'03 X-type 2.5 manual, 90k miles, has needed a little TLC lately. Clunks and rattles, eating up tires, poor handling. I've done several things that cured 98% of issues. New rear control arms, front swaybar links, new rotors and ceramic pads front and rear, new tires and 4-wheel alignment. Car feels like new all over again with one exception - steering wheel shakes at highway speed. Not severe enough to feel in the seat or floor, just shakes the steering wheel about 1/4" back and forth. Comes in at about 60-65 mph, goes away above 75-80 mph. Alignment and balance was re-checked, tires were rotated front to rear, no change. What might 2 different shops and I be missing?

 

Bent wheel...

Damn low profile tires and wheels on our cars, the wheels be beat to snot by potholes, don't ask me how I know.

To check I suggest either having your wheels balanced or rotate them front to rear and then see if the shaking has changed.
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Jaguar: Grace, Pace, and Space - Sir William Lyons

 

>balance was re-checked, tires were rotated front to rear, no change.

Sorry, responded too fast, didn't see that you'd had the same idea...

But bent wheels are a constant problem with our cars.
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Jaguar: Grace, Pace, and Space - Sir William Lyons

 

Thanks, but no bent rims, new tires balanced and re-checked. Rotated front to rear with no change as stated above.

 

Hey Rudy,

I have the same exact issue, I just got my wheels balanced, tires are new, got an allignment by the dealer. I noticed a tiny shimmy just as you described. Brand new rotors as well. Let us know if you find the culprit

 

i also had that problem, replaced my wheel s and the problem disappeared...for me i think it was a bent rim, though i'm not saying thats what your issue is

 

Hey Rudy, its not really likely but is possible......I've seen it myself a few times....

You say you have New tyres but there's no guarantee that they're perfect, sometimes even new tyres can have issues and be out of round.......perhaps something to consider?

Not sure how you could really check that though.....

 

I agree that it's an out-of-round wheel or tire. Remember you can balance a bent wheel but a balance can't solve the vibration. I just had this problem. I went to another shop and stood next to the technician as he rebalanced my wheels and brand new tires. He showed me the very slightly out-of-round tire (again, brand new). Wheels are perfect. Bought the tires on Tire Rack.com and haven't looked into returning it. For now, I put it on the back where I don't notice the vibration. It is possible to shave the tire to make it perfect but finding someone with the equipment to do it may prove difficult.

 

Thanks for the input guys, but I'm convinced it's not a wheel/tire problem since swapping front to rear didn't change it; the shimmy stays in the steering wheel.

 

That's too bad. Another less likely cause could be excessive play in a front wheel bearing but there would be other symptoms like a humming noise when making a turn. Try jacking up each wheel and grabbing it at 3 and 9 o'clock, 12 and 6 o'clock and wiggling it to check for play.

 

i also tried rotating the wheels front to back, made no difference either. Replacing the wheels worked for me...though i do have another suggestion.

The hole in the steering knuckle where the ball joint stud is held can become "out of round" so when the car is moving, the balljoint stud is able to move inside the knuckle.

It's not possible to see this issue with the balljoint in place, with the balljoint removed it becomes quite obvious.

This could be your problem...other suggestions could be, bad balljoint, bad tie rod end, bad bearing, bad sway bar links, etc

 

Alright guys, most of you WERE correct. Went back where I bought the tires insisting on a fix. After the FOURTH time re-balancing tires, NOW they tell me that all 4 rims have some runout, and they are balanced as good as they're going to be. I was pissed - if I had known this on the first day I never would have put new tires on those rims - would have been better off with new tires on my OE rims. Dammit.

 

>all 4 rims have some runout

Sucks...

I guess you either learn to live with the vibrations or start looking for some replacement wheels in the same size so that you can keep the tires.

Does it seem like we're more prone to bending our wheels that other similar cars? Anybody know of BMW 3 Series, or Audi A4s or, Merc C Class owners who complain about the same thing?
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Jaguar: Grace, Pace, and Space - Sir William Lyons

 

Just bought an 2002 with only 29k miles on it. Its a dream except at 40'ish the wheel when you let go has that 1/4" pulse / shimmy. goes away on the freeway. Its a 10 year old Jag with clean title no carfax issues. I can't believe its like new except for the wobble. You can't feel nothing though just not right it seems. The wheel shouldn't wobble. My harley does that if you let go of the wheel sometimes. I know I know, "QUIT LETTING GO OF THE WHEEL YA GIT!" But dammit! Its like a silent tick or nock!

 

Welcome to the forum UKnFor-dluv-expat,

Hope you get the shimmy issue fixed.

When you get a minute, please follow this link New Member Area - Intro a MUST - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum to the New Member Area - Intro a MUST section and post some info about yourself and your Jaguar for all members to see.

In return you'll get a proper welcome and some useful advice on posting to the forum.

Graham

 

take the car in and get an alignment done. That should fix your wobble. If the alignment gets off by even a little bit, the front end will wobble like you are talking. An adjustment on the tie rod ends and you will be golden.

As GGG said, welcome to the forums. I think you will find this place very interesting and a great group to be around. But, please stop by the new member section and tell us a little bit about you and your car. We are a friendly bunch and like to get to know one another. There you will also be able to figure out who the movers and shakers are around here. So, sit back, enjoy a cup of Joe and enjoy the group. Don't be afraid to post up if you know something that someone else doesn't. That is what makes this place so much better than other car clubs.

 

Did the alignment. Had an appt and didn't have time for wheel balance. Seemed to be fixed, until down hill at 25 mph it re appears but only those conditions lol

Needs new tires There seems to be no other problems, only 30k miles