Steering Wheel Shake/Vibration

chops018

Hi all.

So I am getting a steering wheel shake/vibration at around 80-90km/ph over the last few weeks.

I had my car with my mechanic who checked it over and said the car all looks fine to him bar the back brake pads need to be replaced, which he did.

He said maybe it's just certain roads I'm on.

I got the wheels balanced and tracked then.

However, it hasn't done anything and it's still the same.

Anyone any thoughts?

It's a 2007 BMW 520d. Automatic.

The tyres were only replaced in January and they are Hankook.

Mechanic said he can't see anything wrong but the issue is there so I don't know what to do now as I've had mechanic check the car over and had the wheels tracked and balanced. I really like the car, have had it a while now, and it's running well. So this is annoying me while driving.

Moanin

Have you a warped wheel maybe?

bazz26

If the wheels are not a staggered setup then rotate the front with the back and see if the problem remains.

chops018

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119484184#Comment_119484184

No, I asked them to check them when doing the balancing and tracking.

chops018

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119484307#Comment_119484307

That was actually my next thought to try and do! I might try get that done next week.

mikeecho

Have your mech check out the: control arms, tie rods, end links, suspension mounts etc.

I had a similar issue, I changed tyres, wheels, had tracking , balancing some.. turned out to an ever so slightly control arm.

Wasn't noticeable until it was removed.. and even then it was so slight.

chops018

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119496131#Comment_119496131

Thanks for the comment. I'm going to try get the wheels swapped back to front next week and see if that works. If that fails I'll go back to my mechanic and ask him to check those!

zg3409

Get a good/ another mechanic to test drive it. Try sit in passanger seat and get them to confirm they feel the issue and will get to the bottom of it.

Ignoring it may lead to severe tyre wear etc.

Furze99

Had an issue like that and turned out to be a rear tyre that was damaged. It looked OK to the casual observer and plenty of tread on it, but that turned out to be the cause.

chops018

Thanks all. I'll try get someone else to have a look at it soon. Mechanic said all looks fine and recently had balancing and tracking so I found it odd it's still happening. The car is running grand it's just annoying more so.

chops018

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119496131#Comment_119496131

How much would it cost to get a new control arm part and labour? I've a funny feeling that is what it might be after googling it.

bazz26

Control arms should be replaced in pairs, on the same axel. Wheel allignment would need to be done again after they are changed too.

chops018

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119499426#Comment_119499426

Thanks Bazz. What would it cost all in do ya reckon? Mechanic is a friend so he goes easy on labour. I'll have a chat with him next week anyway. Wouldn't mind trying your suggestion of swapping back wheels with the front first.

bazz26

No idea to be honest.

I'd definately try switching the wheels around to see if the issue still remains afterwards. That would rule out it being a wheel issue.

It's also possible that the place that balanced the wheels didn't do it correctly. Sometimes the settings on the machine used for the make/model might be incorrect. I've had places in the past swear blind that the balancing was done correct only to bring it to another place who actually did it correctly.

Also was the issue there before the tyres were replaced or only after? When new tyres are fitted they normally balance them too so if the issue only surfaced after the tyres were replaced I'd be focusing either on the balancing or the tyres themselves. Long shot but I've also seen some tyres fitted the wrong way if they are directional tyres. They guy fitting them may not have realised they are directional. Check the tyre tread pattern and side walls, directional tyres usually have an arrow on the side wall pointing forward. The directional tread pattern is usually in the shape of a v and points downwards.

chops018

Thanks Bazz. Yes I will definitely get them swapped back for front to rule out it being a tyre issue. I have the tyres on since January and this issue has only started a few weeks ago so I don't think it's from then!

Diabhalta

I had the same problem, did tracking and all that... turned out the passenger side wheel is tilted. Go and have a look directly from above at both sides. I couldn't figure out what is causing it and then I noticed also tire wearing inside more than outside.

chops018

Thanks to all for the replies.

An update for anyone who is interested - so I brought it back to my mechanic who put it up on his car lift and checked over the car while I was there and said he couldn't see anything visibly wrong.

Brought it back to the tyre place who did the tracking and balancing and asked them to rotate the tyres. Seems they rotated the left for right ones rather than back to front but so far that seems to have sorted the issue. Hopefully stays like that.