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[Boiler Man]

Hi Guys

Wondered if someone could help me please. I have a wobble in the steering wheel.

I have had my 03 Omega facelift for about six months and have always thought it not as smooth a ride as my old much loved pre facelift S reg. Nothing specific but put this down to the newer model having a firmer ride as I had read this somewhere.

Anyway I notice the 2 front tyres (eagles) where looking a bit low, so had them replaced, going for the (Conti sports) I thought new tryres may make a differance.

I took the car for a test drive and noticed after they were fitted that I get the steering wheel wobbling slightly when driving in a straight line at around 45 mpg which disappears at fifty and reappears at about 70 ish. I have taken the car back twice now to have them re-balanced and the tyre place have also balanced the rears as in there opinion they needed it.

They now say that I should get the steering checked out. The thing is I didn't notice this before the tyre change, but I could not be sure, same as anything you only notice things when your looking for it.

Could this shake/wobble of the steering wheel be anything other than the tyres? :-/

Any advice would realy be appriciated.

[ffcgary1]

Omegas suffer from lower arm bush failure, a common problem,that will upset your camber angle which will wear the inside shoulder of the tyre quite quickly. the arms are easy enough to remove but the bushes will have to pressed in and out. 2 bushes on each arm one horizontal one vertical.not too expensive on tc.

[philayl]

You will probaly find it easier to buy replacement wishbones than mess about with bushes, for which you need a press to do. It is advisable to do them in pairs as well.

[hotel21]

If you are 100% sure it was not there before the tyre change, then the tyre change is at fault.....

If the tyres/rims have been balanced to within an inch of their lives, then its not that....

If the rim was dropped/dented when the tyre was removed, then its out of round and can create a flatspot.

Only other similar fault I have encountered over the years is a tyre which is out of round and had a high spot on the tread or tread/sidewall edge.  Once a couple of hundred miles are driven the high spot wears and everything is wonderfull again, except that you have one portion of tyre which will be done before the rest....

It should be noticable when on the tyre balancer and, if the fitter is worth their salt, be obvious and seen.

HtH

B

[Taxi_Driver]

First I would take it to another tyre fitters and ask for a wheel balance.

In my experience steering wheel wobble at around 45-50 that you can drive thro is balancing.
Buckled wheel will start to shake and not go away with increased speed (I just put a new steel on my veccyC for this, old wheel was well buckled.)

Could be orig place machine is naff or a lazy tyre fitter, ive seen fitters not bother to remove old weights and just add new ones.....this is not the way to do it and can still leave wheel not balanced correctly. My Omega had over 70g of weights at one stage on each the front wheels and still had steering wheel shake (had already taken it back twice) Third attempt, different fitter pulled off all the weights and started again......spot on after this  

[cdx25]

First I would take it to another tyre fitters and ask for a wheel balance.

In my experience steering wheel wobble at around 45-50 that you can drive thro is balancing.
Buckled wheel will start to shake and not go away with increased speed (I just put a new steel on my veccyC for this, old wheel was well buckled.)

Could be orig place machine is naff or a lazy tyre fitter, ive seen fitters not bother to remove old weights and just add new ones.....this is not the way to do it and can still leave wheel not balanced correctly. My Omega had over 70g of weights at one stage on each the front wheels and still had steering wheel shake (had already taken it back twice) Third attempt, different fitter pulled off all the weights and started again......spot on after this  

If I take a wheel for balancing I usually remove the weights first and then clean the wheel up - means new weights have to go on and if they are stuck on then more chance of them staying there...

[JasonH]

I don't think they're balancing them right or you have a funny tyre.

I had a vibration above 70mph and so I got all the tyres balanced - didn't cure it. Lived with the vibration from 25k miles whilst checking everything else out.

Eventually needed a new set of rear tyres - fitted, balanced and car perfectly smooth as fast I can go.

The bad news for you is that the tyre that was the problem was an Eagle NCT5.

There are a few ways to balance tyres (different settingn on the machine): single weight in the middle, stick on inside both edges, rim weight on one edge stick on weight on other edge etc. For the Omega (wide tyres) I think you need the rim weight on the inner edge + stick on weights on the inside towards the outer edge if you know what I mean.

Anyway to narrow down the problem you need to swap front wheels to back. A wheel balance problem will change from a car body shake to a steering wheel shake or vice versa.

[Boiler Man]

Hi Guys

Thanks for all the advice, after your recommends. I started by going back to the tyre place for the fourth time and under a bit of pressure, they replaced the new tyres.

Took it for a test drive and instantly got results, 95% better there is still a very very slight bounce occationally in the steering wheel but this is only on certain roads and proberbly nit picking a bit.

So it looks like it was one of the tyres, which are going back to the manufacturer.

Cheers Guys your advice gave me the confidence to push the issue of a dodgy tyre.

I'll still get the steering check in a week or 2. Bit now I'm running smooooth

[hotel21]

Result!  

[cdx25]

Hi Guys

Thanks for all the advice, after your recommends. I started by going back to the tyre place for the fourth time and under a bit of pressure, they replaced the new tyres.

Took it for a test drive and instantly got results, 95% better there is still a very very slight bounce occationally in the steering wheel but this is only on certain roads and proberbly nit picking a bit.

So it looks like it was one of the tyres, which are going back to the manufacturer.

Cheers Guys your advice gave me the confidence to push the issue of a dodgy tyre.

I'll still get the steering check in a week or 2. Bit now I'm running smooooth

Good news!  

[JasonH]

Excellent news - my problem drove me mad for a year!

[Boiler Man]

Thanks Again Guys

Ye, was driving me nuts to

Sorry couldn't resist

[Chopsdad]

My tyrefitter asks me to bring the car back after 100 miles to check the balancing is ok.  I always say it's not quite right and they whizz it in the machine (with me stood next to it) and they mumble something about it being a little out, but should not be noticed when driving but they'll make sure its 100%.  Great service and no problems thereafter.