03-18-2019, 11:06 AM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10
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Steering Shakes like crazy!!
Hello everyone- looking for some help on an issue that I haven’t been able to find while searching the forum anywhere. I own a 97 Base with 77k miles. The steering wheel shakes like crazy. I went to have it looked at last week and the inside edge of the right rear tire was worn bald to the threads. Was told that was probably my issue. I changed all 4 tires at that point to brand new Firestone Firehawk Indy 500’s along with a complete balance and full alignment and went on my way. Felt much better...for about 30 miles! Now the wheel is shaking again. The faster I go, the faster it shakes. Has anyone seen anything similar and corrected it?? Any advice?? Thanks in advance!!!
Last edited by Firstboxster; 03-18-2019 at 11:10 AM.
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03-18-2019, 11:28 AM
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#2
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Racer Boy
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 946
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It sounds like you lost a wheel weight. That’s what the tire installer uses to balance the wheels. Since it felt great for a time, and then you got the shaking again, I’m pretty sure it’s a weight.
Take it back to the tire place and have them fix it.
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03-18-2019, 11:35 AM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Laval QC
Posts: 813
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I would be curious to know why the rear tire was worn so unevenly... perhaps just an alignment problem, but the alignment person should have noticed and reported that if that was the case.
__________________
Grant
Arctic Silver 2000 Boxster S - bought with a broken engine, back on the road with the engine replaced
Green 2000 Boxster 5-speed and 1978 928 auto
1987 924S 5-speed (Sold) - Blue 2000 Boxster 5 spd (Sold)
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03-18-2019, 11:42 AM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elgyqc
I would be curious to know why the rear tire was worn so unevenly... perhaps just an alignment problem, but the alignment person should have noticed and reported that if that was the case.
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I was curious as well - he told me “probably just an alignment issue” which is what caused me to do the 4 wheel alignment.
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03-18-2019, 02:48 PM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Stow, MA
Posts: 918
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It can be so much: alignment, bad tire, bent wheel, alignment, worn suspension, brakes, it goes on and on. An expert need to check it. Tire guys are rarely experts.
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2004 Boxster S Silver - FUNTOY
2002 Boxster Base Guardsy Red - FUNBOX
1987 Caterham Super 7 1700 Supersprint
2009 Mercedes Benz CLK 350 convertible
1941 Dodge Luxury Liner Coupe
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03-19-2019, 04:12 AM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10
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Thanks everyone- my last expert can’t find anything that would be causing it. I’ll keep looking.
So far I have:
Replaced tires with new
Balanced and aligned wheels
Had all wheels checked for cracks or dents - all good
Just changed brakes and rotors
Replaced rear struts
I know this seems like a wild goose chase and it’s driving me nuts (not to mention costing me money).
I’ll have the balance weights checked again. Maybe I lost one like racerboy suggested
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03-20-2019, 04:29 AM
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: dedham ,ma
Posts: 72
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front end shake
I thought of this post as I drove out of a parking garage and my front end had a bad shake that wasn't there on the drive to the garage. Upon inspection I found a stone in the outer tread of the left front tire, removed it and drove off with a smooth car. My guess is that you may have lost a weight since it cleared up after the tire change.
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03-20-2019, 06:51 AM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 1,631
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Sounds like a weight to me too unless you hit a large pothole and bent a rim or a belt slipped inside the tire, which is rare but can happen.
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03-21-2019, 06:31 AM
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10
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Thanks for the ideas guys! Definitely going to check the wheel weight like a few of you have suggested. It’s driving me batty!! So far (not necessarily because of the wheel shake but because the car just needed it) I have;
-Replaced all tires
-Had them all balanced
-Had an alignment performed
-Checked wheels, no dents, cracks or bends - new to me Kenesis wheels so had them checked prior to buying
-Replaced brakes and rotors
-Replaced rear struts
I’ll let you know if the wheel weight thing pans out
Thanks again
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03-21-2019, 06:33 AM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulE
Sounds like a weight to me too unless you hit a large pothole and bent a rim or a belt slipped inside the tire, which is rare but can happen.
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Thanks for the ideas guys! Definitely going to check the wheel weight like a few of you have suggested. It’s driving me batty!! So far (not necessarily because of the wheel shake but because the car just needed it) I have;
-Replaced all tires
-Had them all balanced
-Had an alignment performed
-Checked wheels, no dents, cracks or bends - new to me Kenesis wheels so had them checked prior to buying
-Replaced brakes and rotors
-Replaced rear struts
I’ll let you know if the wheel weight thing pans out
Thanks again
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03-22-2019, 03:52 PM
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: OK
Posts: 186
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you've attended to the most common items without improvement.
I'd be willing to bet it's one of the items listed here:
https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/59-SUSPEN-Suspen_Overhaul/59-SUSPEN-Suspen_Overhaul.htm
I changed every front suspension component and the car is smooth now. It's expensive, but these cars are old and things wear out.
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07 Porsche Cayman S speed yellow
87 Porsche 924S Carrera GT project/ 951 engine transplant
2015 BMW X5
Last edited by jmitro; 03-23-2019 at 01:50 PM.
Reason: misspelling
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03-22-2019, 05:03 PM
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jmitro
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Thanks Jmitro - has the car back at the shop today and wheels were still in balance perfectly so it doesn’t look like I threw a weight like I was hoping.
Looks like I’m onto the front suspension.
Again - appreciate the help!
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03-22-2019, 05:17 PM
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 246
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I agree with jmitro, sounds like a bushing issue. My buddy had the same thing on his e46. The lower control arm bushings were shot
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03-23-2019, 10:32 AM
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Pasadena
Posts: 261
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How bout raising the car off all 4 wheels and doing a cursory check of all suspension and bearing components for yourself. Shake all four wheels up down sideways for slop and do visual checks. Tire shops aren’t Boxster experts. Check halfshafts, any wheel bearing, bushing play.
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03-26-2019, 05:37 PM
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lapister
How bout raising the car off all 4 wheels and doing a cursory check of all suspension and bearing components for yourself. Shake all four wheels up down sideways for slop and do visual checks. Tire shops aren’t Boxster experts. Check halfshafts, any wheel bearing, bushing play.
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Gonna do that - thanks. Just found out a friend of mine has a great garage with a lift!
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03-29-2019, 01:47 PM
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#16
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Arizona
Posts: 379
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You have experienced the exact same problem that has been nagging me for the last 2 years.
Had wheels checked, straightened, re-finished, rod force balanced multiple times. New tires, and btw same as yours: Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s. Went back multiple times to the wheel/tire shop to complain. In the end, they told me the tires (new) required a borderline amount of balancing weights, and that I should put in a claim to Firestone... which I never did since I plan on burning them up next weekend at the track  . Never again will I buy those tires.
Another issue to consider is "flat spotting". I've noticed this more on these Indy 500 tires, but I think all low profile tires flat spot to an extent. I noticed that in winter (cold) it does it more. Summer time (warm) less. I really annoys me because I spent so much time and money on my cars to get them to run well, and expect a nice smooth ride at high speed, especially from a Porsche.
The suspension bushings are known to be a potential cause of vibrations, but you would likely notice it more during braking only, especially in the front end bushings. I had that problem go away in my BMW 328. Worn bushings...
__________________
2002 Boxster S - NHP 200 Cell Headers,test pipes,Borla CatBack,Competition Plenum,74 mm TB, EVOMS Tune,Tarett UDP,Eibach Swaybars,BIlstein PSS9s,TuneRS rear toe links,wheel studs,15 mm wheel spacers on all 4,EBC yellow stuff pads,Sebro rotors, EBS oil baffles,160 deg Thermostat,2 quart Accusump,full filtration remote oil filter,rad fan switch,custom gauge/switch plate, Race Capture data logging, 90K miles
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04-01-2019, 04:28 PM
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#17
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AZ986S
You have experienced the exact same problem that has been nagging me for the last 2 years.
Had wheels checked, straightened, re-finished, rod force balanced multiple times. New tires, and btw same as yours: Firestone Firehawk Indy 500s. Went back multiple times to the wheel/tire shop to complain. In the end, they told me the tires (new) required a borderline amount of balancing weights, and that I should put in a claim to Firestone... which I never did since I plan on burning them up next weekend at the track  . Never again will I buy those tires.
Another issue to consider is "flat spotting". I've noticed this more on these Indy 500 tires, but I think all low profile tires flat spot to an extent. I noticed that in winter (cold) it does it more. Summer time (warm) less. I really annoys me because I spent so much time and money on my cars to get them to run well, and expect a nice smooth ride at high speed, especially from a Porsche.
The suspension bushings are known to be a potential cause of vibrations, but you would likely notice it more during braking only, especially in the front end bushings. I had that problem go away in my BMW 328. Worn bushings...
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Thanks AZ - I’m going to try and get it up on the lift and dig into some suspension stuff this coming weekend. I’ll let you guys know if I find anything.
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04-13-2019, 05:29 AM
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#18
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Ontario,Canada
Posts: 84
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had same problem, was tie rods, can also be bent rim or uneven tire wear
especially front to rear ie: bald rears with new fronts,
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06-02-2019, 04:31 AM
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#19
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 10
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FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT!!!!!!
Decided to change out rotors - thought maybe one was warped. Couldn’t believe what I found. The right rear hub flange was not allowing the rotor to “seat” correctly so it was cocked just a little bit. Took it off and checked the old one...same thing. Ground the edges of the flange just a touch, and the rotor sat perfectly. Shake is gone! Car is smooth as silk!!
So all the front end work, struts in front and rear, while needed - didn’t smooth out anything. Kept checking alignment, tire balance - would all be perfect but when wheels were put back on, that right rear would be cocked just that little bit and no one would think to check it. Thanks to everyone for all the advice and suggestions! If you’re one of the guys having the same issues - check your rotors and make sure they seat correctly
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06-03-2019, 11:25 AM
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#20
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: O.C. CA
Posts: 3,709
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulE
Sounds like a weight to me too unless you hit a large pothole and bent a rim or a belt slipped inside the tire, which is rare but can happen.
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Modern Hi-Performance tires are not prone to belts slipping.
I'm guessing the alignment shop did not do a proper alignment, the 1st step is to inspect for excessively worn parts. Or the steering rack is loose etc.
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