Chasing down steering wobble...

[Sebastienclement]

I'm so frustrated!

My 2004 CDTi Contemporary has had a persistent steering wobble since buying it a year ago. I've been gradually getting through things, and have had the following work done:

• New set of wheels (prev set found to be buckled)
• New brake discs and pads all round
• Lower arm bushes
• Engine Mounts (all)

Since having this work done I thought I had finally got it sorted, as the car has been great for about 200 miles. But no, this morning I now have a steering wobble upon braking. Only happens from about 40mph and under. I have two questions:

1. What am I going to damage by driving the car like this? (no spare money for repairs at the moment)
2. What on earth could it possibly be?

[Popcorn]

Take the front discs off and clean the hub and disc mateing surfaces, there may be some dirt and muck if not clean this would give you wobble under braking.

[Sebastienclement]

Originally Posted by Popcorn

Take the front discs off and clean the hub and disc mateing surfaces, there may be some dirt and muck if not clean this would give you wobble under braking.

I really don't have the skills to do this

I'm confident it's not the brakes - they've been fine until now & were fitted several months ago.

[macafee2]

Originally Posted by Sebastienclement

I really don't have the skills to do this

I'm confident it's not the brakes - they've been fine until now & were fitted several months ago.

check tyre pressure and sizes

turn steering wheel from side to side, is there any play?

jack up car and shake the wheels, is there any play?

Take the wheels off. secure a marker pen exceedingly close to the disc but not touching. Spin the the disc, does the marker touch anywhere?


macafee2

[Sebastienclement]

Cheers, guys.

What am I likely to wear / break in the meantime by driving it?

[Popcorn]

I'm confident it's not the brakes - they've been fine until now & were fitted several months ago.[/QUOTE]

Fitted new discs and pads to mine when I first got it no problems, changed pads after they got low and got wheel wobble put up with it for months then changed discs and pads again making sure that the mating surfaces were super clean wobble all gone. The first discs and pads were from euro car parts I believe that this was the problem (buy cheap buy twice)
If you can't do this yourself take it for a free brake check at one of the car exhaust tyre type places and see what they find

[macafee2]

Originally Posted by Sebastienclement

Cheers, guys.

What am I likely to wear / break in the meantime by driving it?

Without know that the problem is we cannot say with certainty.
I would err on the side of caution and not drive it.

macafee2

[cbr1100xx]

I spent months chasing a wobble under braking,it was fine at low speed but nearly dislocated your wrists at higher speeds.
I changed discs and pads , driveshaft , bushes arms and nearly everything else.
When I recently changed the slave I stripped the strut down and it turned out it was a wheel bearing.
No play could be felt doing the 3 and 9 and 6 and 12 o'clock tests but there was definitely play in the bearing when the hub was stripped down.
2nd hand hub fitted and no more wobble.
If you are not confident of doing get a garage to check them.
Preferably one that comes recommended on here.

Stan

[Sebastienclement]

Originally Posted by macafee2

Without know that the problem is we cannot say with certainty.
I would err on the side of caution and not drive it.

macafee2

Not an option.

We're talking about something that is very mild.

I've noticed that it doesn't seem to do it on very smooth road surfaces, so I'm actually wondering if I'm just not used to the amount of feedback that you get from larger low profile tyres.