Steering Wheel Vibration

[zzzhuh]

Often, at about 45 mph, on relatively smooth roads, the steering wheel will shake, turning about an inch to the left, then about an inch to the right, back and forth, very fast.

It doesn't do it every time, or at high or low speeds. But frequently enough to wonder why?


Anybody else notice this???

[quicksilverdon]

Sounds like wheel balance or alignment - mine doesn't do it.[:I]

[purple04]

Do a search, it's been discussed many times. Wheel torque is important, and balance/alignment. If you have aftermarket wheels, make sure the little washers have been removed. IF none of this fixes it, check the brake rotors, they may be warped.

[comPuTer]

I had that problem for quite a while. On my Cruiser, it was more prevalent at different speeds, but the same "rocking" phenomena. For several months, I was back and forth between the Chrysler dealership and the Goodyear store. Each was blaming the other for the problem. There was no alignment or balance problem that either could find.

After pressing them, it was proven that it was the Goodyear Eagle tires. I went through 2 sets (at Goodyear's expense). I also had a "radial pull" problem, that would surface when I had the tires rotated. After raising as much #@&^ as I could, Goodyear bought the Eagles back from me. They told me to purchase a new set of tires of my choice (anything but any Goodyear tire product). I ended up getting BF Goodrich Radial TA's. I haven't had the "rocking steering wheel" problem since!

[Konkeler]

Mine does that too. I'm guessing Wheel alignment, but the tires need to be repalced pretty soon so I ain't worried about it too much. Also, my friend has a 98 Stratus that does the same thing.

[zzzhuh]

Thanks for the diagnosis!!!

Looks like Santa will need to bring some new tires down the chemney with him!


HO! HO! HO!

[PTGT_Boy]

Check and make sure your lug nuts on the wheels are torqued down properly. I had DCX service (good service, but made a boo boo) my cruiser and they rotated my tires, and they FORGOT to tighten the drivers side wheel (that was an ordeal when I had to get off the freeway fast heh).

[zzzhuh]

[:X] "...had to get off" sounds better than the alternatve! I hope there was no damage.

quote:Originally posted by PTGT_Boy

Check and make sure your lug nuts on the wheels are torqued down properly. I had DCX service (good service, but made a boo boo) my cruiser and they rotated my tires, and they FORGOT to tighten the drivers side wheel (that was an ordeal when I had to get off the freeway fast heh).

[PTGT_Boy]

Luckly I exited off the freeway immediately and stopped at a small gas station (not in the best part of town either). I checked the front nuts and they were all loose to the point that I can untighten all the nuts by hand (no damage I can see). I had my sockets and used the PT's spare/driver to retighten the nuts.

Just before I was about to leave, there was another motorist that was stranded and needed her car jumped. I couldn't do much to jump her car since her alternator and battery is dead. Luckly, a truck driver had a battery charger with him to charge her battery. All this happened at 4:30am in the morning heh.

Later that day, I rerightened all my nuts down to the proper torque specs.

[coolvirus]

One of the rims could be bent. This happened to me before. Hit a pothole, bent a rim and the steering wheel vibrated at highway speeds after that.

Once I replaced the rim, the problem was gone.