Steering Wheel Vibration

'97 Saturn SL1, 110k miles

So this has recently started, and it is scaring me while driving. Not all
the time, but sometimes the wheel will start to vibrate violently for a
period of time. It is not strong enough to alter the direction that I am
driving, but enough to be very noticeable. It will go away after about
five minutes of driving, then it will return after about five minutes. I
just had new tires put on and I had the alignment done. I have started to
drive my other car in the mean time, but if you have any idea as to what
could be happening, I would love to hear it.

Thanks.

 

Most likely it is a wheel balance problem. Take it back to the shop that
mounted the tires and tell them the symptoms. If it was recent enough, they
should rebalance it for no charge to see if it takes care of the problem.

Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]

 

I think you may have lost a balancing weight.
Take it back to the place where you had the tires put on, tell them
you've got a bad shimmy. They should probably fix it for free.
-WaV

 

It could indeed be a balancing issue but I would not rule out
alignment or possible bad CV joints if everything else checks out.

 

I already had the weights checked out. All was good. I don't think that
it really has anything to do with the new tires.

 

Idirectly it does because you have change the rotating mass on front
axle. It could be a alignment issue and/or a problem with worn/loose
front end parts.

 

Was it doing it before the new tires? There's your answer.

 

You could have lost a weight, that balanced your tire. Are you
changing speed, or at a certain speed when the vibration is happening?

just a guess,

tom @ www.CarFleaMarket.com

 

When does it do it? Is it when you apply the brakes? Or is it while
driving? If it's while braking I'd suspect warped brake rotors. Saturn did
have a problem there but I think they did remedy it before 1997 though.

 

I had the new tires on. It worked fine for about a month. Then about one
month into the new tires it started. Slightly at first, but as time went
on it got stronger.

It happens when I drive and when I brake. The speed of the vibration does
not change with the change in gear, but it does change with the change in
speed.

I took it to the place that did my tires. We checked the weights and the
alignment. All they do it tires, so they did not check anything else.
They said that my tie rods looked fine. I have not taken it in anywhere
else yet, but I think that I am going to soon.

 

Have you rotated the tires to see if it changes?

 

You have a tire out of balance. If they did not take each tire and put it
back on the balancer, then they have no idea if it's right or not.

 

I remember that I was getting a pretty bad shake at high speed when one
of my front wheel bearings went out....

(94 SC2)
-WaV