Weird Steering Wheel Vibration at Freeway Speeds

[3002 tii]

Can’t diagnose the issue but shimmy occurs only at freeway speeds ( > 65 mph)

- 50,000 miles with no accident history
- No spacers installed
- Wheels and tires balanced
- Rotors and pads
- Wheel spins freely on jacks (i.e. not stuck caliper)
- Control arm and bushings replaced
- Alignment checks out (camber is even and adjusting toe had no impact)

Anyone got ideas on what’s causing this? Did a suspension refresh last year when I first picked it up. Only original suspension components remaining are tie rods and end links but can’t see how those pieces would contribute to this kind of vibration.

Edit - see post 24 for resolution

[Huz-Z]

Uneven tire pressure?

Uneven tire wear?

Wheel bearing on one side?

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

Uneven tire pressure?

Uneven tire wear?

Wheel bearing on one side?

Nah not tires. Pressures are even and fine. Tires are like new and I get the same outcome with 2 diff sets of wheels.

No side to side play to suggest bearings are worn. Plus no audible whirring noises or the sort.

[Oldmcst]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Can’t diagnose the issue but shimmy occurs only at freeway speeds ( > 65 mph)

- 50,000 miles with no accident history
- No spacers installed
- Wheels and tires balanced
- Rotors and pads
- Wheel spins freely on jacks (i.e. not stick caliper)
- Control arm and bushings replaced
- Alignment checks out

Anyone got ideas on what’s causing this?

Does the vibration increase with speed? If so, it must be balance Or TPM sensor. It does look severe.

[Grumpy Old Man]

Probably not the issue but I'll throw it out there as I used to notice a really weird vibration driving on a particular highway near my home. I eventually realized it was the road surface and not the car but it took me a while to figure out that it wasn't the car but the uneven road surface.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by Oldmcst

Does the vibration increase with speed? If so, it must be balance Or TPM sensor. It does look severe.

Yes increases with speed but wheels were balanced and I get same outcome with my track wheels so balance seems unlikely. Also from my experience, the vibration would occur at same exact speed if it were a wheel balancing issue. Whereas this issue I’m dealing with now, yes it occurs at higher speeds but it comes and goes. [Really hard to keep track of the ‘right’ conditions but I think] if I keep the wheel straight for a while and it’s much more subdued/gone. Introduce some steering (or maybe load) and then it reappears.

I immediately thought of this old thread and wondered if this is what others were going through...

https://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=855939

Originally Posted by Grumpy Old Man

Probably not the issue but I'll throw it out there as I used to notice a really weird vibration driving on a particular highway near my home. I eventually realized it was the road surface and not the car but it took me a while to figure out that it wasn't the car but the uneven road surface.

That occurred to me too but for same roads I don’t have this issue with my other cars nor my previous coupe which had a very performance oriented tire and suspension setup.

[ShakyDog]

I know I had this issue with my old 4 runner. Anyone know if the Z4 is hub centric or lug centric on wheel/tire balance?

Steve

[XMetal]

Originally Posted by ShakyDog

I know I had this issue with my old 4 runner. Anyone know if the Z4 is hub centric or lug centric on wheel/tire balance?

Steve

Hub centric

[F360C]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Yes increases with speed but wheels were balanced and I get same outcome with my track wheels so balance seems unlikely. Also from my experience, the vibration would occur at same exact speed if it were a wheel balancing issue. Whereas this issue I’m dealing with now, yes it occurs at higher speeds but it comes and goes. [Really hard to keep track of the ‘right’ conditions but I think] if I keep the wheel straight for a while and it’s much more subdued/gone. Introduce some steering (or maybe load) and then it reappears.

I immediately thought of this old thread and wondered if this is what others were going through...

https://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=855939






That occurred to me too but for same roads I don’t have this issue with my other cars nor my previous coupe which had a very performance oriented tire and suspension setup.

I had the same sort of vibration... came and went while driving. It also seemed to increase with speed. Ended up checking my alignment and the toe was off.. too much toe out. I do my own alignments so it was an easy fix.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by F360C

I had the same sort of vibration... came and went while driving. It also seemed to increase with speed. Ended up checking my alignment and the toe was off.. too much toe out. I do my own alignments so it was an easy fix.

My toe’s set at zero... Do you remember what your final toe settings were ?

[F360C]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

My toe’s set at zero... Do you remember what your final toe settings were ?

Set at zero too... when i had the vibration i had toe out.

[polar]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Can’t diagnose the issue but shimmy occurs only at freeway speeds ( > 65 mph)

- 50,000 miles with no accident history
- No spacers installed
- Wheels and tires balanced
- Rotors and pads
- Wheel spins freely on jacks (i.e. not stick caliper)
- Control arm and bushings replaced
- Alignment checks out (camber is even and adjusting toe had no impact)

Anyone got ideas on what’s causing this? Did a suspension refresh last year when I first picked it up. Only original suspension components remaining are tie rods and end links but can’t see how those pieces would contribute to this kind of vibration.

Sorry about your problem, I've had the same crap and that was in fact due to a bad inner tie rod.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by polar

Sorry about your problem, I've had the same crap and that was in fact due to a bad inner tie rod.

How’d you diagnose it before replacing the tie rod? Not that I doubt your experience but I just don’t want to throw money/parts unless I can see the potential connection.

[vt100]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Only original suspension components remaining are tie rods and end links but can’t see how those pieces would contribute to this kind of vibration.

Why not?! If the ball joint in a tie rod end is loose you'd definitely have something like this.

Also the ball joint in a control arm would cause similar vibration (I had it on other cars, not the Z, before). I know you said the control arms are new, but still worth to check in case you could hit something on the road after you installed them.

[Finnegan]

I'm going with tie-rods. It's unlikely that the new parts that have been installed would have failed that quickly, it's much more likely that the parts remaining with 50,000 miles are failing.

Here's a how to on checking.

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by vt100

Why not?! If the ball joint in a tie rod end is loose you'd definitely have something like this.

Also the ball joint in a control arm would cause similar vibration (I had it on other cars, not the Z, before). I know you said the control arms are new, but still worth to check in case you could hit something on the road after you installed them.

I would’ve thought loose ball joints leading to steering vagueness would be evident at all speeds but I suppose it’s worth a shot.

Originally Posted by Finnegan

I'm going with tie-rods. It's unlikely that the new parts that have been installed would have failed that quickly, it's much more likely that the parts remaining with 50,000 miles are failing.

Here's a how to on checking.

Thanks, I did a similar test when I originally thought it could be the bearings and it didn't exhibit any noise or play.

[vt100]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

I would’ve thought loose ball joints leading to steering vagueness would be evident at all speeds but I suppose it’s worth a shot.

Well.. I'd guess it depends on how bad it's damaged / worn.

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Thanks, I did a similar test when I originally thought it could be the bearings and it didn't exhibit any noise or play.

Hmm.. looks like you've already checked it..

Just shooting in the dark - can a bad shock or shock mount cause something like this?

[3002 tii]

Originally Posted by vt100

Well.. I'd guess it depends on how bad it's damaged / worn.

Hmm.. looks like you've already checked it..

Just shooting in the dark - can a bad shock or shock mount cause something like this?

I pulled on the wheel and didn’t hear any noise but I’m going to check the actual tie rod to see if there’s any play or rotation by the joint. Maybe it’s so slight that it’s only noticeable at higher speeds.

[3798j]

Think there's been a lot of good suggestions here and maybe an experience I had can help a little. When I watched the video and saw the steering wheel shake, I immediately thought inner tie rod play. Why?..Because it happened to me, not with a Z4M, but with a high mileage front end where I had renewed ~everything~ including tie rod ends. The steering wheel wobble started at 50 mph though. In my case, it turned out to be inner tie rod wear. Once I saw the wear of inner tie rods I replaced the rack and all was good.
Then when I saw that your toe was set a zero degrees, any play in the rack and pinion can result in a toe out condition...equaling wheel shimmy.
So, my suggestion would be to go back and carefully check for movement in the tie rod ends. Think two people would be best...one to manipulate the wheel while one eyeballed the situation.
One other thought comes to mind when there's talk about wheel balance. One vehicle I have is incredibly sensitive to wheel imbalance. As a result, I'm a firm fan of having wheels done on a Hunter Road Force machine.

[polar]

You might also check for play in the tie rods by going into a curve and see if the shimmy decreases or goes away. I.e you put pressure on the tie rods.

[ShakyDog]

This isn't the old "brake drying kicking on because your wipers are on Auto" thing?

Steve

[AK72]

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

Can’t diagnose the issue but shimmy occurs only at freeway speeds ( > 65 mph)

- 50,000 miles with no accident history
- No spacers installed
- Wheels and tires balanced
- Rotors and pads
- Wheel spins freely on jacks (i.e. not stuck caliper)
- Control arm and bushings replaced
- Alignment checks out (camber is even and adjusting toe had no impact)

Anyone got ideas on what’s causing this? Did a suspension refresh last year when I first picked it up. Only original suspension components remaining are tie rods and end links but can’t see how those pieces would contribute to this kind of vibration.

any updates on this Issue? I have same symptoms