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        General >> Problems >> Steering Shake!
        
(Message started by: crash on Jan 27^th, 2009, 6:54pm)

Title: Steering Shake!
Post by crash on Jan 27^th, 2009, 6:54pm

1998 Scorpio Ultima Estate

Further to the tailgate problem has anyone else experienced a fairly constant shimmy/shake coming through the steering wheel? It's a rotational shimmy of the wheel in your hands that you feel. It was really bad up until recently when it was diagnosed with a broken anti-roll bar linkage and worn bushes. Tracking was also adjusted and two new tyres fitted on the front. There is no play in the steering. Initially there was no shimmy but now it seems to have returned slightly.

Any thoughts?

Cheers

crash

Title: Re: Steering Shake!
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Jan 27^th, 2009, 7:10pm

Check for a wheel out of balance - maybe a balance weight has come off ?
Also check for warped brake disc(s).

Title: Re: Steering Shake!
Post by crash on Jan 27^th, 2009, 7:41pm

Thanks for that. I think you may have something with the balance weight because one minute it wasn't there, following all the work, and then suddenly the other day it returned, allbeit in a much milder form.
Once the shake was initially cured it was really odd driving a smooth car again as I had got so used to having the wheel move in my hands.

crash

Title: Re: Steering Shake!
Post by scorpio_man on Jan 27^th, 2009, 9:08pm

hi there

just had to rebalanced all my wheels as i think one of the weights had fallen off.

only got the shake at above 50mph.

hth

Title: Re: Steering Shake!
Post by david49uk on Jan 27^th, 2009, 10:05pm

check to see if your wheel discs are warped that was happening to me and it was the discs, dave

Title: Re: Steering Shake!
Post by homer2themax on Jan 28^th, 2009, 12:42am

Hate to say it but on my old MK2 Granada when bringing it home it had an awful wheel shake at 50mph (ish).
I went through the whole wheel balancing, bush changing scenario but it was only fitting new shocks in the end that solved the problem.
Have you done the shock test to see if they're shot or not?
Regards,
Mark

Title: Re: Steering Shake!
Post by gozz on Jan 28^th, 2009, 8:49pm

Mark.
Mk2 had double wishbone suspension,not struts as Scorp.
GOZZ.

Title: Re: Steering Shake!
Post by ultima4 on Jan 29^th, 2009, 7:10pm

hi there i had this problem a couple of weeks ago .to find what the fault was . i swap the front wheels with the rear wheels and it cured the problem but now the fault appeared on the rear ie viabration so i had the wheels checked and it turned out to be a warped tyre which i have replaced everthing is good now.hope this helps. geoff

Title: Re: Steering Shake!
Post by Highlander on Jan 29^th, 2009, 8:30pm

Could also be the steering rack, wishbone balljoints/bushes or discs.

Jack it up and give it a wiggle ;)

Title: Re: Steering Shake!
Post by Jonnycab on Jan 30^th, 2009, 2:17am

Wheels out of balance, bent rim, flat spotted tyre/s, tyre out of shape (happens alot with budget tyres due to inferior steel belting construction).

Can you drive through the shake ? ie...starts at 60mph, worst at 65mph & dissapears after 70mph. If so then I'd say it is wheel/tyre related.

If the shaking just gets worse & worse the faster you go, then I'd say it is steering/suspension related :)

P.S....Not 100% sure, but I don't think warped brake discs will cause a shaking in the steering wheel during normal driving. Warped discs usually only cause a shaking in the steering when braking :)

Title: Re: Steering Shake!
Post by crash on Feb 24^th, 2009, 9:56pm

Apologies for not replying sooner but work has kept me away.
Problem was diagnosed, by myself, the other day as I drove home as a binding front nearside caliper. The steering wheel was nearly shaking itself out of my hands, and the road wheel itself was, oh, ever so slightly warm on getting home.
Local garage fitted new caliper and it's as good as new again.