Front end vibration

[jfkruse]

While traveling at 30-40 mph, I sometimes feel a slight vibration in my steering wheel. This happens very rarely. When it does I can stop it immediately by lightly tapping the brake pedal. This might happen once or twice a month. I'm concerned I may be looking at a front bearing problem. This is a 1983 SC Targa with only 39,000 miles on the odometer. I don't drive the baby much except for weekends.

Looking for some help from the pros. Thank you.

[dshepp806]

Sounds like possibly a rotor issue?

Best,

Doyle

[88911coupe]

Have you checked your bearings to see if they are adjusted properly? I'ts pretty easy and well documented in other threads.

[80-911SC]

could be the tires .. how old and condition .. some of these cars are not driven enough to keep the tires round .. or like on my car when I got it the tires date code showed them being 7 years old .. despite having 90% tread .. on top of that the front tires had been rotated , making the tire run backwards against the arrows ...

[kidrock]

All good suggestions above. Personally, I would check the wheel balance, which is a common issue on all cars. Also the easiest fix, the cheaper fix could possibly be the wheel bearing adjustment.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by jfkruse

... slight vibration in my steering wheel... happens very rarely.

When it does I can stop it immediately by lightly tapping the brake pedal. ...

hmmmm


how old are your brake hoses?

I'd also want to think about a wheel cylinder or piston here

Next time this happens - pull on the emergency brake & see if that stops it. If so, then not a problem in the hydraulic system...

[midnight911]

all great suggestions...

in addition, low tire pressure, worn tie rod ends also do this.

[IROC]

I would check the tires first. I've chased weird vibration problems in the past only to find out it was simply the tires.

[jfkruse]

Brake hoses are original to car (83 SC Targa). Tires have 4,000 miles on them, (Yokahamas). Problem started after 3500 miles on new tires. Car had been stored in a climate control environment for 8-9 years up in New Hampshire well over ten years ago. It has 39,000 miles on odometer. No major work done to brakes (pads good). Beginning to suspect bearings. Will look there. When vibration starts it is accompanied by a hum like noise as though something is seized (caliper?). Tap the brakes and presto the problem is gone. It may or may not return within the next few moments. Thanks to all of you who responded. Appreciate your posts.

[RWebb]

was it stored with those tires on it?? for 8+ years?

if so, they are trash = unsafe and you will not be able to safely drive the car with old tires on it

you also cannot safely drive the car with those old brake hoses on it it - replace them with factory rubber hoses & carefully inspect and massage each caliper piston when you do that

but, the brake press eliminating the problem makes me think it would not be tires, if they are new - OTOH, they are easy to check

[dshepp806]

WOW,..this looks to possibly be myriad of things that need attention. Braking system needs attention (this would include checking the rotor for spec/no warping. Agree with RWebb on the brake hose(s) changeout, caliper rebuild (check/cleanup)...finish with a nice flush/bleed.....

It does sound (now) like a dragging piston. What would be the correlation between the dragging piston and vibration? (other than dragging on a rotor that's not true,..yet this should manifest in braking that provides a pulsed type of feel due to anomolies on the rotor---just a curiousity question.

Out of curiousity, under hard braking, does she brake in a straight line with absolutely NO vibrations????

I've certainly learned this about my car: she's quite sensitive to air pressure imbalances, as I've remedied a few vibration-related things with ensuring proper (balanced) air pressures.

AGAIN: the braking system assessment/work should be done, at minimum. While you're there, wheel bearings can be checked, too.

Best,

Doyle

[jfkruse]

Tires are new (4,000 miles since 2007). Brakes had flush and new fluid in 2007. Braking is straight and true, no pulling or veering.

Thanks for all your inputs. Gives me something to look at this weekend.

[RWebb]

how old ARE the brake hoses?