Steering wheel shaking.

[The-Violator]

Well about a month ago my steering wheel began to shake at highway speeds. So I think no biggie, I probably just lost a weight or something. Well I started noticing that it doesn't always do it. I can be crusing one day at 75 and it be smooth as butter, but then the next day shake worse than Michael J Fox. So I'm wondering what it could be.. Any ideas??

[punkrokdood]

it might be the PCM pulling boost :rofl:

:ftard:

actually, it does sound like a weight or something, but doesn't make sense that its sporadic. have you checked the CV joints and all that, make sure the axles are tight? bigger wheels have been known to cause similar issues, but i can't remember what size yours are, and you've had them a while anyway. maybe check the lug nuts too... sounds like something is just a little loose

[The-Violator]

I guess I could check the axle nuts.. Now where's my 1.25in socket at. lol I'm pretty sure it's not a BROKEN axle as I've had that happen already and I know what it feels like and this ain't it.

What am I looking for on the CV joints?

[OWN3D]

Well about a month ago my steering wheel began to shake at highway speeds. So I think no biggie, I probably just lost a weight or something. Well I started noticing that it doesn't always do it. I can be crusing one day at 75 and it be smooth as butter, but then the next day shake worse than Michael J Fox. So I'm wondering what it could be.. Any ideas??
:rofl::yikes: :rofl:

[punkrokdood]

I guess I could check the axle nuts.. Now where's my 1.25in socket at. lol I'm pretty sure it's not a BROKEN axle as I've had that happen already and I know what it feels like and this ain't it.

What am I looking for on the CV joints?
holes in the boot, no grease around. also, sometimes axles "break" but they still work. they'll be loose and move around when you grab it and shake it. it should not do that. other than that, all i can think of is the hub spacer in your wheel, but there is no way that should be missing or damaged unless the wheel was taken off.

[The-Violator]

holes in the boot, no grease around. also, sometimes axles "break" but they still work. they'll be loose and move around when you grab it and shake it. it should not do that. other than that, all i can think of is the hub spacer in your wheel, but there is no way that should be missing or damaged unless the wheel was taken off.

Yeah I know, that's how both my stock axles broke.. They still worked.. I remember being able to make it shake last time by applying throttle, but in neutral, it didn't shake at all.. Even if I put it in neutral, it still shakes now, so I don't think that's it.

I could go down to Big-O and have them rebalance my wheels, but that's $10 a pop and I don't have shit for money to be wasting it if it's not the problem.

I dunno, I'll do a full inspection this weekend I guess and see what I can come up with. :ftard:

[punkrokdood]

Yeah I know, that's how both my stock axles broke.. They still worked.. I remember being able to make it shake last time by applying throttle, but in neutral, it didn't shake at all.. Even if I put it in neutral, it still shakes now, so I don't think that's it.

I could go down to Big-O and have them rebalance my wheels, but that's $10 a pop and I don't have shit for money to be wasting it if it's not the problem.

I dunno, I'll do a full inspection this weekend I guess and see what I can come up with. :ftard:
there are some known issues with the steering system. i honestly can't remember what they were, or what the symptoms were. may want to check into that... i'm pretty sure there is a TSB for it, if not, there is a fix that everyone does when they have the problem

[slow poke]

improper torque on the wheels seems to cause it too(on mine anyways). i'm assuming you already took the crush washer off the stud ?

[The-Violator]

improper torque on the wheels seems to cause it too(on mine anyways). i'm assuming you already took the crush washer off the stud ?

Yeah of course. I've never actually torqed them down properly, so maybe I'll have to go get me a tq wrench set and actually do shit right this time. lol 100ft/lbs right?

[punkrokdood]

Yeah of course. I've never actually torqed them down properly, so maybe I'll have to go get me a tq wrench set and actually do shit right this time. lol 100ft/lbs right?
i do 125 or 150on mine... its tight as my tq wrench goes whichever it is :lol:

[slow poke]

yes 100lbs....

[blackbird]

The TSB was for a popping noise/feel when you push or pull on the steering wheel. It replaced the shaft in the upper part of the column.

An axle or bearing could be a cause, but I'd maybe try rotating the wheels first to see if it changes. That would be a good way to rule out a wheel imbalance (and while you're rotating them check to make sure the wheel isn't bent, especially on the inside rim). Because it's not happening all the time would make me think it might not be a balance issue.

And the wheel lug torque according to the FSM is ~95 ft-lbs if I remember correct. You definitely wouldn't want to go well over a 100 ft-lbs as you'd stretch the studs and make them a lot more prone to failure.

[camroran]

Bet you its a bent rim on the inside happend to me verrrry small bend you can almost barley see it but soon as i hit 80 mph Steering wheel goes crazzy its usually allways in the front also

moved that rim to the back Smooth again

[punkrokdood]

hmmm.... guess i'll quit torquing them down so much :lol:

[sonicvato]

Well about a month ago my steering wheel began to shake at highway speeds. So I think no biggie, I probably just lost a weight or something. Well I started noticing that it doesn't always do it. I can be crusing one day at 75 and it be smooth as butter, but then the next day shake worse than Michael J Fox. So I'm wondering what it could be.. Any ideas??
hey man, coincedentally, i have had the same problem lately. actually, after i took my car to the dealer to get the tires rotated, that's when it started to happen. i tried torquing up the lug nuts, but it didn't help. did you get a fix for this yet, or at least find the problem? if so, let me know, i'll keep track of this post. peace.

[brettdemon]

I see from your sig that you have aftermarket wheels. When they were put on did you remove the crush washers. With certain wheels the steering wheel will shake at 60 and above if they are not removed. If the wheels have been on awhile then it might be a different problem. This helped me. I thought I would throw it out there.

http://www.srtforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47594

[The-Violator]

Nope problems still there.. Haven't really done much to trouble shoot it. Just wanted to get some ideas so I know what all to look for.. I will let you know if I figure it out sonicvato.

I was the one to install my aftermarket wheels and yeah removing the washers was the first thing I did when I put them on. So scratch that off the list of possibilities.

I'll try and figure it out this weekend sometime.

[sonicvato]

Nope problems still there.. Haven't really done much to trouble shoot it. Just wanted to get some ideas so I know what all to look for.. I will let you know if I figure it out sonicvato.

I was the one to install my aftermarket wheels and yeah removing the washers was the first thing I did when I put them on. So scratch that off the list of possibilities.

I'll try and figure it out this weekend sometime.
thanks man, keep me posted...

and brettdemon, they've been on for about six months now, and no problems until now, that's why i ask. i will check for crush washer though...

[The-Violator]

Yeah same here, mine have been on for about 6 months as well.. That's what puzzles me about mine.. That and it's intermittent.

[blackbird]

For some reason I was thinking stock wheels, but if you've got aftermarket and they use centering rings make sure the rings haven't worn, broken, melted, etc. If you still have the stock wheels (or access to some other wheels that fit) you might swap yours out and see if it goes away. If it's still there then you've got a suspension/driveline issue.

[The-Violator]

For some reason I was thinking stock wheels, but if you've got aftermarket and they use centering rings make sure the rings haven't worn, broken, melted, etc. If you still have the stock wheels (or access to some other wheels that fit) you might swap yours out and see if it goes away. If it's still there then you've got a suspension/driveline issue.

That's a good idea.. I do have my stock wheels still.. I might just have to try that also..

[blackbird]

If it goes away then put your aftermarket ones back on and try rotating them front to rear to see if you can narrow it down to one wheel.

Another thing to check with the centering ring, the Kosei's I use with my slicks came with a plastic ring that doesn't fit too well. It's the right size but slips too far into the wheel and if it's not installed perfect I'd still occasionally get an imbalance/shimmy. I had to use small pieces of paper wedged between the ring and wheel to hold them out far enough to work.

[SinisterSRT4]

I have the same problem The previous owner of my car instead of replacing the axel just had a bearing in the cv joint replaced and now it seems as if that same bearing or another has gone again. I remember seeing a thread awhile ago where they discussed this happening to alot of owners. In my case its under acceleration usually in second or 3rd gear.

[punkrokdood]

my steering wheel shakes a little at the top of second gear going downhill on cold pavement sometimes... but that's due to what is left of wheel hop on my car :lol: