Small steering wheel vibration, is it normal? [SOLVED]

[futureZ4buyer]

Hi everyone!

I'll go through the whole process of trying to solve this problem.

The model is 2004. 2.2i with 225/45 17" wheels.

1. First of all, I had some sound when going over speed bumps and my mechanic saw that the sound came from bad front control arm bushings that were really bad. That was the only thing that was changed. After that, wheel started to vibrate at small speed like 90kmh.
No vibration before with s**t tires and bushings.
2. After that, I checked the tires and they were bad as well, 2013. Michelins.
3. Okay, so new 4 Hankook tires will sort that out? No... They also checked my rims and saw that rears were bent a little so they fixed that.
4. After all that, I replaced front control arms with new bushings, front discs and pads and then did the wheel alignment.

Result -> Still has small vibration, but a lot less and at about 130kmh (80-85mph).
I did 220kmh at one moment and had no vibration but maybe I was just holding my steering wheel strong.

The way I tested the vibration was setting the cruise control to 130kmh on an empty highway and vibration changed. It was changing depending on the road quality and sometimes when changing lanes it even disappeared.

Maybe it is just normal to have that when everything is new and then you feel every single thing on the steering wheel?
Or am I wrong about that?

Thank you for suggestions and answers.

 

[lee_erm]

Might be worth getting the wheel balance checked again. I've had tyres fitted and balanced in one shop, noticed vibrations, and then had the balance checked at another shop only to find the tyres were balanced poorly initially. A relatively light rear wheel drive car is particularly sensitive to poor wheel/tyre balance. There's no driveshafts/cv's spinning around dampening out the vibrations across the front axle

 

[Jameszy]

I have the exact same as you, but I know that all four wheels are slightly buckled and need to be straightened.

Even after a 4 wheels off rebalance (having recently had a 4 wheel alignment), which helped, it is still a little there particularly at 60-65mph (96-100kph). Like you, I notice it on some roads more than others and it seems to come and go.

This is all due to the hopeless condition of UK roads (potholes) - I am taking the car to get the wheels refurbed and straightened. Now that I have a dash cam, I will be reporting to the council any damage and getting it claimed as it isn't cheap (despite paying tax to use the car, filling it with fuel that is taxed over 100%, using taxed income that I see barely half of).

 

[Timmyboybunter]

Partially seized calipers will also give you a vibration through the wheel - mine had it, and a very common complaint on the E85s.

 

[futureZ4buyer]

I'll try with wheels first to eliminate that possibility. Thank you for answers.

 

[enuff_zed]

I'll try with wheels first to eliminate that possibility. Thank you for answers.

If you have same sized wheels front and back, try swapping them around and see if that makes any difference?

 

[Jare]

(despite paying tax to use the car, filling it with fuel that is taxed over 100%, using taxed income that I see barely half of).

Hey there Mr. Cynical! at least we have LTNs that increase journey time, journey distance and congestion by being designed to "reduce emissions" and definitely not to push people onto an awful public transport system or drive up house prices in gentrified areas.

 

[enuff_zed]

(despite paying tax to use the car, filling it with fuel that is taxed over 100%, using taxed income that I see barely half of).

Hey there Mr. Cynical! at least we have LTNs that increase journey time, journey distance and congestion by being designed to "reduce emissions" and definitely not to push people onto an awful public transport system or drive up house prices in gentrified areas.

Anyway.................OP.......................how are you getting on with that vibration issue? :roll:

 

[futureZ4buyer]

Lol. I thought that England is far better than Serbia in every single thing (well, it probably is), but I see that you complain about the same things as us.
The only difference is our president is "promising" metro system and you already have it. Our average paycheck is about 450 eur and one liter of diesel or super unleaded costs 1.4 eur.

I'll try with wheels first to eliminate that possibility. Thank you for answers.

If you have same sized wheels front and back, try swapping them around and see if that makes any difference?

Do you think that something like that is necessary since I put all 4 tyres in February and have done about 2000kms?

 

[enuff_zed]

Lol. I thought that England is far better than Serbia in every single thing (well, it probably is), but I see that you complain about the same things as us.
The only difference is our president is "promising" metro system and you already have it. Our average paycheck is about 450 eur and one liter of diesel or super unleaded costs 1.4 eur.

I'll try with wheels first to eliminate that possibility. Thank you for answers.

If you have same sized wheels front and back, try swapping them around and see if that makes any difference?

Do you think that something like that is necessary since I put all 4 tyres in February and have done about 2000kms?

Well I was thinking if one of your front wheels was out of balance then swapping it to the back may stop the vibration through the steering. If it worked then you'd know only the two you moved to the back needed rebalancing, or maybe you could even live with it as it is.
Just a way of perhaps narrowing down where the problem might be.

 

[futureZ4buyer]

Well, just going to say it's a lot worse after new balancing lol
Machine at new shop showed that wheels were badly balanced before but there is wobble at 120kmh now.

 

[buzyg]

Well, just going to say it's a lot worse after new balancing lol
Machine at new shop showed that wheels were badly balanced before but there is wobble at 120kmh now.

Go back tell them it is worse and get it done again. :wink:

 

[futureZ4buyer]

PROBLEM SOLVED

Rear rims where badly fixed, so another specialist fixed and balanced them.
Front left was good, balanced again.
Front right was also bent and when it was fixed, it couldn't be balanced because of a faulty tire. (happens...)

So, because I had warranty and the company that sold me that tire accepted it, it was time to get a new one but guess what?
They will have Hankook S1 tyre in March lol.
I ended up buying one tyre and one was "free" because of warranty.
Now fronts are Bridgestone Potenza (same price as Hanooks), rears are Hanook S1s (have 2000km on them).

Now that wheels are not bent any more and are balanced correctly, the problem is solved.
Faulty tyre was probably also causing this. Here's the picture, it happened on the inside.



Thanks again everyone!