Help Diagnose Steering Wheel Shake PLS!

radjxf · April 18th, 2008, 03:05 PM

I've got an 02 GT Automatic, 77k mi, with a pretty significant shake in the steering wheel from 50-80mph.
Here's a list of what I've checked and/or ruled out:

All 4 tires new, BFG G-force on factory 17" Bullitts. No bent wheels, all balance fine with minimal weights. Balanced TWICE.
Driveshaft balanced, replaced worn tailshaft bushing in trans.
Front rotors brand new, new pads.
Rear axles checked, neither one bent.
Recent alignment done.
Car does have FRPP "B" springs, only 1 1/8" drop. Did NOT use camber/caster plates. Was told by good alignment shop that I didn't need them.

BTW, I've heard of indexing the driveshaft? How is it indexed? I didn't notice any marks, etc that indicate which way it should go. Maybe it's on out of phase?
I think tie rods, etc are OK. Jacked it up and pried up and down and side to side on each front wheel. Didn't detect any looseness, etc. Any ideas? This is very annoying. TIA.

SteviGX · April 18th, 2008, 03:10 PM

It's a Mustang, not a mercedes. Don't expect it to ride llke one.

radjxf · April 18th, 2008, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by SteviGX

It's a Mustang, not a mercedes. Don't expect it to ride llke one.

That was helpful

Been driving over 20+ years, driven other similar Mustangs. Something's certainly amiss with mine. BTW, never mentioned anything was wrong with the ride?

HMUSN · April 18th, 2008, 03:37 PM

hmm I'd toss on some 4 bols C/C's for the hell of it. it may help your problem.

welcome to the forums.. did you get a printout of the alignment so you could cross check?

mattstang · April 18th, 2008, 03:39 PM

take it to a diff shop and have them look at it. i took mine to 3 diff ones before one realized i had a bent tie rod end.

RanGer498 · April 18th, 2008, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by SteviGX

It's a Mustang, not a mercedes. Don't expect it to ride llke one.

Nor is his car a yugo and should not drive like one .

radjxf
-if you can try putting different wheels up front (ask somone to lend you theres if you can)

-check the ware on the tires .
-try another shop just to be safe.

keep us posted

the real shocker · April 18th, 2008, 04:28 PM

bad ball joints?

MATT02GT · April 18th, 2008, 04:46 PM

Sounds like tire balance, tie rods/balljoints or bearings. With the front end in the air wiggle the tire from side to side, if theres excessive movement...tie rods. Wiggle the tire from top to bottom, if theres excessive movement...wheel bearings.

futureMACH1racer · April 18th, 2008, 05:40 PM

It could be as simple as dirt on the backside of a wheel. To tires that have worn funny.

00silvergt · April 19th, 2008, 12:32 AM

It seriously sounds like a balancing problem..... I had the same problem before. I took it to a different shop to have the balance rechecked, and it was way out of balance. Fixed the problem.

silver99gt · April 19th, 2008, 03:08 AM

Does the car pull one way or another when you let go of the wheel, that could help pin point maybe more of a certain side of the car.

zerofx150 · April 19th, 2008, 01:50 PM

rotate your tires front to back (if you dont have DRs or staggered wheels) see if it helps but yes its in the tire, wheel, or a balance issue

DEUCE · April 19th, 2008, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by MATT02GT

Sounds like tire balance, tie rods/balljoints or bearings. With the front end in the air wiggle the tire from side to side, if theres excessive movement...tie rods. Wiggle the tire from top to bottom, if theres excessive movement...wheel bearings.

X2 - If you've had the wheel/tire combo balanced twice, I would go with one of the others suggestions...

00redgt · April 19th, 2008, 06:22 PM

aligment soundds like ur prob,but a bearing could also be bad.my work car has a bad ball joint an it doesnt shake ,how bad is the vibrating

cet2kill · April 19th, 2008, 09:19 PM

Does this happen while driving or when brakng at those speeds?

April 18th, 2008, 03:05 PM	#1
radjxf Newbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3 iTrader: 0 reviews	Help Diagnose Steering Wheel Shake PLS! I've got an 02 GT Automatic, 77k mi, with a pretty significant shake in the steering wheel from 50-80mph. Here's a list of what I've checked and/or ruled out: All 4 tires new, BFG G-force on factory 17" Bullitts. No bent wheels, all balance fine with minimal weights. Balanced TWICE. Driveshaft balanced, replaced worn tailshaft bushing in trans. Front rotors brand new, new pads. Rear axles checked, neither one bent. Recent alignment done. Car does have FRPP "B" springs, only 1 1/8" drop. Did NOT use camber/caster plates. Was told by good alignment shop that I didn't need them. BTW, I've heard of indexing the driveshaft? How is it indexed? I didn't notice any marks, etc that indicate which way it should go. Maybe it's on out of phase? I think tie rods, etc are OK. Jacked it up and pried up and down and side to side on each front wheel. Didn't detect any looseness, etc. Any ideas? This is very annoying. TIA.

April 18th, 2008, 03:10 PM	#2
SteviGX Hardcore Enthusiast 2002 Mustang GT 13.538@101.72 before cams&slicks&gears Join Date: May 2007 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,544 iTrader: 2 reviews	It's a Mustang, not a mercedes. Don't expect it to ride llke one. __________________ Mineral Gray Club Member #2 Just your average 22 year old dumbass If you didn't build your car, and your bragging about it, STFU

April 18th, 2008, 03:37 PM	#4
HMUSN Doc 1986 SVO 48.47@ 12.58 Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 37,050 iTrader: 11 reviews	hmm I'd toss on some 4 bols C/C's for the hell of it. it may help your problem. welcome to the forums.. did you get a printout of the alignment so you could cross check? __________________

April 18th, 2008, 03:39 PM	#5
mattstang Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,761 iTrader: 1 reviews	take it to a diff shop and have them look at it. i took mine to 3 diff ones before one realized i had a bent tie rod end. __________________ FX4 Crew Crew member #3

April 18th, 2008, 04:28 PM	#7
the real shocker Hardcore Enthusiast 2002 Mustang GT 13.00 @ 105 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Jackson, MS Posts: 1,820 iTrader: 1 reviews	bad ball joints? __________________

April 18th, 2008, 04:46 PM	#8
MATT02GT The Mean Green Join Date: May 2007 Location: Colo. Springs, CO Posts: 4,164 iTrader: 1 reviews	Sounds like tire balance, tie rods/balljoints or bearings. With the front end in the air wiggle the tire from side to side, if theres excessive movement...tie rods. Wiggle the tire from top to bottom, if theres excessive movement...wheel bearings. __________________ Its not how fast you drive, but how you drive fast. 2002 Mustang GT... Just The Usual Bolt-Ons Bolt on list in Garage..

April 18th, 2008, 05:40 PM	#9
futureMACH1racer I.D.G.A.F. 2009 John Deere 9670 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: United States of America Posts: 11,347 iTrader: 0 reviews	It could be as simple as dirt on the backside of a wheel. To tires that have worn funny. __________________ RIP Travis Bilings 5/6/1982-7/5/2011 Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet.

April 19th, 2008, 12:32 AM	#10
00silvergt Regular 2000 Mustang Gt Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 428 iTrader: 0 reviews	It seriously sounds like a balancing problem..... I had the same problem before. I took it to a different shop to have the balance rechecked, and it was way out of balance. Fixed the problem. __________________ Tuned by Joe at Tricktuners.com

April 19th, 2008, 03:08 AM	#11
silver99gt Regular 1998 Camaro SS Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Long Island, Kansas Posts: 431 iTrader: 1 reviews	Does the car pull one way or another when you let go of the wheel, that could help pin point maybe more of a certain side of the car.

April 19th, 2008, 01:50 PM	#12
zerofx150 Regular 2003 GT 13.6 @ 101 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ada OK Posts: 387 iTrader: 0 reviews	rotate your tires front to back (if you dont have DRs or staggered wheels) see if it helps but yes its in the tire, wheel, or a balance issue __________________ 03 GT 5sp, K&N FIPK, MAC LT ceramic coated headers, MAC Prochamber, Steeda Tri-ax, 3.73, SCT X-cal2 tuned by D&G Dyno Tune, NX plate Kit, Eibach Pro Springs, CMS Stage 2 cams. STRIKE design from MK Motorsports.

April 19th, 2008, 06:22 PM	#14
00redgt MM Fanatic 2000 mustang gt Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: vansant,va Posts: 4,092 iTrader: 5 reviews	aligment soundds like ur prob,but a bearing could also be bad.my work car has a bad ball joint an it doesnt shake ,how bad is the vibrating __________________

April 19th, 2008, 09:19 PM	#15
cet2kill Regular 02 ROUSH STAGE 2 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OMAHA NE Posts: 239 iTrader: 0 reviews	Does this happen while driving or when brakng at those speeds?

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