Steering vibration - please help

[Matthew Willoughby]

During the weekend the steering on my 7 started vibrating quite badly above about 60 mph. The faster you go the worse it seems to get.

 

I had a spanner check carried out on the car last week in preparation for Cadwell on Tuesday so everything should be tight.

 

I had a look at the archives on here and from previous posts thought my problem was down to out of balance wheels. I had the fronts balanced today (they weren't far out apparently) and it is just as bad this evening.

 

Any thoughts? I don't like the thought of doing the 500 or so miles I will cover over the coming weekend including Cadwell with the car like this.

 

The car is a VX Classic.

 

Edited by - Matthew Willoughby on 29 Apr 2004 23:11:52

[Irrelevant]

Wrong thread 😳 . . . . .

 

J351 TPE - In one piece

 

Edited by - AdamHay on 29 Apr 2004 19:50:47

[Matthew Willoughby]

If it was the prop would I not get vibration through more than the steering 🤔 I'm a complete dunce when it comes to anything like this I'm afraid.

 

Everything else on the car feels as it did before apart from the steering.

 

Having had a quick play just now, it appears that there may be some play (only very small) in the quick release mechanism for the steering wheel. Could this be the cause? Why would it only start to vibarate now? How could I test this

 

Sorry for the stupid questions.

[Irrelevant]

Matthew: I was thinking of F355GTS's problem and got confused.....I edited my reply but submitted it just before you got your reply in.

If your fronts are definately balanced properly and nothing is lose/worn, my money would be on binding brakes. Are the calipers free - i.e. when you jack it up, do the front wheels rotate freely?

It sounds like balancing though. Get the rears balanced just to be sure - you will feel their vibration as well......

 

J351 TPE - In one piece

[Bare]

Hmmm... IF it was just wheel/tire balance the Vibration would subside with higher rotational speeds, possibly the tires have developed a lump.. tread wear out isn't the only sign of a worn tire.

Try grabbing your Tire(on the car:-) at 9 and 3 o'clock and try wiggling it.. there should be no play, also at 6 and twelve, actually just 12 o'clock unless yer ambitious enough to raise the wheel... again NO movement play. If there is at 9/3 then it's steering gear, if play at 612 then it's Ball joints.. But loose wheel bearings are also a factor.

G'luck.

[Matthew Willoughby]

That explains it then (Adam's post, that is).

 

I don't think the brakes are binding. I certainly didn't seem any different to normal when I pushed the car into position on the drive just now. I'll jack it up and check if nobody else comes up with an idea.

 

Looks like I might be taking the car to work again tomorrow to get the rears balanced as well then.

 

Any thoughts on the play in the quick release mechanism 🤔

 

Thanks for the help Adam and Bare.

 

Edited by - Matthew Willoughby on 29 Apr 2004 21:13:06

[Matthew Willoughby]

Further to Bare's post I've jacked the car up and there appears to be some play in the left front. When I wiggle it with one hand at 6 o' clock and one hand at 12 o'clock there is some movment and a bit of a clicky noise. Any ideas?

 

Please help ❗ I daren't drive the car on track like this. I will try and get a mechanic to see it ASAP but could stuggle with it being bank holiday weekend.

[F355GTS]

Matthew

 

Could be loose wheel bearings (as Bare suggested) if you have movement as you suggest. Quick job to resolve, wherabouts in the Country are you?

 

Mark

[Matthew Willoughby]

I'm in Cheshire but have to get myself and the car over to Lincolnshire on Saturday for my Mum's birthday do and a couple of days later, Cadwell.

 

I've had a quick look in the build manual and can see nothing on wheel bearings Any more info would be great if only so I can diagnose the problem myself and know what I'm looking at.

 

I'm going to try and find somebody to look at it on Saturday but at this late stage and bank holiday weekend I'm a bit worried I'll struggle.

 

Thanks for all the help.

[Irrelevant]

It's probably worth getting the rear wheels balanced anyhow, it'll only be a few £. Get them put on the front just to rule out tyre bulges, etc. as Bare mentioned. A tyre fitter would normally notice this though and be trying to sell you new tyres.....

While you're there, ask for a free alignment check and get them to wiggle the wheels to see if they come up with anything that confirms your suspicions of wonky bearings/bushes. A smaller garage is best for this - not Kwik-Fit et al as they won't even know what wheel bearings and bushes are, let alone if they're at fault.

 

J351 TPE - In one piece

[Matthew Willoughby]

Thanks again Adam.

 

I'm hopefully going to get the car seen by the ex boss of an R400 race team tomorrow if he can fit me in. Fingers crossed

 

I'll try to borrow some axle stands from another Caterham owner down the road from me and swap the fronts and rears tonight to see if that helps.

 

Any more ideas in case I can't get the car seen tomorrow 🤔

 

Edited by - Matthew Willoughby on 30 Apr 2004 10:47:22