Steering Wheel Shaking

[coopns]

06 GMC Sierra

Steering wheel has some vibration/shaking, not awful but noticeable.

What are some common problems/solutions?

 

[DemoFly]

While cruising? Loose steering components. Jack up the front and wiggle the wheel. Side to side play is tie rod assembly, up and down is ball joints, bushings or wheel bearing/hub.

While braking? Warped front rotors.

 

[dishdude]

Could be an out of balance or out of round tire.

 

[Kuato]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
Could be an out of balance or out of round tire.


This is my first thought, especially if it started happening suddenly.

 

[Highboy]

Brake rotors warped. Or maybe mud inside of rims from off roading. Wheel weights got knocked off. Many possibilities.

 

[CT8]

Go to a front end shop.

 

[OneEyeJack]

If you lived in Georgia it could be mud.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: CT8
Go to a front end shop.


Yes and not a tire shop; there's a big difference.

 

[Stewie]

Unbalanced tires, gunk stuck inside the wheels or warped rotors.

I would start by cleaning the wheels, then balancing then check rotors while balancing.

 

[mclasser]

Probably threw a wheel weight.

 

[02s4audi]

Originally Posted By: DemoFly
While cruising? Loose steering components. Jack up the front and wiggle the wheel. Side to side play is tie rod assembly, up and down is ball joints, bushings or wheel bearing/hub.

While braking? Warped front rotors.


Depends on loaded or unloaded ball joints. May have to actually pry against ball joint to show play or not.

 

[RooflessVW]

Worn front end bushings.

 

[Lubener]

Try rotating the tires front to back. If you notice the shaking at lower speeds, it likely is not balance issues. That will show up at higher speeds. I would guess bent rim or tire defect.