Steering judder and vibration at speed

[schueymcfee]

What does this sound like?

Getting to 70mph on the motorway and the steering wheel shakes, move past this into 90mph and it settles down again.

Now, this sounds like my wheels need balancing, but they've been balanced, I've replaced the wheels, but still get the same effect. This leads me to believe there is a problem on the suspension.

What can cause this effect? Worn suspension bushes, track rod ends, springs?

[GreenV8S]

Sounds to me like a balance or roundness problem. If the balance is correct it could be a buckled rim, flat spotted tyre, wheel not seating properly on the hub, or possible even a damaged hub. Wheel incorrectly balanced would be the obvious guess though. I've had wheels come back from professional balancing miles out so don't assume just because they've done it that it is correct.

[schueymcfee]

Thats what I thought but I've changed the actual wheels too, but it had no effect.

[Hughesie2]

I flat spotted my right rear at the last Vmax


One too many rotations i fear !!

[Cider Andy]

Years ago, in my Cortina days I was advised to have the wheels balanced on the car - I was told that Ford hubs, discs and drums were so out of balance. I don't know if it was true and I've never been to a garage with facilities to balance the wheels on the car; perhaps it was and followed on into the Sierra, from where the discs originate?

Has this always happened, or has it suddently started, or gradually happened? The fact that you've changed the wheels with no effect would point to the discs/hubs. Maybe the discs are wearing unevenly?