Steering Wheel Vibration!

mojako · 12-03-2012, 03:58 AM

I have a problem.

My steering wheel vibrates when i hit 70km/h - goes away when i reach 80km/h, but comes back aroung 90km/h. Very weird.

It also vibrates when i hit the brakes! No vibration when im going 40km/h or less.

What have i done so far?

I have new front rotors (Lemforder) and pads.

New tie-rods/rack ends. New front hub bearings. I just had my front suspension inspected and my FCABs and control arms are still ok.

Front tires are BALANCED. Checked them twice at 2 different tire shops to make sure. Didn't have the rears balanced.

I am lowered on Eibach Sportlines. Stock struts/shocks. I have a .5mm rubber lifter installed right on top of my front springs. I have 18" Original AC Schnizter Type 3s with 225/40/18 tires.

What else should I check?

mojako · 12-05-2012, 02:32 AM

No one??

subieworx · 12-05-2012, 07:15 AM

How old are those wheels? Is the hub bore sizing correct for your car? Are the wheels bent at all?

lucky_doggg7 · 12-05-2012, 08:28 AM

Find a shop that has a Hunter Road Force 9700 wheel balance machine that can detect the roundness of the tire and the rim. This machine is able to measure the runout of both the rim's inner barrel, and the roundness of the tire. The Hunter machine will reveal your problem. You have the classic symptom of an out of round wheel assembly, meaning the tire is out of round, or the rim is out of round, or perhaps both.

mojako · 12-11-2012, 06:44 AM

@lucky,
that may be hard to find where I am from. But i will consider that. I will switch rims over the weekend to find out if my rims/tires are not round.

@subie,
I think the AC Type3s are hubcentric to the 3 series... not sure though. Bent? Maybe!

daveion2002 · 01-01-2013, 04:33 PM

When I had this problem a while ago i replaced my front control arms and it went away if that helps

Vincent_m3 · 01-01-2013, 04:46 PM

If you say it vibrate when you brake you might want to check your brake rotor.

mojako · 01-02-2013, 03:37 PM

@dave,
sent you a PM

@vincent,
i have virtually new rotors... less than 6 mos old. Replaced the front pads as well.

So i had my tires checked, and they are A-OK. No problems. My mechanic said that my rack and pinion could be the culprit. What do you guys think?

I had it rebuilt a couple of months ago. Had all the rubber seals replaced.

boyguan · 01-03-2013, 02:08 AM

Check play in tie rods and check control arms. Mine was the arms

mojako · 01-03-2013, 02:40 AM

@boyguan,
the mechanic checked the control arms - they are good. I bought new arms already but the mechanic said not to replace because they were still good.

Tie-rods were replaced maybe a month ago.

daveion2002 · 01-03-2013, 03:09 PM

Did he check the bushings? Do you know how old your frnt control arms are? Some times i just dont trust mechanics i like mine, but he lets things break before replacing them because thats how he is. As for me i like to replace things that are getting old

mojako · 01-08-2013, 12:36 PM

You have a point there. Will replace the fcabs 1st and see what happens.

12-03-2012, 03:58 AM	#1
mojako Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Philippines Posts: 65 My Ride: bmw View My Garage	Steering Wheel Vibration! I have a problem. My steering wheel vibrates when i hit 70km/h - goes away when i reach 80km/h, but comes back aroung 90km/h. Very weird. It also vibrates when i hit the brakes! No vibration when im going 40km/h or less. What have i done so far? I have new front rotors (Lemforder) and pads. New tie-rods/rack ends. New front hub bearings. I just had my front suspension inspected and my FCABs and control arms are still ok. Front tires are BALANCED. Checked them twice at 2 different tire shops to make sure. Didn't have the rears balanced. I am lowered on Eibach Sportlines. Stock struts/shocks. I have a .5mm rubber lifter installed right on top of my front springs. I have 18" Original AC Schnizter Type 3s with 225/40/18 tires. What else should I check?

01-01-2013, 04:33 PM	#6
daveion2002 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: utah Posts: 110 My Ride: 2001 330i View My Garage	When I had this problem a while ago i replaced my front control arms and it went away if that helps __________________

01-03-2013, 03:09 PM	#11
daveion2002 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: utah Posts: 110 My Ride: 2001 330i View My Garage	Did he check the bushings? Do you know how old your frnt control arms are? Some times i just dont trust mechanics i like mine, but he lets things break before replacing them because thats how he is. As for me i like to replace things that are getting old __________________

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12-05-2012, 02:32 AM	#2
mojako Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Philippines Posts: 65 My Ride: bmw View My Garage	No one??

12-05-2012, 07:15 AM	#3
subieworx Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: cincinnati Posts: 63 My Ride: ZHP, 335, E53, E30 View My Garage	How old are those wheels? Is the hub bore sizing correct for your car? Are the wheels bent at all?

12-05-2012, 08:28 AM	#4
lucky_doggg7 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: OC Posts: 282 My Ride: 2005 M3 View My Garage	Find a shop that has a Hunter Road Force 9700 wheel balance machine that can detect the roundness of the tire and the rim. This machine is able to measure the runout of both the rim's inner barrel, and the roundness of the tire. The Hunter machine will reveal your problem. You have the classic symptom of an out of round wheel assembly, meaning the tire is out of round, or the rim is out of round, or perhaps both.

12-11-2012, 06:44 AM	#5
mojako Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Philippines Posts: 65 My Ride: bmw View My Garage	@lucky, that may be hard to find where I am from. But i will consider that. I will switch rims over the weekend to find out if my rims/tires are not round. @subie, I think the AC Type3s are hubcentric to the 3 series... not sure though. Bent? Maybe!

01-01-2013, 04:46 PM	#7
Vincent_m3 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Sf bayarea Posts: 78 My Ride: 04 M3 View My Garage	If you say it vibrate when you brake you might want to check your brake rotor.

01-02-2013, 03:37 PM	#8
mojako Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Philippines Posts: 65 My Ride: bmw View My Garage	@dave, sent you a PM @vincent, i have virtually new rotors... less than 6 mos old. Replaced the front pads as well. So i had my tires checked, and they are A-OK. No problems. My mechanic said that my rack and pinion could be the culprit. What do you guys think? I had it rebuilt a couple of months ago. Had all the rubber seals replaced.

01-03-2013, 02:08 AM	#9
boyguan Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: san francisco Posts: 122 My Ride: 02 330i View My Garage	Check play in tie rods and check control arms. Mine was the arms

01-03-2013, 02:40 AM	#10
mojako Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Philippines Posts: 65 My Ride: bmw View My Garage	@boyguan, the mechanic checked the control arms - they are good. I bought new arms already but the mechanic said not to replace because they were still good. Tie-rods were replaced maybe a month ago.

01-08-2013, 12:36 PM	#12
mojako Registered User Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Philippines Posts: 65 My Ride: bmw View My Garage	You have a point there. Will replace the fcabs 1st and see what happens.