Best way to test ball joints and bushes?

[itguy]

Hi everyone

In an effort to find the cause of my odd 50-60mph steering wheel wobble (sometimes there, sometimes not - had the front wheels balanced 3 times) I want to check over all bushes and ball joints this weekend on the front end of the car.

What's the best way to do this and is there a complete list to check?

Usually I'd jack the car up, give the wheel a tug 3-9 and 12-6 for wheel bearing play, then take it off and put a second jack under the hub to take the pressure off the drop link to check that, then I start to get stuck!

Thanks

 

[wilbo]

Torque your wheel bolts up with car on the ground and then apply a bit more pressure to the torque wrench almost rocking back and forth. Wheel shouldnt have much play, if its moving considerably, you may have an issue. Sure others will have other methods.

 

[Ed Doe]

If you resolve this let me know, I get the same occasional wobble at speed. Not there all the time, I had half thought it was road surface related....

 

[itguy]

Sure thing. It's weird because if I do 40 it's fine, 70, 80 etc all fine, so I can't believe it's wheel balance still.

 

[MotorcyclesFish]

Most vibrations like this will come and go, it's a function of the mass which is oscillating - it'll have a natural frequency. You'll find if you change the mass by fitting lighter or heavier wheels, the vibration will move up or down in frequency (i.e. speed it starts/stops) as the natural frequency moves. The fact there is a separate natural frequency isn't just down to imbalance, if the bushes are gone, whilst the wheel/hub/whatever assembly "outside" the bush is not at the edge of the free play means it's essentially unconnected to the car and free to move around or oscillate.

 

[Anonymous]

Are you on run flats?

How old are the tyres? I had a similar issue with an E39 several years ago and it turned out to be the tyres, when they were cold one of them would go slightly out of shape.

 

[Anonymous]

Are you on run flats?

How old are the tyres? I had a similar issue with an E39 several years ago and it turned out to be the tyres, when they were cold one of them would go slightly out of shape.

 

[Ed Doe]

I would just add I've replaced the lollipop bushes with Meyle HD bushes, had 4 brand new tyres and a full geo set up, and the wobble is still there occasionally. It's only a minor annoyance to be honest, I just get on and enjoy driving it, it'd just be nice to know what it is and if it's easily solvable!

 

[Beetlegav]

I have a steering wheel wobble sometimes too. Very annoying, reduces confidence a little

 

[itguy]

Well I've checked all bushes and ball joints today and they all seem ok so took my wheels to a different local tyre place for balancing. Interestingly they both needed 25 on the outer edge of the inner (it was a 4 setting balancer).

Back on and haven't felt a wobble yet but haven't been very far. Fingers crossed though, will report back after later

 

[MotorcyclesFish]

25g on the balancing radius of an 18" wheel is going to be significant I would say. When I used to balance wheels I'd aim to get below 5 (and down to 1/0g - obviously machine tolerances permitting - where possible) but hey, I'm a perfectionist. Oh sorry "OCD" lol.

Also did you check top mounts? that's another point where the rigid attachment of components is interrupted to put a bush in.