wheel wobble, bent control arm? maybe an axle? help!!

[gunny11218]

i just bought my dsm 3 days ago and aleady the clutch is gone, and i have a massive boost sputtering issue, but i think ive figured out those, my next issue is that my right rear wheel wobbles (like if you were to hold your hands out in front of you about 3 inches apart and pivit them left and right on your wrists) thats what my wheel does. it has a squeaking and kind of grinding noise its alot of unknown chatter is what it really is. im thinking, if i dont have a bent rim which i dont think thats the case, would it maybe be a bent control arm? or even worse maybe an axle? again 95 talon awd. thanks for any help in advance!

 

[xxraptor660xx]

Your tire might need to be balanced. Have you hit any curbs or big potholes lately?

 

[rhino4]

are u saying that when it is parked its off kilter. or when ## driving it. If you are driving and its like that the tires probably just need to be balanced. but if its sitting it might be an axle or control arm

 

[moto x]

Wheel Bearing.

 

[1qkfwd]

A tire out of balance wouldn't make a lot of chatter and noise. Are they the stock rims? if not check and make sure its on all the way. Jack up that side and see if you can have a helper move the rim and look and see where the movement is coming from. I would suggest checking the bushings and the wheel bearing.

 

[somguywitblueye]

my wheel bearing is shot...and no wobble. Check other components

 

[turbo2086]

It wouldn't be a bent control arm causing a wobble. The control arms don't move in a rotational manner, just up and down with suspension. Wouldn't cause a consistent wobble.

I would check your brakes, the rotors, and calipers. I've seen rear calipers get seized up, and make a grinding noise. Also really warped rotors will create "wobble" or vibration while driving.

 

[a_flint87]

Does this happen under throttle or all the time?

 

[90gsx16g]

I would say check out your axel,

 

[roadrunner2176]

Are your lug nuts tight?

Check your tire for tread separation. Best way is to jack the car up and feel the tread for soft spots.

Your wheel bearing might not look or feel bad, but under a load it will change.

Rear differentials?

 

[turbolover10]

I'm having a similar problem, was this ever solved??

I've tried pulling the rim off and putting it back on, "to make sure it was tight and centered because their aftermarket rims."
I've also tried switching my rear rims/tires out with my cousins, "which doesn't wobble." Seems like it helped a little but hard to tell, the wobble was definitely still present...

First I'm going to get all my wheels balanced and go from there...

I hope its the tire but my rear wheel makes the same type of grinding noise every once in a while thats hard to pinpoint, I think its on left turns when I hear it but hopefully thats just a different issue..

I've read it could also be the driveshaft/rear diff, but how would I know for sure??

 

[tenn-gsx]

One last thing to look at would be the bushings or balljoints on the lower control arms. I had a bad bushing In the lower rear arm and it caused a wobble and REALLY bad wandering in high speed turns or during braking.

 

[asexton6969]

turbolover it sounds like that might be a wheel bearing. When your taking that left turn its unloading or loading that bearing making it cause a noise. Try jacking the rear end up and grab the wheel at the top and bottom and try shaking it up and down.

 

[Daveed]

Jack it up and let us know what you find.
Bad wheel bearing?
Bent axle flange?
Bent rim?
Wrong lug nuts? (had this happen on mine when I got it...person swapped out their rims beforehand and put in the wrong lug nuts. Nuts were tight but too long so the rim was wobbling around...ALL 4 RIMS!!
Separation in the sidewall of the tire?
REALLY out of balance tire?

 

[mitch26753]

sounds like a wheel bearing depending on how bad the wheel is woobleing? just jack it up and pull it around if it is really bad it could be a loose bolt on one of the control arms. When i bought my 96 i put it on the lift and noticed that you could push the front wheel back and fourth 4 to 6 inches. I thought it was a wheelbearing eventhough i have never seen one give that much . i pulled the wheel and turns out it was the upper control arms bolt loose and the axel nut was missing the washer that is made for it. the person who had it before me lowered the car and didn't put the washer back on. eventhough the nut was all the way in it wasn't tight because of that 1/4" washer that is suppose to be there. Has the car been lowered? maybe had new struts before you bought it? i would check what i told you right there

 

[turbolover10]

Allright I'm bringing this thread back from the dead again.
I havent had time but now I really want to figure out what is causing this wobble or its almost like a bounce.. It feels like its coming from the rear but its hard to tell, at higher speeds it doesn't seem as bad its more noticable when your cruising down side street in second or third.

turbolover it sounds like that might be a wheel bearing. When your taking that left turn its unloading or loading that bearing making it cause a noise. Try jacking the rear end up and grab the wheel at the top and bottom and try shaking it up and down.

Its definitely only makeing the grinding noise on left turns but its is hard for me to tell where its coming from I actually did test for movement in the rear with no luck but when I checked the front the passenger side had a little movement so I pulled the rim off tightened the axle nut down and it seems to be nice and stiff on both sides now but its still wobbleing...???

Is there any other ways to check and see if its the wheel bearing, would bad lower ball joints really cause it to wobble/bounce?? I know one of the boots are ripped on the front lower balljoints but other than that I'm not sure.. guys have any suggestions it would be much appreciated.

Could a bushing or even a siezed bolt cause this? I'm open to any suggestion.
I doubt its the driveshaft because it seems to wobble even when cruising in neutral, would that eliminate the driveshaft being a possiblity??

I'll double check everything you guys suggested, its seems to me like a pretty bad wobble/bounce. I'm gonna double check to make sure the control arm bolts etc.. arn't loose and double and triple check the movement on each rim.

Definitely not a bent rim or the wrong lug nuts..

 

[tunethis]

turbolover10,

A bent axle maybe? If you can, get someone to follow you slowly to see if the "wobble" can be spoted.

 

[turbolover10]

turbolover10,

A bent axle maybe? If you can, get someone to follow you slowly to see if the "wobble" can be spoted.

I'm gonna ride behind the car on a bike tomorrow and see if I can pinpoint where its coming from.. I'm also going to double check all the control arm bolts and try to look at the axels a little closer.

 

[brassc2007]

Check your lug nuts, and also check your ball joints for play. A bad ball joint will move around and cause a wobble.

 

[AlaskanDsm]

I thought that a ball joint would make the tire wobble in and out from top to bottom like a teeter totter mounted on a wall vertically. Also I thought that a tie rod or a control arm would make the tire wobble in and out...so like a a snakes trail a lazy s going back and forth....if any of that makes sense hahaha. So see if you can identify what style of wobble it is.

 

[turbolover10]

Its more like a bounce from suspension than a wobble. I'm getting ready to jack it up so I'll let you know if I find anything suspicious.

Keep the ideas coming.

 

[AlaskanDsm]

Well if it felt suspension wise...it could be your struts....but at the same time...I didn't think struts could cause that much of a wobble unless it was loose? I guess its possible but when was the last time they were replaced? Also I think said earlier in the thread, If you know how to check you brakes, I would check them. I think my calipher is getting sticky and makes my steering go all out of wack.

 

[turbolover10]

The struts are stock 100k miles but I had megan coilovers not to long ago that I had to get rid of and the car still bounced. As far as the breaks, I really don't know how to check them??? I couldn't see the breaks causing this much of a bounce but thats why I'm asking for help.