Steering Wheel Wobble Column Vibration

[800jimbo]

Just for info - I had a loose steering wheel.

 

I popped off the airbag which reveals a torx headed bolt. Bit of a bugger to tighten (without pulling the airbag completely off) but fairly straight forward. Airbag clips back on (disconnect the battery or you'll be beeping away).

[Guest La Durande]

Vibrations when driving between 110 and 130 kilometres/hour

 

DIAGNOSIS - Wheels poorly balanced.

 

Rebalance all the wheels.

Operating procedure:

1. Checking the condition of the wheel assemblies

Check that there are no signs of impact on the wheel rims or on the tyres.

Check that there are no flat spots on the tyres.

Check that there are no signs of premature wear on any of the tyres.

Check that there is no damage to any of the tyres, caused by a puncture.

Check the tyre pressures (cold) with reference to the specifications given on the front LH vehicle pillar.

Check that the wheels, rims and tyres are clean (free of grime, soil, chippings etc.).

2. Findings on the wheel assemblies available from a conventional balancer

Determine whether the vibrations are of the vertical or angular type, by looking at the movement of the steering wheel during a road test on a smooth road surface :

If the movement of the steering wheel is vertical (vibrations to the floor and seats), then the vibration is caused by the balancing of the rear wheels

If the movement of the steering wheel is vertical and angular, the vibration arises from the balancing and/or the uniformity of the front wheels as well as from the balancing the rear wheels

If the movement of the steering wheel is angular, the vibration arises from the balancing and/or the uniformity of the front wheels

1) note down the values of the weights as well as their positions on the rims ; before removing the wheels, note down their locations on the vehicle and their positioning relative to the hub.

2) remove the weights and carry out balancing of the wheel assemblies. During balancing, check that there is no "ovality" or "run-out" by the wheel.

3) admissible values for the weights if the weights and/or their positions are different from those on the original wheel assembly :

Wheel with steel rim : admissible weight value : 60 grammes maximum per side and a total de 115 grammes maximum

Wheel with aluminium rim : admissible weight value : 50 grammes maximum per side (if the weight is clipped on the exterior) and a total of 95 grammes or 50 grammes on the interior and 80 grammes on the exterior (weight bonded) and a total of 115 grammes maximum

4) if the values and the positions of the weights are identical to those on the original wheel assembly, go to paragraph 10.

5) refit the wheel assemblies on the vehicle to their original positions . position the tyre valve to "12 o´clock".

6) pre-tighten the wheel bolts.

7) position the tyre valve to "6 o´clock".

8) tighten the wheel bolts to 90 N.m.

9) road test the vehicle.

10) if the vehicle vibrations persist, rotate the tyre around the rim by a half-turn . rebalance all the wheels.

11) if the weights are less than their admissible values, refit the wheel assemblies on the vehicle to their original positions , see paragraph 2.3).

12) position the tyre valve to "12 o´clock".

13) pre-tighten the wheel bolts.

14) position the tyre valve to "6 o´clock".

15) tighten the wheel bolts to 90 N.m.

16) road test the vehicle.

17) if the vehicle vibrations persist, rotate the tyre around the rim by a quarter-turn . rebalance all the wheels.

18) if the weights are less than their admissible values, refit the wheel assemblies on the vehicle to their original positions , see paragraph 2.3).

19) road test the vehicle.

20) if the vehicle vibrations persist or if the weights are less than their admissible values, see paragraph 2.3).

21) remove the tyre from the rim. Measure the run-out and the out-of-balance :

If the rim run-out is less than or equal to 0.4 millimetre and the residual out-of-balance is less than 27 grammes , replace the tyre

If the rim run-out is less than or equal to 0.4 millimetre and the residual out-of-balance is greater than 27 grammes , replace the rim

If the rim run-out is more than or equal to 0.4 millimetre , replace the rim

If you have changed the tyre or the rim but the vibrations persist, place the wheel assemblies on a test bed for measuring uniformity and variations in radial force (VFR), type Hunter GSP 9700.

Apply the procedure for checking the uniformity and variations in radial force (VFR) as recommended by the manufacturer of the test equipment.

If the vibrations persist following these checks........you either havent done it properly or its nothing to do with wheel balance!

 

 

HI, Have just returned from ma nail biting trip to France due to wheel wobble

Had new front discs and brake pads and new tyres on front balanced (assured by garage that a DTI check was made on the discs to check for wobble)

On reaching 100kph wobble started. Tried to drive through it and it actuacted the ESP which immediatly caused a pollution fault thus cutting engine management to "get you home" setting.

 

Had to find an Aire on the toll roads and dis. battery, go through security (engine immobiliser etc) and get back on road.

Went to Citron garage who diagnosed as the anti pollution fault as the camshaft sensor fault.

 

Had tyres re balanced a little better but same trouble with ESP after running for 5 mins with wheel wobble so back to 50mph.

 

Had 2 weeks holiday running around France at 97kph