Wheel Wobble

[DuncanBeaumont]

This morning I got some wheel wobble while driving at about 50mph. Never noticed it before.

What should I check? Wheel balance? Could worn wheel bearings cause a wobble?

It wasn't too serious, but was certainly noticeable. Any advice welcome.

Duncan

[bmcecosse]

Jack up and feel for bearing wear and/or excessive trunnion/king-pin wear - and track rod end wear! Check the tyres for any bulges - and are they inflated ok ? Then - test for balance - since this is indeed the most likely thing. If need be - slacken the brakes off and then let the wheel roll round until it settles with the 'heavy' part at the bottom. Test this a couple of times - mark the heavy spot with chalk. Then - turn the heavy spot to 9 o'clock - and add balance weights at 3 o'clock until the wheel sits nicely - not wanting to roll down or up. Re-set the brakes - and job done! Repeat on the other front wheel. So you know where to refit the wheel to the hub in future - put a spot of paint on one stud end - and a matching spot on the wheel next to that stud.

[beero]

If it has suddenly started have you rubbed a kerb and knocked a balance weight off?

[PSL184]

Tie rod bushes....

[DuncanBeaumont]

I recently had new tyres fitted - the fitter was very careful to balance the wheels. Whether a balance weight has come off, I will have to check.

I think one of the first things is to do after checking whether a weight has come off; is to take the car out and see under what conditions the wobble occurs.

[mike.perry]

I hope I have cured my wheel wobble, the top trunnion rubbers were knackered

[bmcecosse]

He may have balanced the wheels - my method balances the complete wheel/drum/hub assembly. It is only a 'static' balance - but it's always been fine for me.

[DuncanBeaumont]

Update.

I few weeks before the wobbly incident I had new tyres fitted all round. The wheels were balanced very carefully by the fitter - whom I thought did a very good, careful job.

Since posting on here.......
I jacked the front of the car up. I checked the balance of the wheels by spinning them and seeing where they came to a stop. The wheels span freely and came to a stop in a different position each time. No balance weights appeared to be missing. I could not see any cuts, bulges or other defects in any of the tyres.

Holding each of the front wheels in turn at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock position, I could not feel any significant play. Doing the same same at the 3 and 6 o'clock - again, no significant play.

I then took the car for a road test and couldn't repeat the wheel wobble.

THe new tyres are 155/14, replacing 145/14, I am running them at 30 psi. Is that enough?

What do I do now?

Relax?

[MarkyB]

You may have driven through some mud or "droppings" that got trapped in the treads and put the wheel out of balance.

I'd say relax.

[bmcecosse]

If the wheels spin and settle 'randomly' then the balance is fine. But as above - the top 'rubbers' on the kingpin/damper junction are prime suspects for all manner of steering problems. They are much much better if fitted with poly-urethane bushes - and it's a very easy/quick job to do. Originally - the Minor had bronze bushes in there - for good reason!!

[DuncanBeaumont]

How can I tell if those bushes/rubbers are worn?

[mike.perry]

If they are as bad as mine were you will see them wobbling about when you test for play

[bmcecosse]

If they are not polyurethane - they WILL be worn/loose/perished/gone soft. Fit poly - and forget.