Got a vibration in the steering wheel...not balance issue

[pwoens]

Hey.... my 93 turbo legacy started developing an intermittent wobble in the steering wheel about a week ago. Sometimes it will do it when accelerating, sometimes on deceleration, sometimes not at all. Sometimes it will give a quick jerk on the wheel to the left and then release?? I jacked the front end up and both tires feel solid, no looseness like a bearing going out? Tie rod ends and cvs look fine?? Thinking maybe something in the rack/pinion?? Any experience, thoughts, or ideas?? It also does not appear to do it above 45...so anywhere from 15-45 is where it will do it??

 

thanks for any insight

[montana105]

wonder if you have a warped rotor or sticking caliper? Has any work been done recently with steering system where air might have gotten in system?

John

[nipper]

Wont be the rack, thats always the last thing to suspect. Jack up the car and turn the wheels to lock, then spin them by hand to make sure they rotate freely.

After that then look at rotors calipers.

 

nipper

[mwatt]

Hey.... my 93 turbo legacy started developing an intermittent wobble in the steering wheel about a week ago. Sometimes it will do it when accelerating, sometimes on deceleration, sometimes not at all. Sometimes it will give a quick jerk on the wheel to the left and then release?? I jacked the front end up and both tires feel solid, no looseness like a bearing going out? Tie rod ends and cvs look fine?? Thinking maybe something in the rack/pinion?? Any experience, thoughts, or ideas?? It also does not appear to do it above 45...so anywhere from 15-45 is where it will do it??

 

thanks for any insight

 

I know we're comparing apples to oranges but the symptom you describe is exactly what my wife's '98 Outback Limited did when it's right inboard CV joint failed. Sudden "jerking" in the steering (enough to scare the living s--t out of me on a 2-lane road at 45 mph) with no real pattern---just did it randomly. Do you hear any "clunking" noise (once with every revolution of a wheel) when the jerking occurs? You mention "CVs look fine" but the outer appearance of the CV boot won't tell the whole story.....