Pecking order for front end vibration...

Pilot · 10-10-2009, 02:04 PM

My mechanic could find anything wrong with the MK1's front end that would cause vibration in the steering wheel other than the tires were bad. After new tire replacement, the vibration issue continues the same and starts at about 40 mph and gets worse with increased speed. No vibration is felt in the brake pedal. Any tips on how to proceed with the diagnosis would be appreciated.

mr2_jake · 10-10-2009, 04:02 PM

Check inner/outer tie rod ends? Wheel bearings? Steering shaft U-joint? Wheels aren't bent and are balanced? Do you have stock or aftermarket wheels (if so, are they lug- or hub-centric)?

dirocyn · 10-13-2009, 02:01 PM

From the BGB:
Tire inflation
tire tread
tire balance
Shocks
Alignment
Hub bearing
Ball joint
steering linkage
steering gear.

You've already done tires, next is shocks (standard bounce test) and then checking the alignment. Camber, toe and caster are easily adjusted, front and back. I'd align all 4, a rear wheel alignment problem might vibrate in the front. If you're like me and too cheap to go to an alignment shop, just check toe-in by measuring between the treads (I use a standard tape measure) on the front side and back side of the tire, front should be slightly in, but both measurements should be within 1/16th of an inch. While you're at it, check the bushings, a collapsed bushing will put you out of alignment.

iceNine · 10-26-2009, 10:53 AM

My personal experience with this common problem. I had done wheel balancing (twice), replacement of various suspension parts, alignment all with no success. It was only when I got new tires and wheels (with good balancing) that the problem went away. I think that my old wheels were not "true" and even with balancing they caused the shake at 40-60mph.

ToyotaTechGeek · 10-26-2009, 11:12 AM

do you have aftermarket wheels? if so, are they hubcentric? also, what sort of balancing machine did your tyre guy use? Road Force balancing FTW!

Pilot · 10-26-2009, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirocyn

From the BGB:
Tire inflation
tire tread
tire balance
Shocks
Alignment
Hub bearing
Ball joint
steering linkage
steering gear.

The BGB is wrong. The problem was a bad wheel. Put new spider wheels on and all the vibration issues vanished. And checking the wheels isn't even on the BGB list.

When my mechanic looked at the wheels after the new tires were installed, he was instantly su****ious because one of the wheels took a lot of weight to get balanced; when he could find nothing wrong with the front end/steering, he suggested it was probably the wheels--he was correct.

ToyotaTechGeek · 10-26-2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilot

The BGB is wrong. The problem was a bad wheel. Put new spider wheels on and all the vibration issues vanished. And checking the wheels isn't even on the BGB list.

When my mechanic looked at the wheels after the new tires were installed, he was instantly su****ious because one of the wheels took a lot of weight to get balanced; when he could find nothing wrong with the front end/steering, he suggested it was probably the wheels--he was correct.

he should have noticed this on the wheel balancing machine.

dirocyn · 10-28-2009, 12:42 PM

I'll defend the BGB on this, a bad wheel isn't a balanced wheel, even if the tire shop can get their machine to say it's balanced. Glad to hear you fixed it.

RePete · 10-28-2009, 02:57 PM

Agreed ^.

A seasoned auto-tech once told me that tire balancing isn't a job for monkeys like some people think, it takes skill, patience & observation.

ToyotaTechGeek · 10-28-2009, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RePete

Agreed ^.

A seasoned auto-tech once told me that tire balancing isn't a job for monkeys like some people think, it takes skill, patience & observation.

my point is if you watch everything carefully while you balance a tyre, you will/would notice a wobbly or 'bouncy' wheel/tyre.

10-10-2009, 02:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Pilot Master MotorcycleMechanic Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 81 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Pecking order for front end vibration... My mechanic could find anything wrong with the MK1's front end that would cause vibration in the steering wheel other than the tires were bad. After new tire replacement, the vibration issue continues the same and starts at about 40 mph and gets worse with increased speed. No vibration is felt in the brake pedal. Any tips on how to proceed with the diagnosis would be appreciated.

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10-10-2009, 04:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
mr2_jake Many skills... Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Billings, MT Posts: 83 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Check inner/outer tie rod ends? Wheel bearings? Steering shaft U-joint? Wheels aren't bent and are balanced? Do you have stock or aftermarket wheels (if so, are they lug- or hub-centric)?

10-13-2009, 02:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
dirocyn Cage Fighter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 1,177 Thanks: 14 Thanked 110 Times in 108 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	From the BGB: Tire inflation tire tread tire balance Shocks Alignment Hub bearing Ball joint steering linkage steering gear. You've already done tires, next is shocks (standard bounce test) and then checking the alignment. Camber, toe and caster are easily adjusted, front and back. I'd align all 4, a rear wheel alignment problem might vibrate in the front. If you're like me and too cheap to go to an alignment shop, just check toe-in by measuring between the treads (I use a standard tape measure) on the front side and back side of the tire, front should be slightly in, but both measurements should be within 1/16th of an inch. While you're at it, check the bushings, a collapsed bushing will put you out of alignment.

10-26-2009, 10:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
iceNine Some Skills Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Maryland USA Posts: 61 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	My personal experience with this common problem. I had done wheel balancing (twice), replacement of various suspension parts, alignment all with no success. It was only when I got new tires and wheels (with good balancing) that the problem went away. I think that my old wheels were not "true" and even with balancing they caused the shake at 40-60mph.

10-26-2009, 11:12 AM	#5 (permalink)
ToyotaTechGeek resident GEEK! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: ...boosting mid-corner Posts: 995 Thanks: 14 Thanked 31 Times in 31 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	do you have aftermarket wheels? if so, are they hubcentric? also, what sort of balancing machine did your tyre guy use? Road Force balancing FTW!

10-28-2009, 12:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
dirocyn Cage Fighter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 1,177 Thanks: 14 Thanked 110 Times in 108 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I'll defend the BGB on this, a bad wheel isn't a balanced wheel, even if the tire shop can get their machine to say it's balanced. Glad to hear you fixed it.

10-28-2009, 02:57 PM	#9 (permalink)
RePete No Frills Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Western Canada Posts: 3,882 Thanks: 0 Thanked 251 Times in 242 Posts Blog Entries: 4 iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Agreed ^. A seasoned auto-tech once told me that tire balancing isn't a job for monkeys like some people think, it takes skill, patience & observation.