Steering wheel wobble at 60mph+

[Dr. Zed]

Hi all,

So I had a quick look about this on the forum. Seems a few discussions with some advice but none of the posts seem to have a conclusion to them. Also my symptoms are slightly different.

So first, I don't have run flats, just in case as I know they're awful. I had them and it wobbled a bit and replaced them ages ago and since then had no issue.

Last night driving on the motorway my steering wheel was wobbling quit badly when I pushed the car past 60. At one point it literally felt like the front driver side wheel was off balance completely and the car just felt weird. I drove the whole way home at 50!

I got some suspension work done a few weeks ago, would misalignment of the wheels cause this that badly? I've booked an alignment and balancing but I can't see how it would manifest itself it as such violent wobbling of the steering wheel.

Thanks all!

[Spikey]

I would always start with what has happened or changed most recently- so the work you had done is the place to start

[Iggy]

I had a similar thing in the past an it turned out to be partially ceased brake callipers. Could also be that one of the discs has warped. After a drive, check if the front brakes are abnormally hot. You may even feel the heat coming from the wheels as you get close.

[dhobbs]

I had something similar in an old vw polo where the car started jumping about between 55 and 60mph. Above that it was fine.
Turned out to be knackered shocks at the rear.

How many miles has your car done?

[Danglesberries]

Could also be something as simple as losing a balancing weight.

[Probocop]

Could also be a slightly buckled wheel

[Dr. Zed]

Thanks for the reply all.
I've booked an alignment and balancing since I feel it's a good idea to do anyways after the front suspension arms were replaced.

Shocks and binding calipers is something I've read but how would that happen at only certain speeds? The calipers and brakes are relatively new so unless the garage warped them and/or the wheels I can't see either of that being the issue.

The car has done 104k miles so shocks could be a culprit is the alignment and balancing doesn't fix it.

It's booked in for Friday so we'll see how we get on!

[tomscott]

I had a similar thing in the past an it turned out to be partially ceased brake callipers. Could also be that one of the discs has warped. After a drive, check if the front brakes are abnormally hot. You may even feel the heat coming from the wheels as you get close.

This, same has happened to me.

[dhobbs]

The dampers control the rate at which the spring reacts to the bumps in the road. There will be a specific frequency that the spring naturally continues to oscillate (harmonic frequency) rather than abating. A working damper will stop those oscillations .
That frequency may be the 50-60mph range so not always noticable.

Someone may be able to explain it more eloquently but hopefully this helps.

[Dr. Zed]

Thanks again for all the advice.

I'll keep an eye on the brakes for sure.
I have it booked for an alignment so that will at least rule that out.
Then I'll work through calipers and shocks as suggested.

I'll report back when the tracking and balancing has been done!

[dhobbs]

Good luck with sorting it out and hopefully it will be a cheap one too.

[tomscott]

If it’s a sticky calliper take it for a drive the rotor will be red hot by the time you get back

[Scooba_Steve]

After simple checks like brake calliper have the wheel balance checked. I've been able to notice when a wheel was 5g out.

[Dr. Zed]

So just an update. I got wheel balancing and alignment done on Friday.
The technician noted that both of my nearside tyres have a slight buckle in them.

However the alignment and balancing has fixed the violent vibration I was experiencing in the steering wheel.
It's now far more what I'd expect from any other vehicle on a motorway etc.

Glad it's sorted and wasn't the caliper or anything.

[dhobbs]

That's good and cheap.