steering problems

[Hearts88]

Hi, I have a 99 Lumina base model with all the LTZ options as this used to be a police car.
Recently the steering is jerking from side to side when you drive it. I checked the power steering fluid and it was fine.
Tire pressures are all good.
CV boots look good, no cracks or tears.

Any idea what could be causing this problem? Could it be a broken belt in one of the tires?

Any help or info is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Hearts88

[richtazz]

Does the jerking happen at all speeds, and gets worse as you speed up, or only at certain speeds, or only when you go over bumps? Please be a little more specific as it will help us narrow it down.

[Hearts88]

Originally Posted by richtazz

Does the jerking happen at all speeds, and gets worse as you speed up, or only at certain speeds, or only when you go over bumps? Please be a little more specific as it will help us narrow it down.

It happens at all speeds. In the city I don't notice it getting worse from lets say 20km to 40km, but the intensity does seem to increase after this speed. I have not had it on the highway since it started doing this so I don't know how severe it is at speed.
Bumps really have no effect on the steering.

Example, I am driving down a road at 50km (30miles) and can feel the steering wheel shuttering back and forth. I let go of the wheel, the car does continue to go straight so I don't think it is an alignment problem, however you can actually see the wheel moving left and right about an inch or 2.

Hope this helps.
Hearts88

[maxwedge]

Sounds like belt shift in one of the front tires.

[bleepster]

totally different car here, but I had a '96 plymouth voyager that did the exact same thing. it was my inner tie-rod ends. i would drive and the steeringwheel did exactly what you describe.

you can take it to ANY tire place and have the tires checked, and they can also check the tie rod ends as well.

[richtazz]

I would say a tire is out of balance or has a broken belt like Max said, because a bad tire rod (unless it's completely blown out and about ready to fall off), will usually only start shaking above a certain speed.

[bleepster]

Originally Posted by richtazz

I would say a tire is out of balance or has a broken belt like Max said, because a bad tire rod (unless it's completely blown out and about ready to fall off), will usually only start shaking above a certain speed.

not on my van, it did it at ALL speeds. not sure how bad the tie-rod end was on the van, as I didnt inspect it. but seeing it was dodge - it was prolly ready to fall apart

Still a good idea to check the tires first.

[richtazz]

I agree Bleepster, your suggestion is a valid one, that's why I prefaced my reply with the "unless it's completely blown out" comment. I have had cars do exactly what your van did, but usually it will progress to that point.

[Hearts88]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

Sounds like belt shift in one of the front tires.

Well 1st of all thanks to everyone that replied... the front end all looks fine on the car.

I put a different set of tires (borrowed) on the front and took it for a drive. No shakes or anything at all. So I guess it is safe to say that the tires are pooched. The Treads on them are pretty worn down, and has probably been on this car for a while. (guessing)

Will an unballanced Tire do the same thing? Or is it safe to say that it is a shifted belt in the tire?

Thanks.
Hearts88

[jeffcoslacker]

Textbook belt damage....Balance will make the column shake, but not the wheel wobble side to side. Just get some new tires...I bought Yokohama AS-2's for mine 225-60-16 and I like them a lot...you probably have smaller steel wheels if yours was a police unit.

Speaking of which, you could also have a wheel with the center outta whack, like if it got curb-checked hard dead-on to the face of the wheel, that won't always bend the rim edge but will distort the center...eyeball it before you put new tires on those wheels, it feels identical to a belt pull in a tire.

[Hearts88]

Originally Posted by jeffcoslacker

Textbook belt damage....Balance will make the column shake, but not the wheel wobble side to side. Just get some new tires...I bought Yokohama AS-2's for mine 225-60-16 and I like them a lot...you probably have smaller steel wheels if yours was a police unit.

Speaking of which, you could also have a wheel with the center outta whack, like if it got curb-checked hard dead-on to the face of the wheel, that won't always bend the rim edge but will distort the center...eyeball it before you put new tires on those wheels, it feels identical to a belt pull in a tire.

Sweet... thanks for the info.
and yeah you are right it does have the smaller tires... 15 inch.

Thanks again for everyones help!

Hearts88

[Daghara_terry]

A broken belt will make the car jiggle but not go side to side the wheels probably just need balanced. It would not be the power steering fluid because it would cause a grind when you cut the wheel sharp. Check and see if it is the fluid by cutting the wheel as far as it will go while its parked.

[jeffcoslacker]

Originally Posted by Daghara_terry

A broken belt will make the car jiggle but not go side to side the wheels probably just need balanced.

Umm, not on my planet

[maxwedge]

Originally Posted by jeffcoslacker

Umm, not on my planet

Or any star!

[richtazz]

I've seen cars with broken belts where the tire waves at you as it goes around. You can physically see the tread pattern is shifted side to side. They are MORE likely to wobble side to side than up and down, and that includes the whole Milky Way.