possible causes of steering shake? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

jmill0823 · 06-28-2006, 11:27 PM

Hey hey,

'90 S13...lots of vibration in the steering after 80mph...car is lowered. I want to start tackling the problem and I know it could be several things, but what is the best order in which to begin solving the problem...

Obviously I should go have the tires balanced and rotated and have the car aligned...but other than that I have no idea. And I don't want to get it aligned in case theres something else I should do first that would require alignment afterwards..ie camber kit??

Serebros · 06-29-2006, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmill0823

Hey hey,

'90 S13...lots of vibration in the steering after 80mph...car is lowered. I want to start tackling the problem and I know it could be several things, but what is the best order in which to begin solving the problem...

Obviously I should go have the tires balanced and rotated and have the car aligned...but other than that I have no idea. And I don't want to get it aligned in case theres something else I should do first that would require alignment afterwards..ie camber kit??

its bad tie rods, or wheels are not balenced, most likely balancing, not alignment though, i painted my rims, and took the weights off before i painted them, i dident put em back on, and when i go above 60mph, its mad vibration

kawika219 · 06-29-2006, 02:54 AM

most likely wheel balancing

mellojoe · 06-29-2006, 07:40 AM

Definately wheel balance. Take it in to any wheel/tire shop and have them balance your wheels. If you bought tires from someplace local, usually they do lifetime balances for free. if not, then it costs like $15. Its not expensive at all.

And, typically, you have to get them balanced about every 6 months or so. If you do hard driving, you can through those wheel weights. Or a big pothole. So, go get wheels balanced and be happy.

koukidough · 06-29-2006, 11:19 AM

can also be warped rotors

*NemeGuero* · 06-29-2006, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koukidough

can also be warped rotors

Only if the steering shakes under braking.. otherwise its not rotors.

AllenRPS13 · 06-29-2006, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by koukidough

can also be warped rotors

+1 for warped rotors, coz i also got this problem before

*NemeGuero* · 06-29-2006, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllenRPS13

+1 for warped rotors, coz i also got this problem before

Quote:

Originally Posted by NemeGuero

Only if the steering shakes under braking.. otherwise its not rotors.

REEEAAAAD GOOD!

slider2828 · 06-29-2006, 11:52 AM

You can easily check for bad tie rods, just jack the car up, and grab and the middle of the tie rod. Pull down directly towards the ground and use some force. If there is movement, tie rods are bad and will cause the shake. Simply, if no movement AT ALL, then its wheel balance.

*ManoNegra* · 06-29-2006, 11:54 AM

cheap spacers and sticking brakes can also do it. Check for worn steering rack bushing aswell.

1Via! · 06-29-2006, 12:16 PM

Make sure your lug nuts are all on and tight. Check your tie rods,visually inspect other arms, etc. Go get an alignment.

What is your car lowered with?

You used to own a honda, huh?

Frenzy13 · 06-29-2006, 01:17 PM

+1 on the wheel balancing and tie rods, also if you have any bad camber wear most shops can't balance them.

Jack up the car and visually inspect everything, follow slider's advice on checking the tie rods. Make sure your wheels are all on tight. My friend just bought a 92 and the guy who sold it to him thought it would be funny to loosen all 16 lug nuts just a tad. I nearly killed the guy. neways if all sudgestions fail, try the allignment. It will also be able to tell you if missed somthing in the visual, because something bent won't allow them to get it all into spec easily.

TurboB15sentra · 06-29-2006, 02:33 PM

Lower ball joints, tie-rod ends, bushings, wheel balance..

tre · 06-29-2006, 03:53 PM

check all your bolts ont he braces too haha not a pretty thing when some braces come off haha

*NemeGuero* · 06-29-2006, 04:00 PM

he didn't mention he had a brace.. and how would that cause steering shakes?

Frenzy13 · 06-29-2006, 06:19 PM

^^^ I think he means front sub frame or crossmember.

TougeSR20Kid · 06-30-2006, 02:10 AM

wheel balancing, unfortunately i use to work at discount tire and if you've ever used a balancing machine b4 you'll notice how the thing shakes rediculously if balanced wrong...

on a related subject i have an issue with my car where the whole thing will sway from side to side in excess of 60 MPH, basically it feels like its hitting gusts of wind when their is none. no vibrations just the feeling of strong wind, could this be because i'm running 205 60 15's on stock s13 SE rims and this sensation is because of shitty sidewalls with a lot of flex????? any help would be awesome

LordIkon · 06-30-2006, 07:51 AM

Try getting tires balanced first, then check the tie rods and control arms, then try alignment. You'll only experience vibration from warped rotors under braking or if your calipers have seized a bit, however if that was the case you should also notice excessive brake dust and burning brake smell. If none of these work then your rims are probably bent, in which case you’ll never get rid of the vibration.

Give a man a fire and you warm him for a day. Set a man on fire and you warm him for the rest of his life.

Lord Ikon

*ManoNegra* · 06-30-2006, 09:47 AM

TougeSR20Kid - I'm experiencing something similar but I know my alignment is pretty fucked. Hopefully it'll get resolved after this weekend.

06-28-2006, 11:27 PM	#1
jmill0823 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Athens/Atlanta,GA Posts: 27 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	possible causes of steering shake? Hey hey, '90 S13...lots of vibration in the steering after 80mph...car is lowered. I want to start tackling the problem and I know it could be several things, but what is the best order in which to begin solving the problem... Obviously I should go have the tires balanced and rotated and have the car aligned...but other than that I have no idea. And I don't want to get it aligned in case theres something else I should do first that would require alignment afterwards..ie camber kit??

06-29-2006, 07:40 AM	#4
mellojoe Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: ARKANSAS Posts: 518 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Definately wheel balance. Take it in to any wheel/tire shop and have them balance your wheels. If you bought tires from someplace local, usually they do lifetime balances for free. if not, then it costs like $15. Its not expensive at all. And, typically, you have to get them balanced about every 6 months or so. If you do hard driving, you can through those wheel weights. Or a big pothole. So, go get wheels balanced and be happy. __________________

06-29-2006, 11:19 AM	#5
koukidough Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach, California Age: 43 Posts: 399 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	can also be warped rotors __________________ 1997 Nissan S14 SE Redtop SR20DET @12psi 1999 Honda Civic Hatch EK9 N/A b16a2 (SOLD)

06-29-2006, 01:17 PM	#12
Frenzy13 Leaky Injector Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Napa Age: 42 Posts: 98 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	+1 on the wheel balancing and tie rods, also if you have any bad camber wear most shops can't balance them. Jack up the car and visually inspect everything, follow slider's advice on checking the tie rods. Make sure your wheels are all on tight. My friend just bought a 92 and the guy who sold it to him thought it would be funny to loosen all 16 lug nuts just a tad. I nearly killed the guy. neways if all sudgestions fail, try the allignment. It will also be able to tell you if missed somthing in the visual, because something bent won't allow them to get it all into spec easily. __________________ 1992 240SX SE - Goodbye... 1997 240SX - At last I have one...

06-29-2006, 02:33 PM	#13
TurboB15sentra Zilvia Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New Orleans, LA Age: 44 Posts: 258 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Lower ball joints, tie-rod ends, bushings, wheel balance.. __________________ www.fi-r.net Nissan Performance

06-29-2006, 02:54 AM	#3
kawika219 Zilvia Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hawaii Posts: 283 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	most likely wheel balancing

06-29-2006, 11:52 AM	#9
slider2828 Post Whore! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 6,040 Trader Rating: (13) Feedback Score: 13 reviews	You can easily check for bad tie rods, just jack the car up, and grab and the middle of the tie rod. Pull down directly towards the ground and use some force. If there is movement, tie rods are bad and will cause the shake. Simply, if no movement AT ALL, then its wheel balance.

06-29-2006, 11:54 AM	#10
ManoNegra Guild of Skullduggerous Intent Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Socal Posts: 7,841 Trader Rating: (48) Feedback Score: 48 reviews	cheap spacers and sticking brakes can also do it. Check for worn steering rack bushing aswell.

06-29-2006, 12:16 PM	#11
1Via! Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Seattle/Olympia, WA Age: 39 Posts: 510 Trader Rating: (3) Rides Gallery: 1Via! Feedback Score: 3 reviews	Make sure your lug nuts are all on and tight. Check your tie rods,visually inspect other arms, etc. Go get an alignment. What is your car lowered with? You used to own a honda, huh?

06-29-2006, 03:53 PM	#14
tre Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 544 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	check all your bolts ont he braces too haha not a pretty thing when some braces come off haha __________________ I didn't buy an Audi because it is a Great Car, but for more of a reason to be an asshole.

06-29-2006, 04:00 PM	#15
NemeGuero No more nissan. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: RAIN, Washington. Age: 40 Posts: 8,132 Trader Rating: (10) Rides Gallery: NemeGuero Feedback Score: 10 reviews	he didn't mention he had a brace.. and how would that cause steering shakes? __________________

06-29-2006, 06:19 PM	#16
Frenzy13 Leaky Injector Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Napa Age: 42 Posts: 98 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	^^^ I think he means front sub frame or crossmember. __________________ 1992 240SX SE - Goodbye... 1997 240SX - At last I have one...

06-30-2006, 07:51 AM	#18
LordIkon Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Maryland Age: 47 Posts: 1 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Try getting tires balanced first, then check the tie rods and control arms, then try alignment. You'll only experience vibration from warped rotors under braking or if your calipers have seized a bit, however if that was the case you should also notice excessive brake dust and burning brake smell. If none of these work then your rims are probably bent, in which case you’ll never get rid of the vibration. Give a man a fire and you warm him for a day. Set a man on fire and you warm him for the rest of his life. Lord Ikon

06-30-2006, 09:47 AM	#19
ManoNegra Guild of Skullduggerous Intent Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Socal Posts: 7,841 Trader Rating: (48) Feedback Score: 48 reviews	TougeSR20Kid - I'm experiencing something similar but I know my alignment is pretty fucked. Hopefully it'll get resolved after this weekend.

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