Steering wheel viberates

[ThatsMeGC]

I don't know how to explain it, its either my front tires causing it or a bad tie rod, or something else in the front end.

Its like my steering wheel shakes back and forth when i let go. It's slowly getting worse too.

Anyone know what I'm talking about and what it is?

If it's a tie rod how hard is it to fix myself and how?


Thanks you guys rock.

[97rs4life]

is it when you get to a certian speed or all the time? Or is it when you brake? Could be brakes if you have it when you brake, could be tire not balanced if it is during certian speeds.

I see you are from detroit. Check your wheels for hunks of ice or snow sitting in them or on the backside, this would make the shake occur as well.

Let us know with some more info

[Pewter2K1]

Check Air Pressure in the tires... I know my beater Accord will start to vibrate the wheel if one of the tires is low, get both of them at the right pressure and the vibration goes away...
Not saying its a solution, but somthing to look at.

[Die Ford V8]

i have the same car and the same problem. i had my rotors turned and that fixed the problem(at least when i was braking it did)

then i was told to check my tire pressure. it was fine and i ended up putting two different tires on the front. that didnt help. lesschwab says its because i have a flat spot in my tire. i do, but it only happens sometimes and seems to happen only when it wants.

i have no clue what it is and lesscwab looked at my car and said nothing is bent and my alignment is good. you let go of the wheel and she will stay straight or follow the curve of the road.

cant really help you, but check for flat spots in your tires. i take it your car has over 100,000 miles on it. mine has 160,000. i only noticed it after i hit a ditch, but nothing from the drive train was damaged.

the only thing i can think of is a shock or a poly mount. it almost seems like i can feel a thump (a light one) on my feet when i drive,

let me know what you come up with.

good luck

[ThatsMeGC]

I took it to a tire shop today and he says it's the tires... the tires are old and worn and need to be replaced anyway. Hopefully that will fix it.

[stlunatics2oo3]

die ford v8


its your outer tie rod end

it has to be i did exactly what you did and i found out its the tie rod so its a 11 dollar part at autozone and about a half hours worth of work

just a fyi

Jeremy

[Earnhardt132000]

Same thing happened to my car, found cracks all around the tires. Shopping for new tires now, looking at the Fuzion ZRi or Pirelli PZero Nero M+S.

[PiercedJD]

Originally posted by ThatsMeGC:
I don't know how to explain it, its either my front tires causing it or a bad tie rod, or something else in the front end.

Its like my steering wheel shakes back and forth when i let go. It's slowly getting worse too.

Anyone know what I'm talking about and what it is?

If it's a tie rod how hard is it to fix myself and how?


Thanks you guys rock.

to check for a bad tie rod, lift the front end off the ground ( both wheels) and grab one of the wheels with your hands at the 3:00 and 9:00 positions and shake the wheel left to right. if it feels tight it's fine. if there's play in it it could be tie rod ends, ball joints, or wheel bearings. there is n inner and outer tie rod, o you have to visibly inspect to see where the play is. if you hold your hands at the 6:00 and 12:00 positions and shake the wheel up and down it should also be tight. if there is play it is most likely ball joints. perform this check on BOTH sides of the vehicle. basically, in *most* cases it works like this:

if there's play left to right but not up and down it's tie rod ends.

if there's play up and down but not left to right it's ball joints.

if there's play up and down, and left and right it's wheel bearing.

tie rod ends typically won't cause a shake like that, usually a vibration like that is a seperated tire, or a wheel that's out of balance ( although balance problems present at given speeds). if there was extreme play in the tie rod ends then it's possible though I guess.

for what it's worth, I haven't seen many f-bodies with bad tie rods ( it's not common around here anyway and I work in a shop).