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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: noobie on March 21, 2004, 02:22:43 PM

Title: Help with the shaking
Post by: noobie on March 21, 2004, 02:22:43 PM

Hi! I dont know much about car, but i have a suzuki vitara 2001 2WD
When i hit the highway, the steering wheel started to shake.  Please if you can, please, list some of the possible problems that might cause this.  Such as tire balance or ect... so i have some sort of a direction to fix it
thank you

Title: Re: Help with the shaking
Post by: wildgoody on March 21, 2004, 03:07:57 PM

Tire ballance is the first thing, could also be
Loose wheel bearings, worn tierod ends,
worn ball joints, worn loose A-arm bushings,
idler arm bushings/balljoints (if you have them
on that year) most common I would think for
your year, as it's fairly new, would be tire ballance.

Good Luck,
Wild

Title: Re: Help with the shaking
Post by: jerryp58 on March 21, 2004, 09:05:02 PM

You could check for a tire balance problem by swapping the front and rear tires and see if the steering wheel settles down (assuming all of the tires aren't out of balance).

A couple of other things could be a bent rim, separated tire treads, or a flat spot(s) on the tire(s) if it's been sitting for a long time.

Title: Re: Help with the shaking
Post by: 90Stomper on March 22, 2004, 09:06:54 AM

also, have you been in mud or deep snow lately?  this happens sometimes when you have a buildup of mud or snow inside one of the rims, happened to me and i took it to alignment shop,  looked like a real idiot when the guy kicked out some ice and said, 'there you go'.  but it was free, live and learn. :-[

Title: Re: Help with the shaking
Post by: noobie on March 22, 2004, 12:05:36 PM

thank you
I'll try to have the tires balance soon at SEARS auto center.  If that wont solve the problem, i'll probably take it to the zuzuki dealer.

Title: Re: Help with the shaking
Post by: jagular7 on March 22, 2004, 02:27:01 PM

I'd get someone else to drive your vehicle while you watch from another car. Notice any movement on the front tires.
If this doesn't provide anything, next, lift the car, secure on stands, and do a complete front end check. Grab hold of tire at top/bottom, push/pull. This will let you know if the lower ball joint is bad. Check the upper strut mount to make sure the rubber isolator is still intact. Grab tire front/rear, push/pull. Check the play on the tie rod and rack& pinion. R&P steering has been known to be a cause for an accident. Check it's mount to the frame.
Check the roundness of the tires by rotating them the fastest you can.