My steering wheel is wobbling at speeds around 20-40 mph and I know something is wrong because it has not done this before. When I drive with my window down past parked cars I can hear sort of like a rubbing noise but I am unsure what the problem is. I have a feeling it is tire or alignment related because the noise kind of makes it self known everytime the tire makes a rotation. I don't hear this noise with my window up.

My car drives straight as well. What do you guys think? Should I get both an alignment and balance or do I have a different problem?

Was told I needed an alignment last time I got my tires rotated because the front tires were wearing out faster on the inner sides closest to the engine. However I feel the problem I have now is stemming from somewhere else.

Thanks

 

Getting an alignment is always a good idea. If you get new tires, definitely get an alignment. But, from what you are mentioning, this doesn't seem like an alignment issue. It could be your wheel balance, or it could be something to do with your brakes. One other possibility is it could be your control arms, which usually cause a "ticking" noise when they go bad. Hopefully it's not that.

Others will chime in I'm sure with help.

 

About how much would it cost to get a control arm replaced?

 

^
At the stealer? Too much. I'm not sure on the exact #'s, but if you're still under 50k, you can take it to them and have them look at it under warranty.

 

Thanks for the info princely. My car is 39xxx miles now and I have been wanting to go get some warranty work done, maybe now I will actually go.

 

Update: So I got an alignment on a HUNTER alignment system and got my front wheels balanced, had the old weights removed and replaced with new weights.

My problem is still there though, the steering wheels whobbles at low speed approx 25-40 MPH, any idea what this could be? Handling seems unaffected but I know for sure 100% this whobbling of the steering wheel was not there before.

The steering wheel doesnt whobble a ridiculous amount. I would say it goes from the 11 o clock position to the 1 o clock position back and forth constantly. The steering is straight for the most part and braking is smooth and straight as well.

I'm really clueless as what this can be and would appreciate any help I can get.

 

well the alignment should have gotten rid of the problem, if not then your tires themselves are the issues; I don't know if you have the OEM Bridgestones on but those tires and even with rebalancing and a alignment I had continued problems with them and had to get them off which then solved the problem!

 

check the wear on the tires. If the tires have worn unevenly that could cause some discomfort.

 

how could i tell if my control arm is going bad or broken?

 

I think you've got a bad tire. Rotate the backs to the front & see if problem is gone.

 

i feel an alignment or balancing is not the cause of the problem.

 

I agree here ... move the fronts to the back ... better yet move one to the back then test drive it to see if the problem is gone.. if so its the tire you moved .. if not ,, its the one you didn't move.

 

maybe one or more of your wheels are bent? what kind of noise do your hear? are they clicking noises?

 

Thx for the responses everyone.

The sound I hear with the windows down, sounds like the tire is sort of rubbing against something, or the tire has like a flat spot kind of and it makes that noise every revolution of the tire.

The problem becomes less noticable when I go faster which is strange.

The more I think of it, the more I think you guys are right because my brembos have failed me today... thanks to the tire possibly?

 

Story about it in the 3g forums