Steering wheel shake

[ozzyhufc]

Thanks for all the replies  to my question on my problems I have had a look can't see anything but if the replies are true wouldnt it happen all the time it only does it between 45-60ish anything over or below its fine no movement in steering wheel I have spoken to a garage and they said they dont understand it doing it and I told them of your replies and they said if it was any of them then it would do it all the time. as anyone had this problem please help I don't want to take it to a BMW garage

[X5Sport]

I disagree with the 'it would do it all the time' as certain things only show up when the vibration rate matches the natural 'resonant frequency'of the car.  As you approach the point at which the two coincide the vibration will get worse and then tail off as the vibration rate goes above or below that critical point.

Richard

[Smeeagain]

totally agreed - certain things only happen at certain speeds not all the time.Think about it ........ lets say you have a gap with a window open and the air pressure whistles through at 70mph but it doesn't happen at 5mph walking speed does it. Or an example where something is loose, again at walking pace nothing, at a certain speed a noticeable rattle then perhaps a high speed oit goes away due to vibration frequency or air pressure etc. Disappointed that an experienced mechanic would tell you that a problem must happen in the same way all the time

[Raj]

Agreed as harmonics play a big part.

Wind buffer through a slightly open window or sunroof only happens at certain speeds etc. Warped brake discs again will vibrate only at certain speeds, etc, etc.

[graemeX5]

I'm not sure if this is same as I had on a fwd cavalier bad shake about 55-60 but above & below was fine.

I had new tyres on car but wheels balance on machine as normal but had steering wobble.

So I took car back to local tyre place and they balanced wheels on the car - not every place could do this, after this was done. Car was so stable.

So if may be worth checking pressures first and if new tyre of tyres been on for a while the wheel & tyre may need re balancing as the tyre wears

Hth

[Imy]

Mine did the same thing. I replaced the front two drive shafts and it cured the shaking a great deal although not completely. Im now looking into replacing the arms, bushes etc the whole, as a few bits and bobs needed doing anyways, the car has 80k so I may as well just get the full shabang done. Hoping that this will completely cure the shakes.

[Smeeagain]

[quote="graemeX5"]
I'm not sure if this is same as I had on a fwd cavalier bad shake about 55-60 but above & below was fine.

I had new tyres on car but wheels balance on machine as normal but had steering wobble.

So I took car back to local tyre place and they balanced wheels on the car - not every place could do this, after this was done. Car was so stable.

So if may be worth checking pressures first and if new tyre of tyres been on for a while the wheel & tyre may need re balancing as the tyre wears

Hth
[/quote]


Interesting - how do they balance wheels when actually on the car?

Smee

[graemeX5]

[quote="smeeagain"]
[quote="graemeX5"]
I'm not sure if this is same as I had on a fwd cavalier bad shake about 55-60 but above & below was fine.

I had new tyres on car but wheels balance on machine as normal but had steering wobble.

So I took car back to local tyre place and they balanced wheels on the car - not every place could do this, after this was done. Car was so stable.

So if may be worth checking pressures first and if new tyre of tyres been on for a while the wheel & tyre may need re balancing as the tyre wears

Hth
[/quote]


Interesting - how do they balance wheels when actually on the car?

Smee
[/quote]

The tyre place have these rectangular portable machines that they sit on ( bit like a mini rodeo machine).

There is a spinning wheel at the front of the machine which then rests against the bottom & side of your tyre then they spin the wheel up to speed.

The machine gets a reading and then the operator adds the weights to the wheel, really impressive.

I have not seen it at many garages though, but it definitely sorted my old cavalier out.