Steering shake/shimmy after 60mph

Steering shake/shimmy after 60mph

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DailyHack

Original Poster:

3,855 posts

126 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
quotequote all
So, when I get to 55/60+ I get a steering wheel vibration wobble, I can slightly feel it while I hold onto/steer the car, but when I let go it shakes more.

So far, I have

- Swapped the fronts/backs (still have wobble)
- Originally had the fronts balanced (but they are now at back, is it worth having the "new" fronts balanced also)
- New rotors and pads (this stopped the braking vibration)

So, I am thinking now it's possibly alignment, the car does feel slightly twitchy, so it's booked in a 4 wheel laser hunter next week.

It's MOT history does suggest excessive tyre wear outside edge, which may mean the prev owner having not had the alignment done maybe.

Would alignment cause a shimmy/steering shake after 60mph?

Also, the shake stops completely sometimes pending on what motorway surface I am on?

Front tyres are X2 Michelin Pilots (4 years old) with some shoulder cracks, originally in the rear of the car when purchased.

Car is a 2013 V60



Edited by DailyHack on Saturday 28th August 07:39

Matt_E_Mulsion

1,738 posts

80 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
quotequote all
Can you speed up and drive through the vibration or does it get worse the faster you go?

Tyre Smoke

23,018 posts

276 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
quotequote all
Sorry, realised you're in the UK and trying to be all smart by saying 'rotors' for discs.

Stopped reading.

Your wheels are probably buckled. HTH.

DailyHack

Original Poster:

3,855 posts

126 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
quotequote all
Matt_E_Mulsion said:
Can you speed up and drive through the vibration or does it get worse the faster you go?
Yes, once I speed up the shaking speeds up, then sort off disappears but is still there at a higher frequency if that makes sense.

I think I may get the wheels (that are currently on the front) balanced this morning, see if this sorts it...st least then all 4 would of been done.

Nothing at all, perfectly smooth <55mph

DailyHack

Original Poster:

3,855 posts

126 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
quotequote all
Tyre Smoke said:
Your wheels are probably buckled. HTH.
Ha, didn't realise I was trying to be smart smile All 4 buckled? Once moved rears to front, vibration is still there in the steering wheel?

Jaguar99

659 posts

53 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
quotequote all
As you can drive through it then it does sound like balancing.

If you are feeling it through the steering then concentrate on the front wheels. You would feel it through your seat if it was the rear wheels.

Make sure that the place you take the car for balancing does the inner and outer edges of the wheel (dynamic balancing rather than static balancing). Many places will just do static unless you ask them. The cost should be the same but it can make a difference.

Zarco

19,289 posts

224 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
quotequote all
I've got the same thing as it happens.

Just had the steering arm/drop links and track rod ends replaced both sides to cure a clunking over bumps. Didn't notice the vibration until I started a new commute this week, that includes a 60mph average speed zone on the M4.

I'm going to get the alignment done and see if it cures it.

DailyHack

Original Poster:

3,855 posts

126 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
quotequote all
Zarco said:
.

I'm going to get the alignment done and see if it cures it.
Yeah I am thinking a proper 4 wheel alignment cures alot of shimmies and shakes, especially if you are over-steering in a straight line (tyres pointing in/out etc) makes sense in my head anyway.

Edited by DailyHack on Saturday 28th August 08:11

Matt_E_Mulsion

1,738 posts

80 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
quotequote all
I would concentrate on the quality/condition of the tyres and the state of the wheels to find the fault.

What vehicle is it?

take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey

6,531 posts

70 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
quotequote all
Can be many many things.

Worn tyres... When you swapped them did you notice a steering wheel vs seat of pants change in Viv ration?
Buckled wheels. Ditto.
Worn steering components.
Worn suspension bushes
Worn drive shaft spines - although that's more a fwd issue for vibes.

If it's not wheel and tyre... Best thing is get it on a lift and go through every steering and suspension component and visually check for wear - not just play.

Tony1963

5,689 posts

177 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
quotequote all
Worn damper/s maybe.

DailyHack

Original Poster:

3,855 posts

126 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
quotequote all
Matt_E_Mulsion said:
I would concentrate on the quality/condition of the tyres and the state of the wheels to find the fault.

What vehicle is it?
I did state the vehicle originally - Volvo V60 D3

Yeah, I am getting the fronts look at this morning, then will move onto alignment, then worn issues suspension etc

23.7

28,067 posts

198 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
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I similar on a new to me car.

I went though everything tyre pressure, balancing, alignment, new wheels and tyres, brake discs and pads shocks, top mounts, control arms, arb bushes, steering damper, steering idler, one at a time.

Not just one thing, albeit each change improved the problem to a degree. It's now acceptable.

Start with the easy things 1st and work your way through.

DailyHack

Original Poster:

3,855 posts

126 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
quotequote all
Yeah it's really odd, I have just tried to go out to a garage to get them to do the balancing on the fronts, cant fit me in till next week (I should of known really)

Anyway, I went out on the motorway, it changes due to different road surfaces aswell, i.e lane 1, 2 sometimes it's not there at all, change lanes (with noticable shade/appearance in tarmac colour) it's stops completely...very bizarre.

It does seem to be worse the faster I go, but its not violently shaking, just a nuisance, if I hold the steering wheel it's better, but still vibrates my hands.

So, I'm going to wait for the alignment (that's booked) I know this is out, if I straighten the steering wheel to the middle, it drifts to the right, I've known from past cars this means its not quite right.

I also had a very similar issue on my old Saab 9-3, new tyres fixed that, and alignment helped also...hmmm I hate cars sometimes!


stevieturbo

17,775 posts

262 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
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Did this just appear at random one day, or what lead up to it ?

Zarco

19,289 posts

224 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
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I'm down the tyre shop now. Getting 2 wheel alignment done on the Hunter, and the wheel balancing checked (geezer down here told me it would be this).

Perhaps I lost a wheel weight getting the other bits fixed.


DailyHack

Original Poster:

3,855 posts

126 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
Did this just appear at random one day, or what lead up to it ?
It a new to me car, so for all I know it could of always been there at this speed

23.7

28,067 posts

198 months

Saturday 28th August 2021
quotequote all
DailyHack said:
stevieturbo said:
Did this just appear at random one day, or what lead up to it ?
It a new to me car, so for all I know it could of always been there at this speed
As its inconsistent and road surface dependant my monies on worn suspension/steering components.

E-bmw

11,082 posts

167 months

Sunday 29th August 2021
quotequote all
DailyHack said:
Tyre Smoke said:
Your wheels are probably buckled. HTH.
All 4 buckled?
No, just one front & one rear as in could be caused by one pot hole/kerb etc going under both front & rear on the one side.

Buckling is something tyre places don't really look for & can be balanced out, but they will still be buckled.

stevieturbo

17,775 posts

262 months

Sunday 29th August 2021
quotequote all
DailyHack said:
It a new to me car, so for all I know it could of always been there at this speed
Are the wheels the correct wheels for the car ?