2005 Focus wheel wobble

[daniel2001]

Hi all, I have a 2005 Ford Focus 1.6 Ti-VCT Ghia. When driving over 65mph, I get a bad wheel wobble. The wobble is a few mm.

I have recently had the track rod ends/ball joints so tracking was done and have had new tyres.

If the tracking was not done correctly, could this explain the wobble? Due to this wobble, I had the wheels rebalanced, which has not made a difference, hence my thinking that it may be related to the tracking. The tracking is not done well, to go straight ahead on a road with no camber, the wheel is a few degrees to the left. I can also feel a juddering through the whole car.

I am presently at services on the M6, posting on an iPhone, so apologies for bad grammar.

Any suggestions/help would be much appreciated.

Edited by daniel2001 on Saturday 30th April 10:46

[ajq]

I've got the exact same problem, at around 50-60 mph it seems to only wobble/ vibrate when you accelerate hard but if you ease off it goes. Can't really seem to pinpoint where it's coming from as the whole car vibrates

[chris7676]

I doubt toe / tracking would cause anything like that although it may highlight the actual problem.

[adyady1066]

Wheel wobble is usually due to incorrect wheel balancing weights. They do fall off and sometimes it can be due to uneven wear on the tyres if they're cheap. Drive it at the speed where it starts to wobble and try to accelerate through the wobble. If the wobble goes away as you gain speed it is most definitely the balancing. As you pick up speed the revolutions of the wheels increases and and effects the centrifugal forces on the tyres. Start there, it's normally the answer.

[adyady1066]

I meant to mention going to a reputable tyre centre with up to date tyre balancers. Thet tracking is highly unlikely to cause wobble. Tracking generally effects tyre wear and the basic steering of the vehicle. It will either pull to one side or steer easier one way than the other. Very seldom does it cause wobble. Have you have the track control arm (wishbone) bushes checked for tears or splits? That would also cause instability but you would normally feel it pull from side to side after accelerating / throttling off.

[adyady1066]

I'd get your C.V joints and wheels bearings checked. If you're getting a wobble only when you accelerate I'd be very surprised if it's to do with the balancing. If there's play in the bearings / C.V joints it may cause the wobble which will appear to be coming through the steering. Worth getting a jack under it and ruling it out. I'd also check the wishbone bushes too if you have a similar type set up on your car.

ajq said:

I've got the exact same problem, at around 50-60 mph it seems to only wobble/ vibrate when you accelerate hard but if you ease off it goes. Can't really seem to pinpoint where it's coming from as the whole car vibrates