Steering Wheel Vibration

[JayD]

I was getting a bad dose of this last week above 70mph, so got the front tyres balanced and it is alot better.

It does seem to be there though still, particularly on less than flat road services. Is it just the sensitive steering rack and I am the one being over sensitive or do you think I have a problem?

I know the Z4's are quite sensitive to camber changes and uneven roads.

Any thoughts appreciated?

Jay

 

[sixspeed]

Have you hit any potholes badly recently?

Could be a deformed tyre, or worse still a slightly damaged/bent rim?

I don't get any vibration through my steering wheel that I can think of..

 

[Zedrider]

Get the rear wheels checked as well. Just because you feel it through the steering wheel doesn't mean it is necessarily coming from the front of the car.

 

[zee42]

Have you checked tire pressures recently?

 

[Top pup]

I get no vibrations at all on smooth roads.
Like Sixspeed said I'd be checking for a damaged tyre or wheel, it's very easy to get a buldge in a tyre after hitting a pothole. I've even seen tyres wear with a flat/high spot that leads to simlar symptons but can't be cured with balancing.

 

[JayD]

I got the chaps at Birds Auto to have a look at it and they said the wheels seemed fine, tyre pressures have been checked.

Smooth roads are fine, its just on more challenging surfaces I get some steering wobble. Prob is fine just sometimes you feel you are fighting the car when it shouldnt be like that.

 

[zee42]

are you running run flats or non run flats?

 

[Top pup]

Have your front tyres worn on the edges?
The other week I had a 330i as a daily driver and it tramlined pretty bad, I swapped the front tyres for the rear and it improved it no end, it had the same tyres all round the only difference was the fronts had worn on the edges whilst the rears had worn even.
BMWs seem very sensitive to how the front tyres wear.

 

[JayD]

PS2's zee, obviously non run flats on Z4M.

Fronts are worn on edges a little, this was pointed out to me when they balanced them, I didnt think much of it as it happened with my M3 and I thought it was just more likely to be the way the car is set up.

Now you will all tell me your tyres dont wear on the edges!!

 

[Top pup]

The tyres scrub the edges out when you park, can't be helped with wide tyres.
Have you still got the original wheels and tyres? Why don't you try them on the car at least then you can narrow it down to the car or tyres.

 

[JayD]

The tyres scrub the edges out when you park, can't be helped with wide tyres.
Have you still got the original wheels and tyres? Why don't you try them on the car at least then you can narrow it down to the car or tyres.

Good point, if I get time I will give that a go!!

 

[Sephanite]

has any1 mentioned wheel alignment? could be bent rims

 

[Born2Slow]

My car used to vibrate at 75 - 80 mph, the last time it was at the dealer they noted that the two right wheels had a flat spot per wheel. I can only assume from the horrible roads in southeastern CT. Replaced both wheels and the vibration is gone!

(the roads in Georgia are far better, for the most part)

 

[zee42]

maybe you lost a wheel weight on the rough road and the balance is off..
Thats my last try...except for kicking it real hard one time like when the tv dosen't work

 

[melbs]

i have a wiggle and on uneven roads my zed's steering wheel moves from left to right fast but car doesn't veer to the left or right its still straight.

like yours mine doesn't wiggle on fine asphalt roads. but on cement roads its quite terrible.

my car never did this with 17s on, only when i changed to 18s recently

tires are balanced, rims not bent, had an alignment also.

what gives?