civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

This one has me thoroughly confused. My steering wheel shakes when I hit 60mph or faster, and ONLY in the rain. It doesnt shake at all when the road is dry. It happens in any gear, on any road. And no, the car is not hydroplaning.

It started happening about 2 weeks ago, and its been getting worse. If I am doing 60-65mph, the shake is unbearable.

I purchased ball joints and I will be installing them this weekend, but I am going to take a look at the rest of the suspension and see if anything is broken/worn.

Do you guys suggest that I look at something specific?

andrewcjduong

This happened to me (not in the rain, just everytime I went above 100km) and the guy I brought the car to said something about the axle or something being broken and my wheel almost completely falling off if I drove anymore or faster. Had that replaced and it's fine now.

victorvu

iTrader: (1)

check your tie rods i just replaced my tie rods and upper control arm had the same problem as you going 60mph but not just in the rain.

jnice

iTrader: (1)

guys did your car pull to the right at all like a very hard pull

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

No, no crazy pulling unless it was torque steer. My shake seems to dissovle some over the past few weeks. Im probably going to replace the tie rod ends anyway since they have about 100k on them.

rondog

iTrader: (1)

lol, I think it's the wheels, there is a spot on the 3 piece wheels (almost all 3 piece wheels in the industry) that tends to trap water, and as you drive, the water acts like a wheel weight as it travels with the barrel. Does it vibrate when it is not raining or when things totally dry up?

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

Nope, it doesnt vibrate when its dry out.

You may have a point. Everytime it rains I have puddles in the wheels.

rondog

iTrader: (1)

read this and do a search on google for 3 piece wheels vibrate in the rain, it's common.
and please do me a favor and check the shifter cables for me, I mentioned the reason in the other thread about tightening up the shifter.
Thanks!

http://www.mbworld.org/forums/slk55-...40-r-rain.html

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

I replied to the shifter issue in the other thread.

Thanks for the link. I guess Im just gonna stop driving in the rain

rondog

iTrader: (1)

I have the same problem with my 3 piece wheels, but i tend to keep the car in the arage when it rains, so it's harder for me to notice.

bajaSeven

do you still have your stock wheels on the car or aftermarket as in your avatar?

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

I still have all my wheels, but I keep the Devotions (the ones in my avatar) on the car.

bajaSeven

I would put those on and see if the same symptoms remain at said speeds to eliminate the wheels from the equation.

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

Ive got the OEM wheels on now as the Devotions are getting repaired tomorrow, but we're not expecting any rain.

RooEng

I got a theory. It rained a few days ago and I while I was cleaning my car, I noticed a lot of scratches on the lip of my SSR GT3 knockoffs next to each spoke. When driving behind cars in the rain, the water always seems to spray out of the wheels. So I assume the scratches are from tires picking up water and small rocks and funneling out of the split spokes of the wheels.

So here's the theory. Maybe water is collecting in the recesses on the backside of the rim and instead of flowing toward the inside of the rim while it spinning, the air is holding it in the recesses in uneven amounts. When you slow down enough, the air doesn't hold the water and it just flows out

Look on the inside and see if there's spaces where water can collect. Try temporarily putting tape over the recesses to keep the water out and see if that helps.

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

Im pretty sure its the water issue RJ posted. Whenever I wash my car the water pools up in them and I have to soak it up with a towel or blow it out with the vacuum. I may not have the 19s much longer so Ill live with it for now.

I try not to drive in the rain much either. During the beginning of summer though it rains alot.