RE: [tech help required] steering shaking

["ATS - Patrick Bureau" <pbureau@attbi.com>]

I think Jonas you hit it dead on, I actually experience the symptoms you
mentioned. (I hit a bump on the road and the shaking stopped until I hit
another one (getting on and off a long bridge) and between the bumps the
steering was just fine.. no shaking.

The bearing now have not been replaced in at least 5 years, and the brakes
need replacing also (4 years since they have been changed), I will get  my
local mechanic take a look at them and/or if Brian Wagner can let me use his
garage, I' change the whole setup in the front (bearings in the rear have
been changed a little less than a year ago.)

Changing Front Rotors, Bearing, Pads and Calipers (they are over 10 years
old) is going to get done first and I will check the tie rod and bal joint
(last time about 4 months ago I got them check and the mechanic told me they
were fine and did not need replacement.)

Thank you for this information...

Ill keep y'all posted on the subject.
ATS - Patrick Bureau
85 8v prowler orange Rocco
===============================
Domain Back up ! and Functional!!!
http://longcoeur.com/scirocco
===============================

-----Original Message-----
From: Jonas K. [mailto:jkarlsso@metabolex.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2001 12:45 PM
To: ATS - Patrick Bureau; scirocco list
Subject: Re: [tech help required] steering shaking


On 12/17/01 8:28 PM, "ATS - Patrick Bureau" <pbureau@attbi.com> wrote:

> Alright, I have had this problem for a while and I will bore you with
> details in hopes someone out there has a clue ..

OK, try this;

Jack up the front of the car, grab the wheel and pull/push at if in every
direction you can think of, try to see if anything moves that isn't supposed
to. Check the following:

Ball joints
Control arm bushings (front and rear)
Control arm bolts.
Wheel bearings (i.e. The wheel moves, but the steering knuckle does not)
Tie rod ends (both)

Check the other side too.

If nothing pans out, try rotating the wheels front to rear (just because
it's the cheapest thing), if it changes at all, have the wheels balanced by
a competent place (I'd avoid wal-mart)

Lastly, I've had a similar wobble that disappeared when I replaced the wheel
bearing. For me there was no groan from the bearing. It would shake between
70 and 75 mph, sometimes. Never below or above that speed, and sometimes
hitting a seam/bump would bring about/eliminate the shaking, while within
that speed range. Very weird.

So if you've eliminated everything else, keep the bearing in mind.

Things I've noticed:
  When Ball joints go bad, they make clunking sounds when going over bumps/
rough roads.
  Bad control arm bushings/loose C.arm bolts will cause the car to pull to
one side under acceleration. They can also cause shaking while high speed
steering. Vague steering too.
  Bad Tie rod ends cause a similar pull. More of a steering "delay" if
anything.
  Out of balance wheels are strictly speed dependant. The faster you go, the
worse the shaking, independent of coasting/accelerating/turning.
  Bad Wheel bearings usually groan, but can also cause wobble. Usually if
they'll wobble, then there will be some play in them when you pull on the
wheel.

Hope all that helps,
Jonas


--
Email LIST problems to: scirocco-l-probs@scirocco.org.
To unsubscibe send "unsubscribe scirocco-l" in the message to majordomo@scirocco.org