Steering Wheel Shake/Vibrate

NickTurnon · 07-13-2013, 02:51 PM

Appreciate the input. When its not 105 out, I will go to a friends house and remove the spacers and take her for a spin.

I'll report back just in case its something random.

NickTurnon · 09-04-2013, 01:59 PM

So i had some time this past weekend to take my wheels off get the car on the jackstands and inspect the spacers, bolts, torque specs, etc..

Everything seems fine.

I did notice the inside of the tires were wearing and they still have around 70% tread life.
I thought Nissan aligned the car for me when I did the 60k service? Guess not.

A mechanic friend of mine got in and drove it around. He thinks its either the tires causing the shaking of the wheel or something regarding the tires.

Its not really that big of a deal, but it shouldn't be vibrating.

cptspeed · 09-04-2013, 03:46 PM

yes, but did you remove the spacers and test drive. Removal of the spacers confirmed a spacer problem and not a tire problem for me. Also, you will see camber wear on your tires because of the stock camber settings. If it turns out the spacers are not the issue, make sure to have your tires balanced by someone who regularly works on high performance vehicles.

Volk Z · 09-04-2013, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickTurnon

So i had some time this past weekend to take my wheels off get the car on the jackstands and inspect the spacers, bolts, torque specs, etc..

Everything seems fine.

I did notice the inside of the tires were wearing and they still have around 70% tread life.
I thought Nissan aligned the car for me when I did the 60k service? Guess not.

A mechanic friend of mine got in and drove it around. He thinks its either the tires causing the shaking of the wheel or something regarding the tires.

Its not really that big of a deal, but it shouldn't be vibrating.

Other things to consider/Check

1. Check all your wheels are torqued to spec (85 ft lbs or so)
2. Did any of the weights from your wheels fall off you may see a spot where there is the leftover goo stuff.

Tires wearing on the inside would just be negative camber showing and would not cause shaking.

How about did you lower your car? If your struts are going you could get some shaking.

Are you running aftermarket wheels? Or aftermarket lug nuts on stock wheels?

If your car was stock it would be easier to rule out random variables that are definitely the cause of this issue.

NickTurnon · 09-04-2013, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Volk Z

Other things to consider/Check

1. Check all your wheels are torqued to spec (85 ft lbs or so) This is done.
2. Did any of the weights from your wheels fall off you may see a spot where there is the leftover goo stuff. Tires were rebalanced when I took them to Discount Tire down the street.

Tires wearing on the inside would just be negative camber showing and would not cause shaking. I believe the term my friend used was "cupping"

How about did you lower your car? If your struts are going you could get some shaking. Didnt lower car

Are you running aftermarket wheels? Or aftermarket lug nuts on stock wheels? Stock everything

If your car was stock it would be easier to rule out random variables that are definitely the cause of this issue.

Keep in mind that its only vibrating on the freeway at 60-80 mph

Thank you guys.

Mike · 09-04-2013, 04:11 PM

20mm bolt on spacers is the problem. The wheel studs are about 21-22mm, at least in the rear, so the stock studs are sticking out past the spacer and contacting the wheel, preventing it from mating up to the hub properly. Thats the problem I had way back when my car was new. you need at least 25mm to use bolt on spacers.

Volk Z · 09-04-2013, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickTurnon

Keep in mind that its only vibrating on the freeway at 60-80 mph

Thank you guys.

Yes i understand that, my wife had a bad alignment and poor rebalancing and the car shook at those speeds as well so that is probably the culprit but the other suggestions were things you could check in your driveway... Its good to rule things out before your wheel falls off or something else happens.

DIGItonium · 09-06-2013, 11:25 AM

I have 10mm spacers with new studs for the front wheels, and my steering wheel experiences minor shakes at some point on the freeway. Then it stops, and it's smooth afterwards.

kenchan · 09-06-2013, 11:34 AM

i had a car with light weight SSR comps in the past that had the same symptom. tire balace could not fix it. did not happen with other wheels. i think it had to do with the tires themselves. i hated it. 45-50mph the steering vibrated just enough to bother me.

on my other cars i have spacers and no shake at all. the one im running on my G is a bolt-on type 10mm with hubcentric ring built-in FIC spacer. expensive, but worth every penny.

NickTurnon · 09-12-2013, 04:41 PM

Turns out it was my alignment. Tires are cupping and inside of fronts are worn, and my rears are all lopsided.

I scheduled alignment for tomorrow. That'll hopefully allow me to stretch the life of these tires since they aren't that old at all.

Thank you for everyone that said alignment or chimed in with other suggestions!

Volk Z · 09-13-2013, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickTurnon

Turns out it was my alignment. Tires are cupping and inside of fronts are worn, and my rears are all lopsided.

I scheduled alignment for tomorrow. That'll hopefully allow me to stretch the life of these tires since they aren't that old at all.

Thank you for everyone that said alignment or chimed in with other suggestions!

I remember a wise man saying it could be the alignment a couple posts back...

Glad you figured it out

roy'sz · 09-13-2013, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickTurnon

Turns out it was my alignment. Tires are cupping and inside of fronts are worn, and my rears are all lopsided.

I scheduled alignment for tomorrow. That'll hopefully allow me to stretch the life of these tires since they aren't that old at all.

Thank you for everyone that said alignment or chimed in with other suggestions!

My factory set lasted 22k. They could have lasted 35k but the factory alignment was way off. Both front and rear tires were featherd to hell!!! Hope you get your settings dialed in to save that $$$

NickTurnon · 09-13-2013, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Volk Z

I remember a wise man saying it could be the alignment a couple posts back...

Glad you figured it out

Rep points

Volk Z · 09-13-2013, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickTurnon

Rep points

You da man, Honestly im just glad you figured it out... I know it can make things a little stressful when things are not going perfectly with the Z

07-13-2013, 02:51 PM	#16 (permalink)
NickTurnon A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Scottsdale Age: 34 Posts: 1,636 Drives: 09 BS 7AT 370z Rep Power: 18	Appreciate the input. When its not 105 out, I will go to a friends house and remove the spacers and take her for a spin. I'll report back just in case its something random. GaleForce and DEpointfive0 like this. __________________ 2009 Brilliant Silver BASE 7AT \| TEIN S-Tech Springs \| K&N Drop Ins & z1 Maf Tubes \| AAM S-Line Short Tails \| 5% Tint \| 20MM Spacers \| Sport Spoiler NickTurnon's 370z Build

09-04-2013, 01:59 PM	#17 (permalink)
NickTurnon A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Scottsdale Age: 34 Posts: 1,636 Drives: 09 BS 7AT 370z Rep Power: 18	So i had some time this past weekend to take my wheels off get the car on the jackstands and inspect the spacers, bolts, torque specs, etc.. Everything seems fine. I did notice the inside of the tires were wearing and they still have around 70% tread life. I thought Nissan aligned the car for me when I did the 60k service? Guess not. A mechanic friend of mine got in and drove it around. He thinks its either the tires causing the shaking of the wheel or something regarding the tires. Its not really that big of a deal, but it shouldn't be vibrating. __________________ 2009 Brilliant Silver BASE 7AT \| TEIN S-Tech Springs \| K&N Drop Ins & z1 Maf Tubes \| AAM S-Line Short Tails \| 5% Tint \| 20MM Spacers \| Sport Spoiler NickTurnon's 370z Build

09-04-2013, 03:46 PM	#18 (permalink)
cptspeed Track Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: tampa Posts: 799 Drives: 09 370z Rep Power: 17	yes, but did you remove the spacers and test drive. Removal of the spacers confirmed a spacer problem and not a tire problem for me. Also, you will see camber wear on your tires because of the stock camber settings. If it turns out the spacers are not the issue, make sure to have your tires balanced by someone who regularly works on high performance vehicles. __________________ FI CBE, 20" forged specialties rims, swift springs, boston subs, kicker amp, focal components

09-04-2013, 04:11 PM	#21 (permalink)
Mike The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Loganville, GA Posts: 5,944 Drives: 370z Rep Power: 2187	20mm bolt on spacers is the problem. The wheel studs are about 21-22mm, at least in the rear, so the stock studs are sticking out past the spacer and contacting the wheel, preventing it from mating up to the hub properly. Thats the problem I had way back when my car was new. you need at least 25mm to use bolt on spacers. daisuke149 likes this. __________________ NISSAN: 75 280Z / 86 300ZX GLL /87 Sentra SE / 03 350Z / 23 Z Porsche: 93 968 / 23 Macan GTS / 93 968

09-06-2013, 11:25 AM	#23 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 43	I have 10mm spacers with new studs for the front wheels, and my steering wheel experiences minor shakes at some point on the freeway. Then it stops, and it's smooth afterwards. __________________

09-06-2013, 11:34 AM	#24 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	i had a car with light weight SSR comps in the past that had the same symptom. tire balace could not fix it. did not happen with other wheels. i think it had to do with the tires themselves. i hated it. 45-50mph the steering vibrated just enough to bother me. on my other cars i have spacers and no shake at all. the one im running on my G is a bolt-on type 10mm with hubcentric ring built-in FIC spacer. expensive, but worth every penny.

09-12-2013, 04:41 PM	#25 (permalink)
NickTurnon A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Scottsdale Age: 34 Posts: 1,636 Drives: 09 BS 7AT 370z Rep Power: 18	Turns out it was my alignment. Tires are cupping and inside of fronts are worn, and my rears are all lopsided. I scheduled alignment for tomorrow. That'll hopefully allow me to stretch the life of these tires since they aren't that old at all. Thank you for everyone that said alignment or chimed in with other suggestions! DEpointfive0 likes this. __________________ 2009 Brilliant Silver BASE 7AT \| TEIN S-Tech Springs \| K&N Drop Ins & z1 Maf Tubes \| AAM S-Line Short Tails \| 5% Tint \| 20MM Spacers \| Sport Spoiler NickTurnon's 370z Build

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