slight wheel wobble

S

Sharpy1975

Member
Evening all.....really enjoying my new purchase. One thing I've noticed is a slight steering wheel wobble around 40 MPH, and also when lightly applying the brakes. I don't feel anything through the brake pedal and the car does not wonder off line when driving or braking. She just passed an MOT with no advisories at all too.

First call will be a full wheel balance......
 
Disks look fine...no lip, although I guess that means nothing. Would a balancing issue cause the wobble when lightly pressing the brakes...I'm pretty sure the is no wobble when I Press the brakes hard.

Would a worn rear wishbone bush not show up on mot?

Thanks for the replies.
 
I should add the car had only done 6k in the last 6 years....so it could be a tyre issue. I would have thought if the disks were warped you would maybe feel something through the pedal?

Will report back after I get the balancing checked.
 
Could be a warped tyre or wheel also ? And balance can cause it but not when braking of course ....a warped disc can cause that.
Could also be a loose/worn wheel bearing ?
 
Front control arms are also a known weakness & can show through a steering wheel wobble , easiest way to check for play is to grab a front wheel each side & apply force (ideally slightly raised off ground with a jack but with tyres still grounded)
First off i would check tyre pressures , wheelbolts & balance of wheels before moving on to other possibles :thumbsup:
 
I had a similar problem after having new tyres fitted. Squirmy when going above 60. One of my control arm bushes had to be changed, but that made no difference. Turns out it was the front wheel balance. One side was 50 grams out, the other 35 grams. Now it drives sweet. I would say definitely your wheel balance is out.
Good luck.
 
Sgr74 said:
I had a similar problem after having new tyres fitted. Squirmy when going above 60. One of my control arm bushes had to be changed, but that made no difference. Turns out it was the front wheel balance. One side was 50 grams out, the other 35 grams. Now it drives sweet. I would say definitely your wheel balance is out.
Good luck.
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Glad you got sorted , you should update your initial post for anyone down the line searching forum for similar problems :thumbsup:
 
Cheers guys.....the car has 108's which are not that old and as new condition so I think the alloys are fine.....any idea what PSI should be on the front as these are not standard wheels.

I will get the balance checked first, hopefully they can check the tyre condition too...plenty of tread.

Would any worn suspension parts have shown up on the MOT?

Really appreciate the replies.
 
Sharpy1975 said:
Cheers guys.....the car has 108's which are not that old and as new condition so I think the alloys are fine.....any idea what PSI should be on the front as these are not standard wheels.

I will get the balance checked first, hopefully they can check the tyre condition too...plenty of tread.

Would any worn suspension parts have shown up on the MOT?

Really appreciate the replies.
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"not standard wheels " :? they are for many Z4s , pressures for fronts around 32- 34psi / rears 34- 36psi
Susp parts i would hope would be spotted on MOT
 
I had this a few weeks ago and it was a seized passenger front calliper. Same issue at 40mph.

Have you felt if one alloy is hotter than the other after a drive ?
 
Hi Rob.....no, I will check tho. Should I check the wheel, or actual calliper Amy other symptoms to look out for? I bet a pain the change.

Just checked front tyre pressure and both wheels were around 26 psi, aired upto 33 and will take for a drive in abit...hopefully get a balance check done today.
 
You lot will get fed up with me....lol.

So went out and still no change....wobble when doing 40 maybe decreased a bit. But still there when lightly apply brakes.

When applying handbrake does that use callipers because the is no problem then. Checked heat on both alloys and callipers after 10 min drive with plenty of braking and both seemed the same temp.

Beginning to think it's the tyres as car has been sitting around allot during the last 7 years. It's not to bad so will run for a few weeks.

Sorry for the hassle.
 
I would suggest following the advice offered here by many learned members - spend £10-£15 and 20 mins and get them wheels balanced!! they are bound to be out after 6 years of sitting about. I've had 2 or 3 cars where this has fixed a wobble.

If that isn't the case then start looking at other possibilities - bushes is very common.

Flat spotted tyres is possible Jack the car up so wheels just off the ground and spin the wheels so you can see the varying gap between ground and tyre.

If it was a seized caliper you would notice it and have a hot alloy covered in brake dust.
 
Rob_benton said:
I had this a few weeks ago and it was a seized passenger front calliper. Same issue at 40mph.

Have you felt if one alloy is hotter than the other after a drive ?
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I had this too, at first it was an intermittant problem and I checked the temp of the wheels but I couldn't feel any difference. Eventually it got worse and I then could tell the near side front alloy was hot and booked it in to have the calliper refurbished and this sorted it. With the calliper problem it was steering wheel wobble that you couldn't drive through like an unbalanced wheel, does your wobble improve at different speeds? I hope you get it sorted soon as it does affect the driving enjoyment. :thumbsup:
 
Update.......ok, the wobble has gone when driving, only when applying brakes. Went to my local brake place, jacket car up and checked rubber, no sense I doing balance check due to issue with braking only. Also checked for movement in wheel and sticky calliper.... all seemed ok.

Put the car on the rollers to test the brakes and there is a slight variation in the front brakes, but not enough to fail an MOT.....so looks like new disks needed. Quoted £180+vat, or around £60+vat if I supply.
 
Sharpy1975 said:
Update.......ok, the wobble has gone when driving, only when applying brakes. Went to my local brake place, jacket car up and checked rubber, no sense I doing balance check due to issue with braking only. Also checked for movement in wheel and sticky calliper.... all seemed ok.

Put the car on the rollers to test the brakes and there is a slight variation in the front brakes, but not enough to fail an MOT.....so looks like new disks needed. Quoted £180+vat, or around £60+vat if I supply.
Click to expand...

Bummer... Don't know why discs would suddenly warp but hopefully you have found the answer to get the car back to normal, safe condition. :thumbsup:
 
Cheers smartbear.....there is an Indie in Birmingham, I will take the car to them to check just incase the bushes are shot. Although im hoping that would've shown up on the MOT....is this easy to check on a ramp?
 
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