Steering wheel wobble but wheels are balanced.

[Ltnman]

I have got a 2005 Mondeo with 22,500 miles on the clock. In the last few weeks I have noticed that the steering wheel wobbles/vibrates when the car is doing between 25- 40 mph.

I had the front wheels rebalanced a few days ago and the car has just passed its MOT but the problem is still there. The MOT did pick up that the tracking might be out but would that cause the problem? If not what else could it be?

 

[Mw Roofline]

When the car is stationany/switched off, is there any play in the steering wheel or does it feel tight/normal?

 

[Ltnman]

yep all seems normail and the car passed its MOT a couple of days ago

 

[tommydickfinger]

swap the wheels from front to rear dude- tracking isnt an advisory on mot- my monies on un even or non matching tyres, if its exectly same as swap then keep looking but id say tyres is your man

 

[BigWeeez]

yea i'd say tires too, certainly if the steering feels tight turned off. could even be as simple as checking the pressure mate

 

[JonB]

Could be an odd tyre or even a slight difference in diameter.
JonB

 

[Avocet]

Have you only just had those front tyres fitted? If so, it would be reasonable to suspect the tyres. try jacking it up and spin each wheel whilst feeling the tred an sidewall (incliding the inside wall) with your hand to see if there are any "eggs" in there (small bulges indicating that the plies are de-laminating internally). Also, the suggestion of swapping the wheels front to rear is a good one. If the problem goes away, you'll know it was tyres.

If all is well in the tyre department, it could be the big rubber bushes in the bottom arms. Thay's quite common on modern cars. Also try for track rod ends but that's less likely.

Are you the only driver of the car? has it been "kerbed" recently?

 

[ScottyMc]

Had your tyres been balanced by a reputable company? If not, it may be worth having them rechecked.

It could also be down to your suspension settings (namely tracking, camber, toe etc). I would recommend a company that uses the Hunter DSP600 system or similar as they check the whole car via digital imaging.

It could also be bushes starting to wear or even a bent wheel rim.

I would still check everything that has been mentioned before though as a matter of course

 

[Ltnman]

Thanks for the comments. The car still has the original tyres as the car has only done 22,000 miles. They were rebalanced by kwik fit. As the machine was right by the window I could see they ended up spot on. I also saw the woman (yes a woman) give the tyres a visual check before she balanced them.

The MOT picked up that the tracking might be out as there was more wear on I think the inside of the tyres. The tyres will need changing in the next couple of thousand miles and the car is due for a dealer service so I might leave it to then and get the tyres changed before the service and get the garage to set the tracking. Hopfully a new set of tyres on the front will fix the problem.

 

[tommydickfinger]

i wouldnt bother with a dealer service dude- they wont even remove the wheels till the brakes have collapsed-all you get is an oil change for £200- if its ready for tyres then get it done with tracking- dont go for the lazers- do it over a tracking plate, costs £20 at my gaf and is much better than mirrors or lazers

kind regards

 

[malc19591]

if you can drive through the problem i.e. no wobble after 40 or 50mph it is wheel balancing. take it back and ask them to do it again, properly.
malc

 

[TicklyT]

The wheels may be balanced, but do the tyres run dead true? (Yes, it is possible to balance a wheel with an out of true tyre!)

If the wheels are balanced off the car, are there any wheel trims that could upset the balance when they are re-fitted?

I've had that 'wheels out of balance' feeling after some heavy panic braking (Are BMWs equipped with mirrors, or is it the drivers just couldn't be bothered to use them before changing lane?). I guess locking the wheels put flat spots on the tyres that would slowly drift in and out of phase with each other in normal driving. It took a few hundred miles for the effects to wear off.

 

[foxhole]

Get the tracking checked and the balancing at the same time , Kwik fit are very sloppy.

 

[libby lou lou]

Have you only just had those front tyres fitted? If so, it would be reasonable to suspect the tyres. try jacking it up and spin each wheel whilst feeling the tred an sidewall (incliding the inside wall) with your hand to see if there are any "eggs" in there (small bulges indicating that the plies are de-laminating internally). Also, the suggestion of swapping the wheels front to rear is a good one. If the problem goes away, you'll know it was tyres.

If all is well in the tyre department, it could be the big rubber bushes in the bottom arms. Thay's quite common on modern cars. Also try for track rod ends but that's less likely.

Are you the only driver of the car? has it been "kerbed" recently?

Th1s post should cover any problem. you was asked a quest1on regard1ng kerb1ng, we'll take that as a no, 1f you want help,people use there t1me to help you, please return th1s favour. (felt l1ke nagg1ng someone, sorry you copped for 1 )

 

[MIKEMT]

saw these old wobble messages and i now have a steering wheel wobble on my 2006 X type auto
changed all 4 tyres to cheap hi fly's less than 5000 milea ago but did not wobble until now
merit tyres re checked balancing but all ok suggesting nearside wheels may be buckled
wobble starts 5mph to at least 55mph or so , and stops wobbling around 60
any ideas
mikemt