Steering problem

[cmiletti]

Guys - I own a 2001 5301 with Sport Package wheels. The car has been great since I bought it in the summer of 2001. I am experiencing a shimming/vibration problem while I drive. I thought originally that it was a tire problem. I installed new tires (Micheling Sport A/S). The problem surfaces at any time, low speeds and high speeds. When the shimming kicks in, braking magnifies the vibration. When it happens and I slow down it feels that one of the tires has a bubble as it "hops". If I stop the car completely and wait a couple of minutes, the problem goes away and the car rides very smoothly. Could this be a bearing, ball joint, tension arm or something else? Advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Carlos

[witeshark]

It's the front I guess, I'd look at the lower control arm bushings.

[cmiletti]

Yes, the vibration is coming from the front end but it goes away if I stop for a minute.

[Fuel]

Check your alignment and see if your rotors are in good shape- if your rotors are warped or they have some "hot spots" on them they can effect your steering.

[cmiletti]

Thanks. What blows my mind is that it does not happen all the time. A couple of days may go by before it happens again.

[Fuel]

Originally Posted by cmiletti

Thanks. What blows my mind is that it does not happen all the time. A couple of days may go by before it happens again.

My friends Acura TL would do the same thing- sometimes it would shake, and other times it would not; it seems it all depended on what steering "angle" you are turning at. He got some new drilled rotors and that fixed his problem.

[motoverda]

Your problem could be a sticking caliper. Or it could be a rotor, but they usually do it consistently. Sounds like it is time for a brake overhaul.