214 bad vibration thro steering wheel | Technical matters | Back Room Forum

Wed 23 Aug 2006 22:23

214 bad vibration thro steering wheel - bbroomlea{P}

SWMBO'd Rover 214 (1997) has a strange vibration coming through the steering wheel.

Travelling at low speeds the wheel rocks from side to side, but slowly pulling the car to the left. As speed increases it becomes quicker and is more of a vibration like the wheels need balancing except it does it whatever speed.

If crawling in traffic it can rock the car at 5mph or so as the steering wheel is moving.

Strange thing is it can sometimes be really bad and then after stopping at a junction or getting in the car the next day it is much better, however not completely gone.

I have checked the tyre pressures and were a little uneven however made no difference and went through the MOT with this problem so assuming its nothing loose in the steering rack etc.

Had an issue lately with the brakes as the drivers side caliper had shed its bolts and garage said it must have been due to vibration - not a great experience loosing 1 wheel braking.

Has anyone got any ideas as its driving me mad when I drive it and dont really think its safe if its causing things to come loose.

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Wed 23 Aug 2006 22:34

214 bad vibration thro steering wheel - Number_Cruncher

It sounds like the wheel is buckled.

If you jack up the car, and slowly spin the wheel, you might be able to see the wheel and or tyre moving around. Sometimes it helps to put something fixed near to the rim, to help see the distortion as you turn the wheel.

In fact, if it is really bad, you might be able to see the whole car wobbling from side to side as it drives slowly past (there's usually a speed where you can set the mass of the car and the "springiness" of the tyres into resonance with a buckled rim, less than 10mph usually)

Number_Cruncher

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Wed 23 Aug 2006 22:48

214 bad vibration thro steering wheel - bbroomlea{P}

I will try that, thanks for the suggestion. It is particularly bad when its below 10mph and can rock you as your driving. Noticed passengers legs moving side to side when at such speeds and the front of the car looks like its moving.

I did have both front wheels off when the brake caliper fell off and put the wheel flat on the road to see if the tyres had warped on the rim but were flat to the road, however assume this wouldnt pick up a warped wheel.

Would it be wise to assume that its the wheel that has shuck the caliper loose that is the problem?

Out of interest, why would it be more severe sometimes and barely noticeable at others?

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Wed 23 Aug 2006 23:04

214 bad vibration thro steering wheel - Number_Cruncher

>>Would it be wise to assume that its the wheel that has shuck the caliper loose that is the problem?

It's possible, but the check I have suggested shouldn't take more than five minutes per corner anyway.

I don't know why it might be more noticeable at some times rather than others. One possibility is that if you hold the car's speed near the resonance frequency for a while, the amplitude of the vibration will build up cycle by cycle, wheras if you accelerate through the critical speed quickly, the vibration doesn't get a chance to build up.

Number_Cruncher

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Mon 28 Aug 2006 08:56

214 bad vibration thro steering wheel - DL

Sounds like you have an out-of-shape tyre. Jack the front up and spin the wheels by hand, I bet you'll see a lump/bulge.
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