steering wheel shake - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

morepowerjoe · 12-14-2020, 01:05 PM

Hey guys I have a frustrating problem. When I get to around 55-60mph my steering wheel shakes back and forth. But it doesn't do it all the time. I've put brand new tires on it had them balanced twice and aligned twice at different shops and it still does it. When they balanced the tires they said the rims aren't bent. I've jacked up one front wheel one at a time and had my son wiggle the tire side to side and there is a slight amount of play and no play top to bottom. Does anyone have any suggestions. I just ordered new inner and outer tie rods, figured I would start there.

scott's45 · 12-14-2020, 01:29 PM

I also have the same thing going on. Mine is a 2012 as well, thought I read somewhere that this is a known problem, but don't know if there is a solution.

1JEWLDSSRS · 12-14-2020, 02:30 PM

When mine did that for a bit, I found that my passenger side tie rod was bad, replaced them both and now it is all good...

supersnake05 · 12-14-2020, 08:24 PM

90% of the time it's a balance. Sometimes can be a bad tire too much road force. I have had 2 GM cars in the past with shakes I couldn't get rid of. 1 my wife's 04 GTO the other my 08 G8. On my G8 I had new wheels, tires, strut mounts, upper and lower control arms, caster kit, multiple balance and alignments and couldn't get rid of it. Hopefully not your issue.

Machh5 · 12-14-2020, 11:32 PM

I'd check the lower control arm inner bushings for play. Common wear point.

morepowerjoe · 12-15-2020, 02:28 AM

Yeah I have a feeling that it could be the rack n pinion since it doesn't do it all the time. I went ahead and replaced all the tie rods inner and outer but haven't test drove it yet. I'll let yall know how it turns out tomorrow. Thanks for the info guys.

morepowerjoe · 12-15-2020, 02:46 PM

Well like I said I replaced the inner and outer tie rods and so far so good. It seems like the steering wheel shake is gone. It just goes to show you that sometimes you can't trust anybody and just go with your gut. Every where I went they all told me that my tires weren't balanced correctly or that I had a bad rim. I also took it back to NTB for a realignment and it drives perfectly straight. Thanks for all of your responses I really appreciate it.

Bigdumogre · 12-15-2020, 03:07 PM

Same problem here and I have close to 80k miles on it so was thinking of just replacing the inner and outer tie rods too. Gonna put bmr springs in it soon so it’s gonna need a alignment anyway

morepowerjoe · 12-16-2020, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigdumogre

Same problem here and I have close to 80k miles on it so was thinking of just replacing the inner and outer tie rods too. Gonna put bmr springs in it soon so it’s gonna need a alignment anyway

When I got the tie rods out they weren't really loose but they didn't have any resistance at all when you move them around. I used a big pipe wrench to get the inner tie rods out, it worked really good.

rdavis · 12-19-2020, 09:46 AM

My car does it also, But only on certain pavements. It can be dead smooth on one road to very bad on another. My previous car, a 13 mustang gt which I bought new did the same thing. So I don't know what is going on. I always called it the "Loop 289 Shimmy"

morepowerjoe · 12-19-2020, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdavis

My car does it also, But only on certain pavements. It can be dead smooth on one road to very bad on another. My previous car, a 13 mustang gt which I bought new did the same thing. So I don't know what is going on. I always called it the "Loop 289 Shimmy"

My car did the exact thing that yours did. But when I replaced all the tie rods about 85% of the shake is gone. It still does it just a little bit but I think it's the wheel bearings now. So I'm going to change those real soon too.

Bigdumogre · 12-19-2020, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morepowerjoe

When I got the tie rods out they weren't really loose but they didn't have any resistance at all when you move nthem around. I used a big pipe wrench to get the inner tie rods out, it worked really good.

Thanks I don’t own a inner tie rod tool anymore lol.

12-14-2020, 01:05 PM	#1
morepowerjoe Drives: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro l99 Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,104	steering wheel shake Hey guys I have a frustrating problem. When I get to around 55-60mph my steering wheel shakes back and forth. But it doesn't do it all the time. I've put brand new tires on it had them balanced twice and aligned twice at different shops and it still does it. When they balanced the tires they said the rims aren't bent. I've jacked up one front wheel one at a time and had my son wiggle the tire side to side and there is a slight amount of play and no play top to bottom. Does anyone have any suggestions. I just ordered new inner and outer tie rods, figured I would start there. __________________ DSS FX Forged Pistons, Eagle ESP L19 Forged Rods, ARP Head and Main Studs, TSP PRC 260 CNC Ported Heads milled .030, Cometic .040 Head Gaskets, GPI SS3 VVT Camshaft, GM Performance Racing Lifters, CHE Trunnions , Molly Pushrods, Melling 10355HV Oil Pump, Cold Air Inductions CAI, Fast LSXR Intake Manifold, Nick Williams 103 TB, TSP 1 7/8" Longtubes with 3" TSP Exhaust, ZL1 Fuel Pump, Mishimoto Radiator, Mishimoto Oil Cooler, Tru Cool 40k Tranny Cooler, 3600 Circle D Converter, Fluid Dynamics Balancer Build Thread https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=609817

12-14-2020, 01:29 PM	#2
scott's45 Scott's45 Drives: 2012 2SS 45th Anniversary Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 557 View My Garage	I also have the same thing going on. Mine is a 2012 as well, thought I read somewhere that this is a known problem, but don't know if there is a solution. __________________ 2012 2SS 45th Anniversary, Hurst short throw shifter, Stainless Power LT headers, high flow cats, SW Retro Chambered 3" cat back, CAI, Heritage grill, tinted windows, red/silver hash stripes, AAC LED sidemarkers, blacked out turn signals/tail lights, splash guards. 402RWHP

12-14-2020, 02:30 PM	#3
1JEWLDSSRS Drives: 2011 SS-RS Join Date: May 2011 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 11,435	When mine did that for a bit, I found that my passenger side tie rod was bad, replaced them both and now it is all good... __________________ TSP STAGE 3 CAM,231/246 @112 LSA 614/641 LIFT, CIRCLE D 5C-4200-4500 CONVERTER,LOD INTAKE.CORSA EXHAUST. DSS 1 PC DS. PEGASUS SOLID CRADLE MOUNTS. 486RWHP/475RWTQ.LOTS MORE.

12-15-2020, 02:28 AM	#6
morepowerjoe Drives: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro l99 Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,104	Yeah I have a feeling that it could be the rack n pinion since it doesn't do it all the time. I went ahead and replaced all the tie rods inner and outer but haven't test drove it yet. I'll let yall know how it turns out tomorrow. Thanks for the info guys. __________________ DSS FX Forged Pistons, Eagle ESP L19 Forged Rods, ARP Head and Main Studs, TSP PRC 260 CNC Ported Heads milled .030, Cometic .040 Head Gaskets, GPI SS3 VVT Camshaft, GM Performance Racing Lifters, CHE Trunnions , Molly Pushrods, Melling 10355HV Oil Pump, Cold Air Inductions CAI, Fast LSXR Intake Manifold, Nick Williams 103 TB, TSP 1 7/8" Longtubes with 3" TSP Exhaust, ZL1 Fuel Pump, Mishimoto Radiator, Mishimoto Oil Cooler, Tru Cool 40k Tranny Cooler, 3600 Circle D Converter, Fluid Dynamics Balancer Build Thread https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=609817

12-15-2020, 02:46 PM	#7
morepowerjoe Drives: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro l99 Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,104	Well like I said I replaced the inner and outer tie rods and so far so good. It seems like the steering wheel shake is gone. It just goes to show you that sometimes you can't trust anybody and just go with your gut. Every where I went they all told me that my tires weren't balanced correctly or that I had a bad rim. I also took it back to NTB for a realignment and it drives perfectly straight. Thanks for all of your responses I really appreciate it. __________________ DSS FX Forged Pistons, Eagle ESP L19 Forged Rods, ARP Head and Main Studs, TSP PRC 260 CNC Ported Heads milled .030, Cometic .040 Head Gaskets, GPI SS3 VVT Camshaft, GM Performance Racing Lifters, CHE Trunnions , Molly Pushrods, Melling 10355HV Oil Pump, Cold Air Inductions CAI, Fast LSXR Intake Manifold, Nick Williams 103 TB, TSP 1 7/8" Longtubes with 3" TSP Exhaust, ZL1 Fuel Pump, Mishimoto Radiator, Mishimoto Oil Cooler, Tru Cool 40k Tranny Cooler, 3600 Circle D Converter, Fluid Dynamics Balancer Build Thread https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=609817

12-14-2020, 08:24 PM	#4
supersnake05 Drives: 2015 Camaro SS 1LE, 2014 Chevy SS Join Date: Sep 2020 Location: Florida Posts: 97	90% of the time it's a balance. Sometimes can be a bad tire too much road force. I have had 2 GM cars in the past with shakes I couldn't get rid of. 1 my wife's 04 GTO the other my 08 G8. On my G8 I had new wheels, tires, strut mounts, upper and lower control arms, caster kit, multiple balance and alignments and couldn't get rid of it. Hopefully not your issue.

12-14-2020, 11:32 PM	#5
Machh5 Account Suspended Drives: Camaro Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: US Posts: 120	I'd check the lower control arm inner bushings for play. Common wear point.

12-15-2020, 03:07 PM	#8
Bigdumogre Drives: 2012 Camaro SS Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: New York Posts: 1,434	Same problem here and I have close to 80k miles on it so was thinking of just replacing the inner and outer tie rods too. Gonna put bmr springs in it soon so it’s gonna need a alignment anyway __________________ 2012 Camaro 2SS/RS - CSP Custom Cam 232/240 .615/.615 113 +3, Texas speed CNC heads, FTI billet triple disc converter, K&N cai, Katech ported TB, GPI Ported/rod modded manifold, Texas speed 1 7/8 headers, HFC, Flowmaster 2 chambers with x pipe, Mishimoto CC, MSD wires, Roto fab washer relocation, tru cool 40k trans cooler, apex scoop, Pedders extreme coil overs and much more!!

12-19-2020, 09:46 AM	#10
rdavis Drives: 2012 SS Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Lubbock Texas Posts: 121	My car does it also, But only on certain pavements. It can be dead smooth on one road to very bad on another. My previous car, a 13 mustang gt which I bought new did the same thing. So I don't know what is going on. I always called it the "Loop 289 Shimmy" __________________ 2012 2SS/RS 6speed, Howards asa cam on 113lsa Stainless works LT's, NPP exhaust, Z28 Cai, 3.91 gears. Tuned by Blue Thunder 2 racing Lubbock Texas.