Shaking steering

M

mirrorpad

New member
I have just bought a 04 reg Z4 and the steering wheel shakes intermittently whilst driving. There doesn't seem to be any pattern.
When I bought it the garage had fitted new discs and pads and new tyres all round. The garage has since changed one of the tyres, and balanced them (a few times) and although it is better, it still shakes now and again (10 min run it would do it a few times) The garage has said that convertibles do feel vibration/shaking through the wheel and thinks this is normal?
Any ideas/advice or similar experiences?
Thanks Dave
 
Sounds like a sticky caliper. But could be that the discs and pads aren't aligned properly.

Had a sticky caliper on mine but it was quite violent. Replaced the calliper problem solved.
 
There is some shaking through a convertible as the car isn't structurally as stiff as a full bodied car. The question is, does the steering shake slightly over rough ground, or, does the steering wheel itself wobble clockwise/anti clockwise akin to a wrongly balanced wheel? Its not likely a wheel balance issue as that would occur constantly around certain speeds.

If the latter, such as knocks in the road 'set it off' then it calms down, its likely worn suspension/steering components. What happens is that over time as components wear, they gain more 'give/play' in them. When a vibration is sent from the wheel it goes though many components and connections before reaching the steering wheel, this can set off a type of vibration known as cadence or a harmonic which results in 'rattling' through the components resulting in knocking noises, or a clockwise/counterclockwise wobble in the steering for a specific period of time if the worn parts are related to that section. If its a wobble at the steering wheel rather than simple vibration, I'd have the car looked over by any reasonable MOT garage to check the suspension wear etc. it could be ready for new bushes/control arms.
 
sounds like the caliper to me as well, had the same thing the other week with mine! £240 for a new caliper and pad! as the caliper heats up it sticks meaning it doesn't do it all the time
 
If its a calliper it will give the temporary shake then it will be fine if it were warn sus components it would be all the time. But like I said mine was quite violent at times the wheel felt like it was going to come off! But there all different.

BMW did mine under warranty.
 
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