Need some help with some wobble

Gemballa2006 · 07-03-2013, 05:39 PM

HI Guys, I have a 1986 911 coupe. I stored the car this winter in a bit of a hurry as we were moving and I didn't get a chance to over inflate the tires. This spring when I pulled it out of storage everything seemed fine for a few miles then I would get quite a substantial wheel wobble from the front. First it seemed only on the driver front then it seemed like both front tires. It happens at around 80-100 km/h and if I slow down or vary my speed it would seem to stop and it would stop for a while after stopping at a light. I figured that the tires had developed flat spots over the winter and would go away. It has not gone away after quite a few miles so I bought new tires, I also bought new rims at the same time and they have been newly balanced and installed. I went for a drive just now and sure enough, around 80-100 the wheel wobble was back in what feels like both front tires. It is very noticeable and seems dangerous. If it isn't the wheels or the tires what should I look at? I could really use some suggestions. On a side note, both front shocks were replaced with bilsteins just over a year ago.
Thanks
Ryan

E Sully · E Sully's Garage

Check the brake calipers and rotors.

pete3799 · pete3799's Garage

Check ball joints, tie rod ends, and wheel bearings.

Smoove1010 · Smoove1010's Garage

This could be any one of a dozen things. What kind of shape are all of your rubber parts in? Ball joints OK? When were the wheel bearings serviced? How's your front pan? It's not unheard of for newly balanced wheels to be out of balance, nor new tires to be found out-of-round. If they threw in a tire-shop alignment, the quality of that might be suspect. As Sully said, check the brakes - warped rotors and/or calipers that aren't releasing could also do it.

I'd be wary of driving it much if it felt unsafe. Good Luck!

mreid · 07-04-2013, 05:47 AM

Have you checked the ball joints, tie rod ends, and steering rack for play?

sacoffee · sacoffee's Garage

This is a great forum but many times you will still play guesing games with the posts .... if you want to narrow it down yourself we need to know if the wobble is occurring at speed or when braking,

Brake drag will make a definte noise. IMO If the wobble is at speed then no need to check calipers and rotor.

Is the steering wheel wobbling or is the body shaking? You can check by taking jacking front end up and see if you have play side to side and or in and out. Side to side is tie rod issue ... in and out could be wheel bearings. CV joints normally click when turning if they are bad.

If under acceleration the body is shaking it is likely transmission or motor mounts

I would have a professional alignment shop look it over

Gemballa2006 · 07-04-2013, 06:27 AM

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, much appreciated. It is at speed it wobbles rather than under braking, and only from the front. It feels like the body is shaking but the rear feels extremely planted. I am thinking I may need a professional to look at it now. I will contact the local guy that has done work on teh car in teh past for me. Thanks, I will keep you posted on results.

sacoffee · sacoffee's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemballa2006

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, much appreciated. It is at speed it wobbles rather than under braking, and only from the front. It feels like the body is shaking but the rear feels extremely planted. I am thinking I may need a professional to look at it now. I will contact the local guy that has done work on teh car in teh past for me. Thanks, I will keep you posted on results.

Good idea