Steering wheel wobble

[pti]

Afternoon all,

I recently fitted two new steering rack ends and one drop link to my car which obviously left the wheel alignment well out of whack. Got the alignment sorted a few days after and all was well...

...until yesterday I went on the motorway for the first time since having it done. Getting horrible wheel shake at speeds above 70mph. It is not consistent with speed or road surface and I cannot make it do it as and when I please. It's made the car a right PITA on a long drive and never did this before hand.

What's going on?

[GTIR]

You're drunk.

[Big Rod]

Maybe one of the rod ends has come loose and it wobbling around in its seat.

[Gilhooligan]

Wheel balance?

[Crusoe]

shake at a set speed that goes away above or below is almost always a wheel balance issue, might be you've just lost a weight or they haven't balanced them after they have had the wheels on and off a few times. Check all the bolts are done up tight too.

[OriginUnknown]

Maybe the tyres were wearing unevenly with the worn components - now all is perfect the uneven wear is causing the issue?
It happened to me once.

[pti]

Thanks for the replies. I would have assumed it to be a balancing issue if I was able to pinpoint the wobble to a particular speed band but I can't. It will do it sometimes at 70mph and not at others. Probably worth getting them done for peace of mind - though I didn't realise wheels could become unbalanced just by removing them a few times??? Obviously a weight dropping off would.

Christ I hope nothing's loose, it bloody shouldn't be! Looks like I'm getting a wet back this weekend then...

[pti]

OriginUnknown said:

Maybe the tyres were wearing unevenly with the worn components - now all is perfect the uneven wear is causing the issue?
It happened to me once.

Very good point. From a very brief glance the wear appeared even but it may be worth a closer look. Although again, I'd assume a band of speed that dictates the wobble.

[nagsheadwarrior]

Parkinsons?

[pti]

My drinking and my Parkinsons weren't an issue before...

[ikarl]

what car?

can you swap the wheels round? i.e. put the fronts on the rear and see if you still get a wobble. If you do, it's prob the rod ends, if the wobble goes away, it's the wheels/tyres

[pti]

ikarl said:

what car?

can you swap the wheels round? i.e. put the fronts on the rear and see if you still get a wobble. If you do, it's prob the rod ends, if the wobble goes away, it's the wheels/tyres

Staggered setup unfortunately.

Well, fortunately, but not in this instance.

[007 VXR]

pti said:

Thanks for the replies. I would have assumed it to be a balancing issue if I was able to pinpoint the wobble to a particular speed band but I can't. It will do it sometimes at 70mph and not at others. Probably worth getting them done for peace of mind - though I didn't realise wheels could become unbalanced just by removing them a few times??? Obviously a weight dropping off would.

Christ I hope nothing's loose, it bloody shouldn't be! Looks like I'm getting a wet back this weekend then...

Its normally around 60-70 if its the balancing thats out.