So I was on a drive today, the Fish 'n Chip drive here in the bay area. Go check it out in the Bay Area section to read about it and see pictures .

Anyways, someone said my wheel was wobbling. I immediately pull over and one of my lug nuts had come loose (don't ask how.. but I think it will answer it's self 2 lines down) and so I figured that was the only problem, so I tightened it up using a tire iron from another S owner and was on my way. To play it safe, I asked him to follow me to make sure it was alright.

Every once in a while I would pull off the road when the shoulder was wide enough and we'd run side-by-side so he can look at it. Never said anything for 30-40 minutes it took us to get to the final meet place. So I figured everything was okay. When we got there.. he said it was still wobbling really bad.

I basically said screw the rest of the meet and drove as cautious as possible the entire way home.. and took city streets most the way.

So.. My question is:

Is it the wheel bearing? I went ahead and spent SEVENTY freaking dollars and ordered new ones (they should be here Wednesday) and I can return them if it's not the case. Any input? Oh, and even with the tire having the cars weight on it, if I kick it.. it shakes really bad.. and the others don't.

Thanks in advance!

-Aaron

 

Do you hear a constant base like whining noise at certain speeds?

 

Nope. No whining. Just vibrations.. a fair amount of vibration. And I can feel my wheel at high and low points if that makes sense?

Could it be a bent rim?

 

it might be the wheel studs man. check the thread and see if the are worn. mine did the same thing and i felt vibration

 

A shot wheel bearing is usually followed with a grinding noise and gets louder as speed increases. It's possible your wheel could be thrown out of alignment. If your tire is shot it will cause vibrations to your steering wheel, but will not make a noise. If thats the case you might not be to far off on replacing that wheel bearing.

 

A worn wheel bearing usually sounds like a loud noisy fan.. sort of like wom wom wom wom wom lol. Cant really describe the noise but usually if your wheel is wobbling at speeds.. it is also your hub as well along with the bearing that is out.

 

I don't think it is your bearing then. Time to bring it in to the shop for a diagnoses!

 

So I slept on it. And at about 2500 rpm I always here a high-pitche squeel.. kind of like a whine. I always thought it was my intake.. I didn't notice it until about a week ago.

Could that be the wheel bearing?

 

Is it a rear or front tire that has the issue? If it's a front, I bet you have a rear wheel up there.

If it's the rear - have you ever had aftermarket wheels on? Perhaps a hub ring got stuck on the hub. Take the wheel off and make sure there's nothing on the hub, and make sure when you put it back on that it sits flush against the hub.

 

Sooo.. I took the car into the shop.. and you know those screws that go are counter sunk into the rotor, and basically hold it into place? I had put it into the hole in which you pry the rotor off.. and not the countersunk hole. Therefore, the head of the screw was sticking out.. and the wheel wasn't flush against the rotor causing it to wobble.

I kicked myself in the ass for such a stupid mistake.. now I have to go into autozone and cancel my $70 order of new wheel bearings.. but! I guess it all worked out for the best. No more wobbling!