Steering Wheel Vibration (Yes Another One)
08-05-21, 12:35 PM
#1
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
Steering Wheel Vibration (Yes Another One)
Hi guys,
I've read so many of the previous posts/recommendations of steering wheel vibration. Please see my story - and let me know what I should do now.
I have not really driven the car much in the past 2 years. I started driving it again this summer because I miss having the roof off. (SC430 2008) - 120k KM
The steering wheel starts to vibrate around 80 KPH to 120KPH and starts to stop after that.
I've taken it to 2 different shops (that I've used in the past) They've both done the following.
- Checked Suspension -- both confirmed there is 1mm of play (very little) of the ball joint in front. Both said it shouldn't cause the vibration.
- Both said my front tires were worn - I got new tires.
- Both have road balanced / balanced / checked wheel -- all good.
- Wheels aren't warped.
- Rotors aren't warped.
Could it be structs/shocks?
I've read so many of the previous posts/recommendations of steering wheel vibration. Please see my story - and let me know what I should do now.
I have not really driven the car much in the past 2 years. I started driving it again this summer because I miss having the roof off. (SC430 2008) - 120k KM
The steering wheel starts to vibrate around 80 KPH to 120KPH and starts to stop after that.
I've taken it to 2 different shops (that I've used in the past) They've both done the following.
- Checked Suspension -- both confirmed there is 1mm of play (very little) of the ball joint in front. Both said it shouldn't cause the vibration.
- Both said my front tires were worn - I got new tires.
- Both have road balanced / balanced / checked wheel -- all good.
- Wheels aren't warped.
- Rotors aren't warped.
Could it be structs/shocks?
08-05-21, 01:10 PM
#2
Pole Position
Common problem. If you have after market rims check the centric ring.
Last edited by GmanSC; 08-05-21 at 01:19 PM.
The following users liked this post:
Bgw70 (08-07-21)
08-05-21, 08:01 PM
#4
Pit Crew
Vibration
08-06-21, 01:27 PM
#6
Instructor
I have a similar problem that I think is caused by the tires taking a set or maybe the shocks needing exercise. The reason I believe this is because it goes away after about 15 minutes of driving and over the past two months it has diminished after I bought the car and it had been sitting for some time. The PO thought it was a bent rim, but bent rims dont go away like this seems to be doing.
08-06-21, 01:40 PM
#7
Pole Position
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08-06-21, 05:04 PM
#9
Lead Lap
Jim, there is also a possibility of your tires flat spotting. Driving it will make the shakes go away, though 15 minutes of driving seems like a lot to make a flat spot to go away. That is typically a 3 to 5 minute issue.
Khoung, when you state that your steering wheel shakes, do you mean that it shakes up and down like your wheels are bouncing or side to side? If side to side, you might want to check your steering gear mount. On some cars (I don't know if the SC430 has it) like my old Corolla, there was an adjustment at the top of the steering to tighten it up, which on the 1970 Corolla would work for a few weeks and then it would require adjusting again. Unfortunately, I don't know where to tell you to look for it or even know if one exists on our cars.
Khoung, when you state that your steering wheel shakes, do you mean that it shakes up and down like your wheels are bouncing or side to side? If side to side, you might want to check your steering gear mount. On some cars (I don't know if the SC430 has it) like my old Corolla, there was an adjustment at the top of the steering to tighten it up, which on the 1970 Corolla would work for a few weeks and then it would require adjusting again. Unfortunately, I don't know where to tell you to look for it or even know if one exists on our cars.
08-06-21, 05:16 PM
#11
Lead Lap
Sorry, I couldn't come up with the right words. By side to side I meant radially, as if the front wheels were vibrating back and forth directionally (like a turn).
08-06-21, 06:25 PM
#12
Instructor
OK, then it is shaking radialy like a turn. Sorry, I am an engineer and have trouble understanding unless measurable exactly. LOL Actually I guess radially is not the correct term either. The propper term may be torsionally...LOL.
08-06-21, 07:52 PM
#13
Lead Lap
The angle of the steering wheel is oscillating/turning back and forth at a relatively high frequency but low magnitude. Is that better? (Yes, I'm an engineer also and yes it bothers me also.)
Last edited by Harold57; 08-06-21 at 07:56 PM.
The following users liked this post:
Bgw70 (08-07-21)
08-06-21, 08:30 PM
#14
Instructor
Yep, you got it. That is better than my description.....LOL Like a bent rim on the front. But the rims were swapped to the rear and no improvement was noticed. Then I bought the cart and have been driving it daily and the vibration is getting less and less.
Tonight I drove it 20 miles with the speedometer locked on 55 mph (thats where it was worst and just disturbing to drive) and I could barely feel it.
Tonight I drove it 20 miles with the speedometer locked on 55 mph (thats where it was worst and just disturbing to drive) and I could barely feel it.
08-06-21, 09:00 PM
#15
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
Jim, there is also a possibility of your tires flat spotting. Driving it will make the shakes go away, though 15 minutes of driving seems like a lot to make a flat spot to go away. That is typically a 3 to 5 minute issue.
Khoung, when you state that your steering wheel shakes, do you mean that it shakes up and down like your wheels are bouncing or side to side? If side to side, you might want to check your steering gear mount. On some cars (I don't know if the SC430 has it) like my old Corolla, there was an adjustment at the top of the steering to tighten it up, which on the 1970 Corolla would work for a few weeks and then it would require adjusting again. Unfortunately, I don't know where to tell you to look for it or even know if one exists on our cars.
Khoung, when you state that your steering wheel shakes, do you mean that it shakes up and down like your wheels are bouncing or side to side? If side to side, you might want to check your steering gear mount. On some cars (I don't know if the SC430 has it) like my old Corolla, there was an adjustment at the top of the steering to tighten it up, which on the 1970 Corolla would work for a few weeks and then it would require adjusting again. Unfortunately, I don't know where to tell you to look for it or even know if one exists on our cars.
I wish I knew, the car drives straight-ish (follows the crown/angle of road) when it's shaking - like if I take my hands off, the car stays true to the road.. doesn't veer off like crazy.
Here are two videos - I'm taking off my wheels this weekend, and going to check everything myself, and take pictures.
First video is.. short and shows vibration - 2nd video is me hoping on highway and getting to speed.
Short Video -