Steering Wheel Vibration and Rough Ride
 

I have a 2002 Bonneville SSEi with 15K miles. I previously posted a message about a wabble in my steering at slow speeds.

Today I was getting a slight vibration through the steering wheel at highway speeds, and a shuttering in the wheel under heaving braking. The ride was also rough, paticularly as the rear went over bumps.

However, on the way home the problem was much less and even went away for a period of time.

The only difference was the outside temperature and the car had been in the sun all day. The had been sitting for a few days before hand in a parking deck.

Any ideas on what may be wrong?

Maybe need my tire pressure is low (from cooler temps), or tires need to be balanced?

I would start by balancing and rotating the tires. As for the rear, do you have the air-levelling suspension?

I'm sorta having the same probs with my Magansteer, a low speeds, turning right I get minor shuddering. I think we sorta have the same problems with these low speed steering issues :?

Hey Jim, Also on aurora's their very touch to wheel balance, just like our bonnevilles, I would recomend a "road force balance" way better than any regular wheel balancer, Raod force balancers can be found at most Discount Tire stores.

My Firebird formula was doing the samething today, only not as bad. I increased the tire pressure and it went away. I am going to try the same thing with Bonneville, and then if not get the tires balanced.

Also, my problem is at high speeds not low speeds.

I got my tires balanced any the ride is smooth as glass!!!

Car rides as good if not better then new.

They also did a suspension and brake inspection and everything was ok. I may need to have my rotors turned though.

what's going on guys. I have an Acura 3.2TL Type S, and it's notorious for having shuddering in the steering wheel under braking from highway speeds. This is caused by warped rotors. You either need them resurfaced, or you need to replace them.

Things you should avoid in the future, when you wash your car, make sure the car has been sitting for atleast 1 hour so that the front/rear rotors have had time to cool off. If you come home from a highway drive, and wash the car, you will be changing the temperature of the rotors dramatically, causing them to go out of turn...

Take it to any place and have them re-machined, that should fix your problem.

I found this it might help?
Clunk Noise from Front of Vehicle During Turning Maneuver/Steering Wheel Rotation (Lubricate Intermediate Shaft) #01-02-32-001C - (09/12/2003)
Clunk Noise From Front Of Vehicle During Turning Maneuver/Steering Wheel Rotation (Lubricate Intermediate Shaft)
2001-2004 Buick Regal

2000-2004 Cadillac Seville STS

1997-2004 Chevrolet Cavalier

2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala, Monte Carlo

2001-2003 Oldsmobile Aurora

1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue

1997-2004 Pontiac Sunfire

2000-2004 Pontiac Bonneville

2003-2004 Pontiac Grand Prix

This bulletin is being revised to add and remove models. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 01-02-32-001B (Section 02 [shy ] Steering).

Condition
Some customers may comment on a clunk type noise coming from the front of the vehicle during a turning maneuver. This condition may also be felt through the steering wheel when the vehicle is stationary and the wheel is rotated from steering stop to steering stop. Typically, the clunk noise will be heard once for every 180° of steering wheel rotation in either direction for J-cars (Cavalier and Sunfire). However, some vehicles may only exhibit the noise once for every 360° of wheel rotation. On all other vehicles, this clunk noise will be noticed during low speed acceleration or deceleration, typically in light turns of the steering wheel.
This condition is commonly misdiagnosed as originating in the steering gear and has resulted in the replacement of numerous steering gears without correcting the concern.


Cause
This condition may be caused by inadequate lubrication of the steering intermediate shaft which results in a "slip stick" condition possibly resulting in the clunk noise.

Correction
Remove the intermediate steering shaft from the vehicle and lubricate the shaft with a Steering Column Shaft Lubrication Kit, P/N 26098237. Follow the service procedure listed below.
This condition is commonly misdiagnosed as originating in the steering gear and has resulted in the replacement of numerous steering gears without correcting the concern.


Cause
This condition may be caused by inadequate lubrication of the steering intermediate shaft which results in a "slip stick" condition possibly resulting in the clunk noise.

Correction
Remove the intermediate steering shaft from the vehicle and lubricate the shaft with a Steering Column Shaft Lubrication Kit, P/N 26098237.