Wierd vibration while turning left

[JGood]

OK, before everyone responds with "wheel bearing", please read the whole post.


I had a slight vibration when turning left, from about 35mph to 65mph. It will do it when I put just bit of pressure on the wheel. I felt it most through the wheel, and a bit through the floorboard as well. My alignment was also off, pulling pretty hard to the right. My brand new tire got corded within a few thousand miles because of this.

So I pick up a new right front wheel bearing and install it, then set my alignment. While doing that, I noticed the right-side inner tie rod unthreaded from the steering rack (yeah, so my car was a death trap on wheels). I tightened it back up and aligned it. This was the cause of my nearly 1" of tow out, all on the right side.

Get it all back together (new bearing, aligned, tightened tie-rod, new tires), take it for a drive. It's driving perfectly straight, no pull, feels smooth as butter. Turn the wheel to the left, same vibration is back. It does it while braking, accelerating, even with the e-brake pulled (not the whole way obviously). From 35mph-65mph. I can mainly eel it through the steering wheel, and a bit through the floorboard as well.

Could this possibly be a right rear wheel bearing? It doesn't seem like it to me. It doesn't change under throttle loads or e-brake loads, which heavily effect wheel bearing load while turning.


Ball joints, bushings, and mounts are all good at all 4 corners.

[jlevie]

If you can feel it in the steering wheel, the cause is almost always the front suspension. I think I'd replace the left front wheel bearing (they should always be replaced in pairs) and make sure that there is no play in the tie rods or ball joints and that the CABs are good.

[Erick]

I'll go on a limb and say half shaft. Yes, half shaft. In your case driver's side.

I have the same exact symptoms that have been getting worse on my track car due to my almost completely obliterated half shaft. It's my pass side so to me it happens when I turn right.

It happens as soon as you go past the half way mark on the steering wheel, and it stays consistent all the way through the steering lock.

Check to see how your half shaft is.

The reason why you feel it on the steering wheel is because it's what you're holding on to. If it's anything like my car, it took a long while to notice the seat was doing it too (the whole car is since it's the driveline)

[JGood]

If you can feel it in the steering wheel, the cause is almost always the front suspension. I think I'd replace the left front wheel bearing (they should always be replaced in pairs) and make sure that there is no play in the tie rods or ball joints and that the CABs are good.

If it was the left front wheel bearing, why would it only vibrate when load is removed from that wheel? One important thing to note is that the wheel bearings were replaced 2 years ago and have no play, the one I did replace almost fell right out upon removal and is very smooth/no play.

The tie roads are new, both inner and outer, within the past 2 years. No play at all.

Passenger CAB is brand new, drivers side is a bit old but not bad at all. Again, that is the side that would be unloaded when vibrations starts.

I'll go on a limb and say half shaft. Yes, half shaft. In your case driver's side.

I have the same exact symptoms that have been getting worse on my track car due to my almost completely obliterated half shaft. It's my pass side so to me it happens when I turn right.

It happens as soon as you go past the half way mark on the steering wheel, and it stays consistent all the way through the steering lock.

Check to see how your half shaft is.

The reason why you feel it on the steering wheel is because it's what you're holding on to. If it's anything like my car, it took a long while to notice the seat was doing it too (the whole car is since it's the driveline)

I'll check it, but I'm not very confident this is it. I've had bad half shafts, bad rear bearings, and bad front bearings, and know what each generally feels like. This really feels like a front end issue. I'm definitely willing to check all options though, so I will take a look and make sure everything looks good. I think I have a spare shaft as well.

I will also rotate tires tonight just to rule out that odd possibility.

[emi325i]

front tire rubbing against the plastic liner, perhaps?

[JGood]

front tire rubbing against the plastic liner, perhaps?

Nah, liners were removed.

Took it for another drive at lunch time today. It has to be coming from the front. It begins to vibrate the instant I touch the wheel, the rear doesn't even have time to unload or load a wheel. I'm going to inspect things tonight and report back.

[Philo]

Interested in this. In my opinion, the problem is centered around the hub, since it is present no matter what action (accel. brake coast) is taking place. So items on my list are tire, wheel; which should be ruled out once you rotate. Then onto bad wheel bearing or rotor. Bent rotor, or shit bearing could make it happen. Also, make sure the rotor is seated on the hub completely, and properly. G/L

[JGood]

Fixed it. It was the drivers front wheel bearing. Good call jlevie!

Even though it only did it when I turned left, which should unload that wheel. I put my used good bearing that I removed from the passenger side onto the drivers side, and the vibration is gone. I think it was more of a steering load issue, not a weight/suspension load issue. Turning left loads the inside part of the bearing, turning right loads the outside.

Meyle parts suck!!!