So, anyone willing to help me troubleshoot my car? I'm thinking maybe sunday, we could go around driving, and I'll show you what's up.

1) Steering Wheel Vibration. From 55mph to 80mph, my steering wheel vibrates. I have no bends in the wheels, alignment is 1 year old (maybe 20k miles), and tires are 8 months old (maybe 9k-10k miles). Stock tire size. RE950s. I spun out on Redwood Rd back, like, 5 days after getting the new tires, and sliding into a little dirt mound got rocks in the beads of the tires on the right side. Wheels Work in newark took the rocks out, and rebalanced the tires. Since that day, i've had this problem. I don't know what to look for under the car to trouble shoot. I'm thinking maybe steering rack bushing? I have no idea. Nothing looks bent under there.

So, anyone think they can help me find the culprit as to why my steering wheel shakes? I'll buy you lunch (no more than like 2 or 3 people... not rich you know... in that case we'd all go out for lunch )

-Gagan

 

Just realized that many will be autoXing... If anyone is availible, lemme know.

-Gagan

 

Bizump

-Gagan

 

Have the tires rebalanced.

OK, let me be more specific

Have the tires rebalanced somewhere that has (and actually USES) a Hunter GSP9700 Dynamic Load Force Balancer. It costs a bit more, but is the BEST balance job you can get on a set of tires. You'll be surprised at all the little secondary harmonics kind of vibrations that are GONE after having the tires balanced on this machine (i.e. the car will be smooth....eerily smooth!).

Goto THIS WEBSITE to find the nearest GSP9700 balancer.

 

Yep, after Kevin at RWC completes my recall for the MAF friday, i'm going to hop back over to the east bay, and pay a little place in fremont a visit. They have on of those nifty machines... how much this service cost usually?

-Gagan

 

Bizump

After i try this wheel balance thing... if this doesn't fix it, i'd be really interested in what it is that causing the vibration.

-Gagan

 

Gagan,

What's up buddy? More than likely it is the wheels needing balancing. On the WRX, I had one set of wheels balanced 5 times before they got it right. Everytime the wheel was rebalanced, the vibration slowly went away until balanced it just right. It should not cost too much to rebalance considering that they are only taking the wheel respinning it and adding more weight to it.

Gary

 

I know that Custom Alignment in Mtn View charges about $60 to do the GSP9700 balance on 4 tires if you bring in the tires "loose". If they have to R&R them from the car, probably a little more.

Since Custom tends to charge on the high side (but you KNOW it is gonna be done right), I'd go from there.

 

If the balance doesn't fix it, could be you flat-spotted the tires in the spin. Fix for this would be to have the tread shaved or just leave it alone as it will lessen over time.