Steering Vibration/noise

[Birds]

Hi guys...

I'm no expert with steering so I'm hoping you lot can help me with this awkward vibration/noise I seem to be getting through the steering wheel. I'll try and symptomise it the best i can for you:

- Can feel it through the steering wheel as a slight but constant vibration

- Similar in feel to driving on really rough road

- Not a wheel balance or allignment problem as I recently had new wheels fitted/balanced/alligned and the problem is still there

- I can feel it at both low speeds and high speeds, not as obvious as idle (perhaps influenced by RPM and therefore accessory related?)

- It is present in both straight line and turning so I don't think my tyres are scrubbing on anything

- Power steering fluid is full

- When I got the timing belt changed, the mechanic kindly wrote down that I had a noisy power steering pump

Could this be caused by camber at all? I'm feeling it's something in the steering system - leaning towards the power steering pump either resonating a bearing vibration through the power steering lines and to the rack (long shot?), or the pump isn't supplying fluid to the rack / blockage in the system somewhere.

Any ideas?

[iseekool]

I had a smilar problem not too long ago.

My problem was with the front tyres being worn on the inside, the tyres also had scalloping - could have been caused by camber wear (my suspension is stock), stop/go traffic tends to wear front tyres faster.

- Check the toe-in/toe-out.

- Tie rods ends could have some play in them (worn out) - best replace them.

- Worn out shocks - small bumps will tend to deflect wheels much more.

- Worn suspension/steering bushes.

[Birds]

Interesting. In answer to your suggestions - my tyres are brand new, my shocks (Tein SS coilovers) are less than a year old.

Will check the toe...bushes may be worn as I haven't had them replaced and they are probably originals. Did have plans to put polyurethane throughout so I might go ahead with that and kill everything with one stone. I was thinking tie-rods...just didn't know whether it would resonate vibration or not.

Thanks

P.S. car is R33 GTS-T.

[mad082]

it isn't a wheel bearing issue?

could possibly be the power steering pump. i've driven a 180sx with a shagged pump and it gave a fair bit of vibration back through the wheel, however it wasn't that noticable when going straight.

[Birds]

There's another good idea, good thinking 99.

[mad082]

i have had steering wheel vibration issues in cars before but i don't think they will apply here because of the fact that the cars were fwd, but may still be something to consider. the first sign is if the vibration gets worse when accelerating. if so, check the engine mounts. my last magna used to get a major steering vibration happening when accelerating (even just pushing the accelerator down about 20% more than when cruising) at above 90kmh. even just trying to stay at a constant speed an a bit of a hill would do it. this was caused by a shagged engine mount.

[blind_elk]

It can still be a balance problem. The new wheels might not be centring on the hub correctly.

Can you swap the wheels F<->R? What happens?

[Birds]

The only reason I don't think it's a balance problem, is (unless we have a big coincidence) that the problem was there before I put the new wheels on and still there after. Now this vibration is a very small thing...and I only notice it because I'm pedantic about my car running perfectly. It's not a visual shaking of the wheel or anything, it's almost similar to rough bitumen road noise in terms of sound and feel. If you've ever driven a car with low power steering fluid, that is similar to what it is like. More than likely something vibrating from the engine bay, be it a worn engine mount or power steering pump, but I won't be ruling out suspension and wheel bearings.

I'll try swapping the wheels too and see if I notice any difference.

[Altia_R34]

mostly probably be your wheel bearings happened to me changed it and its all good

[blind_elk]

Actually, I noticed tonight that I had a similar vibration. Only really noticeable at highway speed, but you almost have to feel for it. Then I recalled being told a while ago that I had a bit of wear in the rack ends. Might want to check that possibility out.

[Birds]

Changing front wheel bearings as I type this so hopefully this solves the problem. If not I'm gonna jump up and down angrily

Next step after that is steering tie rods and/or lower ball joints. After that I'll change power steering pump and rack.

My biggest problem is that visually everything looks okay, and shake/clamp tests haven't revealed much either...leading me to believe it might be rack related. It just feels like a rolling issue though, hence the wheel bearing assumption.

What annoys me is how much road feedback I can feel through my steering wheel. Or it could be engine/pump related vibrations that I'm mistaking for road feedback because it's not always consistent with the road.