Steering shake issues, advice before going to mechanic?

[mars6484]

Hey guyz

I am taking my car to a mechanic but I don't havea trusted mechanic at the moment so I am going to a local one that I have been a couple of times but still don't 100% trust so I thought I'd ask for your opinions/experience first.

So heres the deal - got my steering rack changed with new one re-flushed power steering fluid and new hose and clamps. along with that got front strut bar rubber thingoes re-done coz they were split.

The issues I've had so far
1. 70kph ++ steering wheel unsteady and a bit shaky but levels out at 110kph.
2. 70kph ++ again when braking steering wheel very shaky.
3. steering wheel still seems a bit stiff. gets better after the car has warmed up but still seems a bit stiffer than it should be.

I have gone back to the mechanic that did the rack and stuff, said there is nothing wrong but I am convinced there definitely is... I've hadm y wheels balanced just in case and nothign wrong with that and my tyres are relatively new and not the best tyres but respectable brand.

My opinion is the rack and pinion/ steering rack ahs not been installed properly or something is too tight or loose. Which makes sense given the symptoms. I am going to get a second opinion with this other mechanic but if I could get some advice/experiences you guyz mi8ght ahve had, that would be awesome!

Thanks!

[wortus]

Vibration at certain speds is usually wheel balance. I've sen tyres ou tof round that won't balance as well.
Brake shudder could be warped rotors or just bad pad material or incorrect fitment of rotors (you have to make sure hub surface is clean and free of rust scale so rotor sits on right and runs true.
If the brake rotors are original try some new DBA or RDA ones there not much more than machining them (ebay) and get new pads at the same time try genuine or AC Delco which you get from Holden.
Stering wheel stiff, who reconditioned the rack? It could be a few things start with the pinion to rack mesh too tight, there's an inhex socket on the rack and this is done up to a particular tourque. I had the local pedders do it up with a wrench way too tight and it would not self centre. It could also be due to the wheel alignment or even the sway bar links adjusted too tightly.
What are the exact symptoms, just heavy to centre and not going back to centre or just heavy all over?
Remember also that VY's have a heavier feel than a VT to VX by design as the geometry is different.

[calais_cruzin]

Have a look at ur gearbox mount, mine is stuffed i get a nice shudder at certain revs/speed. it starts with the slightest load, as it gets more load it goes aways.

Not hard to check the rubbers condtion

[mars6484]

Thanks for the tips guyz~~

Yeah the sway bar links being too tight could be right. The wheel definitely doesn't self centre well at all. The steering is tight all round pretty much consistant, its gotten a little bit better since the new rack was put in 3 weeks ago but still quite stiff~~

Hope I won't need new rotors, I read somewhere that sometimes the brake shuddering steering wheel can be from loose tie rod ends attached to the racks which I reckon it is because I never had this problem until after the new rack and the rubber for the sway bars were put in...

Either way I'll get my local mechanic to check it out on Friday, I was just wondering if anyone had any similar experiences with their car but it does sond like one of those things you kind of have to have a look at a few different things to find the issue.

[sp001in]

got a very similar problem. had 4 new tyres put on by beuarepaires. $800. 18 235 40's

balanced. etc. shuddering through wheel and seat. had them rebalanced. shuddering only through seat.
balanced again. shuddering through both again. went from 15g out to 90g out. and the ********s were counter balancing them.

took it to bob janes, $40 later. was worse. they offered refund, couldn't be f'd driving back.

took it to drivesafe, $50 later is better but still shuddering at 70-110. haven't been past that speed.

cheap indoenesian tyres, are they exact same as what I've had on the ute for the past 2 years with no problems. I think they are out of round, but beaurepaires says they have to send the tyres back to the supplier to get their opinion, and I would be without tyres during that time......

anyway, went to pedders, got a shock test. multiple fails.

$3900 worth of suspension going in now. coilovers all round, sway bars, strut braces, The works.
leaving out the rear adjustable spring and leaving the ultra low king spring in but adding polyairs as I carry up to 300kgs' daily. so I want it to handle, but carry also.

believe it will fix the shudder. if not. new rims and tyres. guys say may have a buckled rim (highly unlikely... had the rims from new, never hit anything with them) or a hairling crack which is opening up under centrifugal force, throwing the balance.

will let you know how I go on friday when it all comes back.

[Cobez]

I'm also having a similar problem, only when i brake at low speeds, the steering wheel wobbles a tiny bit. Not huge but i'm tipping my rotors need machining / replacing or it needs new pads.

[sp001in]

got all the suspension done today. all shuddering fixed.