Steering Wheel Vibration...

[NVT]

Hey all,

As of late my car has been developing a slight steering wheel shudder. I was going to have it booked in for a wheel balance but I only had new tyres put on about 5,000km's ago. I haven't hit any bumps, curbs etc to throw it out.

It's during acceleration but more pronounced when cruising at speed. Tyre pressures are the same and the tyres were balanced and aligned when the tyres were fitted.

I read something in this forum recently about shudder from worn suspension parts (I think it was hiddeous actually) I was wondering as I'm not too clued up on suspension components, does anyone have a rough idea of what it could be?

BA MKI 2004 with just over 99,500km's. What parts tend to need replacing at this age? Can I ask what the part specifically does and now much a replacement is? I read about bushes/control arms etc but I'm not really sure about what they are or do. I don't want to get taken for a ride.

I hear Pedders are a joke and I'm not going to try a balance yet as they're not going to tell me if I don't need one. Anyone able to suggest a good suspension shop in Perth?

Cheers guys,

Dan

[Weaponxr]

Pretty much with alot of our cars the two main parts in the front that need replacing are the lower control arm bushes and the ball joints. And if you have warped discs then they would need to be fixed also or you maybe shake the hell out of the new bushes and wear them out again.

I would go for a bush like the Superpro bushes as they are a polyurethane bushe which will withstand the flexing that braking will put onto the control arms. And I would recommend the ball joints be replaced while the control arms are out because most likley they will be worn by now also.

The standard bushes in the control arm are basically a liquid filled bush with might be comfortable but due to the extreme stress from braking and accelerating they dont last very long.

I have the same issue in my car which I am hoping to fix soon....my car only has 51,000kms on it so you have done well.

[NVT]

Hey guys,

Does anyone know what sort of price I'm going to be charged for;

Ball joints

Bushes

Shocks (As they are probably gone)

Not expecting it to be cheap, but I just want an idea before I take it in to be checked over.

Thanks guys!

Dan

[Full Monty]

Superpro bushes from Pat @ Wholesale suspension are approximately:

Front lower control arm pair $195,

front rear lower control arm pair $70

upper control arm bush set: $60

Ball joints should be around $35 each

plus labour - 3hrs'ish?

plus wheel alignment.

[JK 47]

Before you get supension work done check the abs sensors ,there are a few BA/BF with some km's on them getting a balance problem and all it is ,the sensor's need a wipe and clean ,a cheap and quick fix......... JK.

[PhilMeUp]

Anyone able to suggest a good suspension shop in Perth?

Go to Wilkinson Suspension, in Bayswater.

Do NOT get your wheel alignment done at a tyre shop. Ask around, and most of them will tell you that the camber can't be adjusted on a Falcon unless you fit a camber kit. Bulls**t, you adjust the camber by fitting shims at the top of the front suspension.

There is also WA Suspensions in Osborne Park. I had a wheel alignment done there in December. At the time, I had been wearing out front tyres on the insides extremely quick (ie camber problem) and asked about what else could be causing the premature wear if the alignment didn't sort it out. I was extremely unsatisfied with the explanation that 17" tyres always wear that way.

I've now got different wheels and new shocks/springs on the car, and tyre wear is normal. Never did figure out why I was going through tyres so quickly before (ie could have been the rims, could have been worn front suspension).