit left and right. not the actual car. and no I did not, I just got laid off () so I can't do anything about it yet. It's just annoying for now, it hasn't gotten worse so I think I can just leave it.

[joestrummer77]

Try this, since it's an easy fix. Retorque all lugs to exactly what's called for in owners manual (mine's 98ft-lbs). Torque in sequence per manual.

I ALWAYS retorque after my shop has wheels off, approx 100 miles after the work was performed. Sometimes you'll be shocked what you find.

If you perform this retorquing, back the lugs off a few pounds first then crank the wrench up to spec (or until you hear the telltale SNAP of the lever reaching spec, based on your tool/wrench).

effed up torque on front lugs can sometimes manifest itself in the ways you describe.

Good luck.

[volp]

thats a good idea seeing as i just had a flat fixed. how much will a torque wrench run me?

[joestrummer77]

Oh I'd say about $20-$25 for a "hi"-quality chinese made torque wrench. I bought mine at O'Reillys. You tune the barrel into your torque spec., lock it down with knurled "nut" at end of wrench, and you're set, so to speak.

Mine is the type that snaps at spec and will not let you turn the wrnech any further - pretty slick. I feel it's a must-have in the tool box. Check my post response for a weird front end noise in QXXXX$'s Q.....torque wrenches solve front end problems (minor), period.

good luck Volp

[volp]

So I went to Firestone and had them balance and rotate the tires. It made it better, but didn't take it away completely. That also kicks the question of it being a matter of loose lug nuts. They also said I need a new timing belt, water pump, serpentine belts. I checked the manual, and it says not until 105k for the belts. how bout the water pump, should I wait?

[W O T]

They probably just wanted your money. Only way to be sure is to ask for them to point out the worn belts, or just take there word (ive yet to find a mechainc I truly trust)

[volp]

I'm sure they want my money, they work on commission. I took it to my friends shop and they said it's probably unnecessary, but I think I'm gonna have them to a full check on the car.

[humsafar77]

I am having the same problem with my Pathy 2003, 72000 KMs of Clock, I had just got the wheels aligned and balanced as well. still that shimmy thing is there, plus for me the whole car starts vibrating, some time the vibration is huge and some time its not that big, by the way it starts at around 100 Km/h and finishes at around 160 Km/h.

I dont know what to do, It is really annoying.

[maikan]

I had the same thing on my 99 path.At around 60 It was vibrating like hell.But It was doing it only after I was 4 wheeling in the snow (like a foot or two of snow ) and It couold last for weeks.

Maybe you have dirt In your wheels ANd it cause improper balance

[humsafar77]

Sorry, I reposted the above post.
Modified by humsafar77 at 9:46 PM 4/27/2009