Wheel wobble help!

[Road2Ruin]

Hi Chaps,

I have a problem currently with my SAAB. I get wobble back through the steering wheel and also through the car! This happens at any speed but is most noticable at low speeds. The wheels have all been balanced and tyre pressures checked and still no joy. I even had two of them changed as they were near the end of their life but no luck. Any other ideas?

[Tsippy]

You had the tracking done too?

[Petrolhead_Rich]

Could be a drive shaft, is it more noticeable when accelerating?

Could be a very knackered wheel bearing or suspension component (bottom ball joint?) if it happens when cornering/going over bumps.

Generally wheel balance will come and go as you speed up, e.g. it will vibrate between 50 and 70 but then go away, driveshaft wobble will get gradually worse as you speed up and other things will be affected by cornering more.

[anonymous-user]

I had similar problem on a Focus ST with after market wheels. It turned out the spigot ring (plastic ring between the wheel and the hub) was getting crushed behind the wheel and not letting it seat properly. Worth a check and cheap easy fix if it is the problem.

[Tsippy]

Oh and check that the wheel nuts are properly tightened too.

Also, are the wheels standard? I knew a chap who bought a set of 2nd hand alloys and they had spiggot rings which were too large for his car meaning the wheel did not sit correctly, this led to a similar 'wobble'.

[Road2Ruin]

Hi, Thanks for replies so far. They are all original wheel and the problem came on sudenly during the cold weather. I did condider one of the wheels may be warped but would this show up on a balance? It's not any worse on braking or accelerating and all wheels were taken off balanced and put back on last week so I don't think it's loose nuts!

The spigot thing sounds interesting but not sure how to check, any idea? also the drive shaft and bearings but this will have to be done by garage after all other ideas have failed.

Any more?

[Petrolhead_Rich]

Road2Ruin said:

the problem came on sudenly during the cold weather.

Ice build up inside the wheel perhaps?

http://www.keloland.com/NewsDetail6162.cfm?Id=1082...

I've had some serious wheel wobble caused by this or mud build up....

[Tuvra]

Check the tyres for any "bubbles" in the sidewalls, inside and out.

[Road2Ruin]

Thanks Rich and Doogz. Not ice because it's plus 9 outide now and still doing it, but the warped wheel could be it then. I havent hit anything though so who knows. I think it sounds too much for me to investigate so will drop it to garage next week.

Ta very much to all.

Pete