Strange steering wheel shake

[grampi]

It started about a month ago. My '04 Corolla started a steering wheel shake at just over 70 MPH and got worse as speed was increased. I rotated the front tires to the back and the shake decreased, but didn't completely go away. I took the car to Discount Tire and had all 4 tires load balanced. The shake now doesn't occur until about 80 MPH, and it's not as bad, but still there. I've listened for clicking sounds with the window down while turning and I don't hear anything. Are there any other checks I can do? I can't tell if it's a tire problem, or a problem with front end parts...

 

[cpayne5]

I had a slight steering wheel shimmy in my TSX that gave me a little bit of a fit. I rotated tires and balanced the tires/wheels with no luck.

New rotors cured it.

This wasn't the normal shaking while applying the brakes steering wheel shake.

 

[Danh]

Tire vibrations don't typically come on suddenly, unless a balancing weight is lost. Or...

Was there anything unusual that preceded the start of the steering wheel shake? Like a very hard stop, for instance? Hard stops can warp rotors or leave pad deposits on them and create a subtle steering wheel vibration.

Or maybe hitting a large, sharp, bump that could have caused internal tire damage?

 

[sasilverbullet]

I'd be suspect of the work done at Discount Tire. I used to use them exclusively until I took my 70 MK III to an independent and he fixed my balance problems in one visit, Discount Tire could not.

What were the load balance numbers on each tire? If any were 13 and above, that might be your problem. Also could be a bad tire.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

My winterforce tires do this. I was told that they are completely balanced with road force. Still after about 10 minutes of 65MPH they start to shimmy and shake bad.

Luckily, I don't find myself driving at 65mph that much.

 

[grampi]

I'm also leaning towards a tire with a structural problem, not a balance issue. The problem isn't bad and is certainly something I can live with...and I've had no pot hole impacts or sudden stops...

 

[bigjl]

It could indeed be tyre balancing not cured due to poor workmanship.

I have seen similar shakes caused by the middle joint in the long cv being on the way out, but that would be a gradual onset. And doesn't fit perfectly into the OP's symptoms.

As it changed when wheels moved around my money is on a tyre or wheel issue.

It only take a slight bit of kerb action to remove enough rim to cause a very slight imbalance.

 

[The_Jeff]

Stock rims? Steel?

Tell a tire shop you're chasing a vibration issue and they'll watch the assembly spin on the balancer and let you know if you have a bent rim or egg shaped tire. Then they can put the best on the front.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Stock rims? Steel?

Tell a tire shop you're chasing a vibration issue and they'll watch the assembly spin on the balancer and let you know if you have a bent rim or egg shaped tire. Then they can put the best on the front.


If It's discount tire, they won't have a clue how to fix that.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Stock rims? Steel?

Tell a tire shop you're chasing a vibration issue and they'll watch the assembly spin on the balancer and let you know if you have a bent rim or egg shaped tire. Then they can put the best on the front.


I have steel rims, but I don't think that's the problem. The car didn't have this vibration until recently and I've done nothing to the car that would've damaged a rim...

 

[The_Jeff]

Only reason I was asking about rims is b/c if you have aftermarket alloys they could have done a static only balance and or used sticky weights that sometimes fall off unknowingly. Also OE rims are pretty good quality.

 

[mechtech2]

Still could be a bad tire [internally].
Maybe a bent rim.
Any loose suspension component will cause a minor problem to be felt - they don't CAUSE it, but allow it to vibrate more. A bad tie rod end or wheel bearing could cause you to feel something.

Maybe even a brake rotor.