Wobbling / Pulsing Steering Wheel

[aaronsbiza]

95 ATX 93K...

While driving at low speeds I can feel a right to left wobbling in the steering wheel and I can also feel a slight right to left wobbling in the car. If I let go of the steering wheel the car rides straight but the steering wheel moves slightly right and left with the wobbling of the wheels. This is most noticeable when slowing down from 25 - 0 MPH. It is slightly noticeable at cruising speeds, however, not nearly as much as slowing down. When I apply the brakes it has no effect on the wobbling. The alignment is correct and I have brand new tires on the front. Another note... When travelling at highway speeds the wobbling is replaced by a vibrating dash, most prevelant at 75 MPH.

Can anyone make some suggestions as how to determine the problem?

Thanks in advance

 

[MO-KAN SHO]

If I had to guess I'd say a tire threw a balancing weight causing the vibration... but that's typically not so noticable at low speed...


getting worse during braking indicates warped brake rotors...



There's a couple things to check out if no one can say anything else.

 

[aaronsbiza]

I don't believe my brakes are at fault. When I apply the brakes the wobbling remains constant, only when the speed slows down does the undulating of the steering wheel from roght to left become more apparent. The wheel wobbles in the same manner with no brakes.

 

[SHOtimer]

I had a similar problem with my '95 ATX I changed out the wheel bearings which solved the low speed back and forth of the steering wheel, now I just have to solve the higher speed shaking. Anyway, I would check the wheel bearings. With the car in the air grasp the top and bottom of the tire and see if their is any play, if their is you need a new bearing.

Doug

 

[aaronsbiza]

I had a feeling it may be the wheel bearings because the wheel will let out an owls hoot every now and then when making a slow turn.

What is involved with changing the wheel bearings?

 

[SHOtimer]

I could do them now rather quickly becaues i've been in the front end before, but it also depends a lot on if rust is a factor to you. It isn't for me as I'm in Cali... But, you have to pull the knuckle from the car, which means : removing the axle nut, removing the tie rod, removing the strut pinch bolt, removing the ball joint pinchbolt and nut, removing the ball joint from the knuckle and then removing the knukle from the strut and the axle. Also, just follow the ABS wire and unplug it rather than trying to get the sensor out and destroying it. Buy a new bearing AND HUB set at AZ (Timken) for about ~$70. Take it to a machine shop have then press in the new bearing and reinstall. Then torque the bearing to spec along with everything else, using a new axle nut and new pinch bolt and nut for the ball joint.

Edit: Ah, your in Sac town you won't have to worry about any rust, shouldn't be much of a chore.

Doug

 

[greenbeanmtx]

Before you go and change your wheel bearings have someone inspect your tires. When i got my car it did the same thing and it was in part that they had flat spots and one had a seperation in it. I replaced all 4 and the car rides completely like new. Id check the tires before messing with wheel bearings. Tires seem to be very sensitive to these cars.

 

[aaronsbiza]

The front tires are brand new, I suspect the rears could be causing the high speed vibration, but I am still going to put the car up and wiggle the front wheels around.

 

[SHOSIG]

Have the tires rebalanced, and have them check if one of your wheels are bent. Usually an out of balance tire will not give a low speed wobble.

 

[stevemainian]

Get your rotors checked like stated above.

Mine did this, but i discovered 2 of my rotors have gone bye-bye.

 

[PAracer]

Whenever I have a problem that may be related to tires or wheels, I rotate them front to back and see whether the sound/ feeling changes. That has helped me find things like thrown weights, and out of round tires.