[Shotimes] Help Please: Steering Wheel Vibration

[George Fourchy]

On Mon, 14 Apr 2003 21:04:54 -0400, Al & Angela wrote:

>I have new disk brakes and pads up front.  They have been on for about 1 yr.  I really don't think this has to do with roter warpage.   I have noticed vibration through the steering wheel while braking moderately.  I have also noticed loose steering especially when making wide turns like on exit and on ramps (clover leaf exits)
>The wheel kind of makes soft double jerks through out the turns.  I think it is some part of the steering, but I am not sure what parts to replace.  I do have a factory helms manual.

Hi there...

Are your brakes stock, rather than upgraded?  If so, it doesn't take much to warp
them.  If the shimmy in the wheel (and the brake pedal) ONLY occurs when you put the
brake on, you definitely have warped rotors.  There is no way around it.  You can
replace the rotors by themselves, without needing to replace the pads.  Get rotors
with a lifetime warranty.   NAPA has them.....get the cheapo Chinese
rotors....they're 23 bucks each, and have a lifetime warranty... for me, anyway. 
They're fine for the street.   If you autocross or race your car occasionally, you
want better rotors.

Loose, vague steering when turning is often looseness in the linkage.  The outer
tie-rod ends are what go first.  If you still have the factory ones, you need to
change them.  If they don't have grease fittings, they probably are original.  You
can use MOOG or NAPA parts....MOOG has the better reputation listwise...I use NAPA
because they are close to me, always in stock, and like MOOG have a lifetime
warranty....I've never had to return any.  Make sure they are greasable.  You also
might have some wear in your suspension components....the lower control arm has a
ball joint on the outer end that attaches to the knuckle, and the inner end has a
rubber bushing that will wear over a long period of time.  You also might try
tightening your 4 large subframe bushing bolts.  

Another source of vague steering can be loose wheel bearings.  Jack up the car and
wiggle the tire in and out from the top and the bottom.  If there is a lot of
wiggle, you might need new bearings.   Some folks have their bearings last a LONG
time, others don't.

Do you have play in your steering wheel linkage to the rack?  Lots of us have play
in one or more of the various joints in the steering shaft from the wheel to the
rack.  The easiest place to find it (where it usually occurs first) is in the pinch
joint right at the firewall, behind the pedals.  Remove the three nuts that hold
that rubber bellows to the firewall, slide it up out of the way, and turn the wheel
while checking the joint with a finger or two to see if it is slipping.  That might
take two people, and removing the drivers' seat makes it easier.  I'd do the under
the car stuff first.....that wear is inevitable.

Hope this helps....

George