My steering wheel vibrates

[billgallo]

I have a 2003 Mazda Protege 5 with 93,000 miles.

The steering wheel vibrates when I am cruising at 65-75 mph. But the thing is, I can have it on cruise control at 70, and the shaking will gradually get better or worse, just randomly throughout my drive.

The passenger does not feel the vibrating, and you cannot hear it. Only my hands shake on the steering wheel.

I already tried balancing the tires, and that didn't work.

Some have suggested warped brake rotors, tie rods, or wheel bearings.

Help!

What do you think it is, and where should I take it?

 

[el_Don]

My dad's pontiac had the same problem. He was never able to get rid of it. So we never found out what it was.

 

[pasadena_commut]

I already tried balancing the tires, and that didn't work.

This probably isn't it, but it is too trivial not to try it - rotate the tires front to back. If the problem goes away then you know it moves with the wheel+tire, then rotate one side back to figure out the problem wheel+tire.

 

[Benji]

This probably isn't it, but it is too trivial not to try it - rotate the tires front to back. If the problem goes away then you know it moves with the wheel+tire, then rotate one side back to figure out the problem wheel+tire.

right by rotating the tires you can rule out bent rims or tires that have worn improperly

 

[RABID_MP5]

How old are the tires? Recent pothole? Could be belt separation. Try rotating like they said.

 

[Matsuda03]

Your tires are out of balance! Have them rotated and balanced: Voila! No more vibration.

 

[fishdonotbounce]

I can't believe no one has suggested an alignment. You may just need an alignment if it's not the tires.

 

[slavrenz]

Your tires are out of balance! Have them rotated and balanced: Voila! No more vibration.

You need to work on your reading skills. The first thing he said is that the tires have already been balanced.

As for the vibration, I think a bent rim or bad tire is your most likely culprit.

 

[Nomad]

Since you already balanced the tires the alignment should be done again. If that doesn't solve it then it is probably the wear on the tires from the previously bad balance or alignment and you'll need new tires.

If you rotated the wheels around you should be able to isolate a wheel that is bent or out of round.

Check your struts for leaks.

That should cover all avenues. No other real mysteries to it.

 

[Matsuda03]

alignment?

It's a myth that a car out of alignment will cause vibration. Alignment will cause a pull or a drift but never a bounce or shudder. It's true!

 

[flash75]

It's a myth that a car out of alignment will cause vibration. Alignment will cause a pull or a drift but never a bounce or shudder. It's true!

I agree.

Clifton

 

[P-Funk!]

A tire that is 'cupped' will do that. Feel the tread in the forward and reverse direction of rotation - you may feel the tread 'raised' in one direction. Usually indicates worn struts.

 

[fishdonotbounce]

It's a myth that a car out of alignment will cause vibration. Alignment will cause a pull or a drift but never a bounce or shudder. It's true!

I disagree. My steering wheel vibrated at 60 miles an hour and above simply due to poor alignment. No other factors were involved. I only say this from my own experience.

 

[Nomad]

I agree.

Clifton

I don't.

Poor alignment can cause cupping wear as well. Struts factor in as do bushings that are put under pressure.

Once the tires are worn poorly the problem won't really "correct itself" once other issues are dealt with. You'll probably need new tires as well.

 

[widgit117]

I had the same problem. I just bought new tires for the front and it was gone. You probably have a bald spot on your tire. You need new tires if an alignment won't fix it.

 

[flash75]

http://www.galaxyautocenters.com/Alignment4592.php

This is a quote from the above article.
{Contrary to popular belief, poor wheel alignment will not generally cause vibrations. It is however, a major contributor to abnormal tire wear and poor vehicle handling. Alignment is a series of angles, when adjusted properly allow the tires to roll squarely on the road for optimum tire contact. With wet and snowy road ways, it is extremely important that the vehicle is properly aligned.}

http://www.popularmechanics.com/how_to_central/automotive/1272406.html?page=2

And this quote was taken from the above Popular Mechanics article.
{It can take a couple of hours to check out the possible causes of high-speed vibration, and you may be tempted to take the car in for wheel alignment to see if that helps before you spend time on all these other things. Sorry. Unless there's some evidence of wheel misalignment (such as irregular tire wear), a wheel alignment is not going to help at all. In fact, until you first isolate and correct the cause of the vibration, alignment would be a waste of time and money.}

It's your money, but I wouldn't have an alignment done until the vibration problem is solved. A good alignment shop wouldn't do an alignment until the vibration is corrected.

Clifton

 

[SocialStealth]

Maybe your engine mount(s) are worn down? It seems to be a pretty typical problem of mazdas halfway through their life.

 

[misbehave]

Check for any bubbles on the inner tire sidewall of your driver side tire.