I have installed Paul Baker springs, Bilstien's all four corners, strut bearings, camber plates and all bushings. I have a shake in the steering that appears at several different speeds. What should I address next?
I will check all of these. I have not had the car aligned since the suspension was installed.Wheel balance and alignment? Loose steering linkage? Control arm bolts tightened under load?
Yeah, redo the torque on the control arms.
Did you torque the wheels last time they came off the car? I retorque my wheels any time someone else puts a wheel on my car. Rarely do they get it right.
Swap the frt tires to the rear and see how it is, goes away? moves to the rear? becomes hardly noticeable ? no change?
As Steve noted, wheel balance, alignment and steering linkage condition are tops on the checklist for the symptom you seem to be describing. I would add to that list, checking for wheel/tire “roundness” and making sure that your wheel bearings are properly adjusted. One obvious question is whether your vehicle experienced this symptom before the recent suspension changes and, if not, same tires and wheels?.I have installed Paul Baker springs, Bilstien's all four corners, strut bearings, camber plates and all bushings. I have a shake in the steering that appears at several different speeds. What should I address next?
At several different discrete speeds suggest it is a resonance phenomenon. Bad tires (not round anymore) in my experience produce a vibration that increases with speed is continuous, not discrete speeds. Response means oscillatory, which can happen when there is play somewhere.I have a shake in the steering that appears at several different speeds. What should I address next?
As Steve noted, wheel balance, alignment and steering linkage condition are tops on the checklist for the symptom you seem to be describing. I would add to that list, checking for wheel/tire “roundness” and making sure that your wheel bearings are properly adjusted. One obvious question is whether your vehicle experienced this symptom before the recent suspension changes and, if not, same tires and wheels?.
You mentioned that you had not checked the vehicle’s alignment since the suspension re-do. In stock configuration, absent accident damage or significantly worn steering components, the biggest setting to be concerned with is "toe," and getting things close-to-straight is not that difficult. But all bets are off since you mentioned camber plates and springs that might dramatically lower the vehicle’s stance and alter the suspension geometry. That said, mis-alignment or deliberately altered alignment settings might result in a poorly tracking vehicle or premature tire wear, among other steering/suspension components, - but it is unlikely to cause a shaky steering wheel. I hasten to note that failing to properly tighten strut bearings or other components could conceivably lead to suspension, steering and ride "irregularities."
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As Steve noted, wheel balance, alignment and steering linkage condition are tops on the checklist for the symptom you seem to be describing. I would add to that list, checking for wheel/tire “roundness” and making sure that your wheel bearings are properly adjusted. One obvious question is whether your vehicle experienced this symptom before the recent suspension changes and, if not, same tires and wheels?.
You mentioned that you had not checked the vehicle’s alignment since the suspension re-do. In stock configuration, absent accident damage or significantly worn steering components, the biggest setting to be concerned with is "toe," and getting things close-to-straight is not that difficult. But all bets are off since you mentioned camber plates and springs that might dramatically lower the vehicle’s stance and alter the suspension geometry. That said, mis-alignment or deliberately altered alignment settings might result in a poorly tracking vehicle or premature tire wear, among other steering/suspension components, - but it is unlikely to cause a shaky steering wheel. I hasten to note that failing to properly tighten strut bearings or other components could conceivably lead to suspension, steering and ride "irregularities."
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At several different discrete speeds suggest it is a resonance phenomenon. Bad tires (not round anymore) in my experience produce a vibration that increases with speed is continuous, not discrete speeds. Response means oscillatory, which can happen when there is play somewhere.
The tires are fresh Pirelli CN36, so I don’t think they are the issue. I will rotate them to see if that improves the situation.
85 MPH and living in LA are mutually exclusive. Perhaps you meant 8.5 MPH?
out of curiosity, does the vibration come when braking or just when driving? i have had this issue in the past with warped brake rotors (when braking)
Could you be mischaracterizing your vehicle’s symptoms as a steering or front suspension “shake” as distinct from a general drive train “shake?” A vibration felt when accelerating suggests a problem below or behind the driver, e.g., a soft transmission mount, a compromised giubo or a misaligned drive shaft. Any or all of these possibilities could result in a shake transmitted to the cabin or gearshift - rather than the steering wheel.For the most part it's just when accelerating. I installed fresh front rotors recently.