First a little backround info:

2002 WS-6 with 23,000 on the clock.

I have had an ongoing problem with the steering wheel shaking between 55 and 70 MPH. I had originally purchased a set of Kumho Exsta Supra 712's and Chrome WS-6 wheels to replace the factory wheels as I did not like them as much as the old style. These wheels were put on approx. 2 days after I purchased the car so I did not have much driving time on the factory wheel/tire combo. When I noticed the problem I took the car to the dealer. They said that there wasn't anything they could check without checking the balance on the tires first. They called later that day and said the problem was the tires were incorrectly balanced. I picked up the car and low and behold - the shimmy was still there. I took the car back and they said the problem must be with the tires. I took the car to to Discount Tire where I purchased the tires and they replaced the whole set (after much un-necessary arguing). Result - Same Problem.

Fast forward to last Friday - I received a set of Brand New AFS 17x9 and 17x11 with new tires (Sumitomo HTRZ's) This takes both the rims and the tires which were previously on the car out of the mix. I still have the same issue.

Does anybody have any suggestions/ideas what may be causing this?

I am going to get the allignment checked this afternoon, but other then that I am at a loss for ideas. I still have a couple of months of warranty left so I am going to drop it off at the dealer and tell them I do not want it back until it is fixed. I do not care if they have to replace the entire front end.

PS - The car also has new brake rotors so warpage is out of the question.

TIA

 

Well, I guess the wheel/tire issue is out. I would put the car on jackstands and grab the tires on both sides then try and wiggle them up/down left/right and see what's loose. Usually this is done easier with a buddy. Let your buddy do it and you get under the car and watch all the linkage and look for looseness anywhere.

 

is it an auto? with 2.73 gears? could be the steel driveshaft is out of balance.

or possible its even the alumn driveshaft that's bad, or a bad wheel bearing or some of the linkage as Comp suggested.

 

It is an M6.

 

If it only shakes the wheel and you don't feel it in the seat then you can rule out rear and drivetrain. Even if a bump or pot whole was hit it could have knocked the toe out and can be causeing the shake. an alignment will tell this story. ANd since they have to check for bad/wron front steering components before they align it they will ruel out anything like that as well. You could also have a problem with a hweel bearing. Sometimes they will cause a vibration without any noticable noise

 

I suggest to do the easy stuff first, rotate your tires. If your shaking steering wheel goes away and you start to feel it in your seat, you know it's either a balance problem with a tire or a bent/warped wheel.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

 

[FONT=Comic Sans MS]Hi, I've been havin the same problem with my 1994 Camaro RS. I have had everything in the front end replaced spending so much money... I don't know what else to do...The steering wheel itself is the only thing shaking. It is intermittent aswell. When you find out whats wrong with your please let me know...Thanks[/FONT]

 

Replace the steering wheel.

 

I had the same issue. Installed an aluminum driveshaft, which helped but didnt eliminate the problem. I also had a freshly rebuilt front suspension with polly bushings.The vibration ended up comming from the engine. It was intermittent and at only 45mph. Strangely, what finally eliminated it was the IAT bypass. Get a 4.7k resistor at radio shack and plug it into the connector instead of the IAT sensor. My car is smooth as silk and has been since doing that.

 

First thought would be that this would be related to a balance issue with the tires. Since it is specifically between a certain mph, that is consistent with having out of balance tires, and or out of balance rims. Another issue could have been the tires were out of round. However since you replaced all of the components the first suspected deal would be the alignment or front end components of your car. However, you should feel that at all speeds and not just in between 55-70. Also, is the shake just in the front end, or do you also feel it in the seat of the car. I have a hard time believing you have received two sets of tires/wheels that are out of round or out of balace. Either that or the place where you are getting your balanced done is having difficulty calibrating their spin balancers or they spin them at such slow speeds. Try and find a shop that spins them at 55mph. I do work for Michelin and am a professional installer and we don't see too many cases like this. Try to get them balanced at 55mph first and if not that get the front end checked. If you have any more questions, pm me and I will try and answer to the best of my ability.

 

I second this, great info from HBHRacing

 

....my '94 TA had exactally the same problem, betweem 65 & 75 it shook
like a 7.0 earthquake {oh, I live in California so I know what a 7.0 feels
like .... Anyway, I got 2 new front tires and had the front end aliened
at the same time. NO more shaking! .... but I guess I'll never know if it
was wheel balancing or front end alienment. But you mentioned having
new wheels/tires twice and STILL the same shaking so its probably the front
end is out of alienment.... Billl {mine shaking was all in the steering wheel and none in the 'BUTT'.....