steering wheel settles off-centre and shakes at speed

[tekkyy]

My steering wheel is showing the following symptoms:

*settles off-centre (5-10 degrees to the left)

*shakes about 4 times a second at 110km/h

*needs to be at 5 degrees to the right for the car to go straight

While the car is moving (accelerating or cruising) if I glt go of the steering wheel it re-settles itself to the left.

This happens when the road is slightly lower on the left, flat, or slightly lower on the right.

When the road is much lower on the right, the steering wheel re-settles itself to the right.

At 100km/h there is no steering wheel shake. At 110km/h it shakes.

It occurs at a frequency of about 4 times a second and the steering resistance appears to drop about the centre position.

Step 1. Dealer performed wheel alignment and no change.

Step 2. I then got a quiet rattling sound* from steering column when road is bumpy.

Step 3. Dealer replaced steering column for $650 and no change.

Step 4. Are there any Aurion expert mechanics in Sydney?

*This noise appears a few years ago and was gone after they replaced intermediate steering shaft under warranty.

Edited July 30, 2014 by tekkyy

[Cam0101]

No expert BUT the leaning to the left, there is a issue with the caster angle and the bushes need replacing.

Pretty sure you mention that to any average mechanic they will know what your talking about.

I was lucky enough the receptionist at my mechanics was a Toyota fan unlike the rest of the shop were all Holden fans. She knew exactly what the issue was instantly.

Now i just need time to get the work done.

With the rattle its weird that it has turned up after a wheel alignment.

Aurions and well Toyota in general are known to have crap clips that hold stuff together in the dash area.

At work we have two Aurions they had the rattle and my TRD had/has it.

1 Aurion at work was some cover under the bonnet that came though the firewall. (sorry do not know specifics, I will find out from our work mechanic)

[tekkyy]

The rattle might be due to deterioration over time.

It could be just something lose considering how it was removed last time by replacing intermediate steering shaft and this time by replacing steering column.

The dealer just said the steering column has a bit of free play hence suggested we replace it for $650.

I mention the price only to help people more knowledgeable then me to decide which technical part we are referring to.

[Brendo88]

Have you had a full Balance done recently? Also are you getting vibration/noise any other time such as when braking?

[tekkyy]

Wheel balance done about 10 months ago when I changed tyres.

No vibration at low speed even when braking.

It can be more or less apparent depending on road surface of the freeway.

I've booked a full wheel alignment and full wheel balance at a specialist.

Not wasting my time anymore with the dealer.

(looking back, over the years dealer got the wheel alignment straight only 2 of 6 times)

[Brendo88]

Sounds like classic out of Balance/ alignment to me. Don't take it to the Stealership... go to a specialist. Get a full balance and have them check front AND rear alignment.

Let us know how you go, I would say all it is is bad balance.

[tekkyy]

They have done...

4 wheel balance

4 wheel alignment reset

camber modification (they said they drilled a hole)

rotated wheels

Now it's all improved.

*settles off-centre (but less than before, and close to symmetry in that it starts settling to the right on a slight road slope to the right)

*no longer shakes at 110km/h (it's possible the problematic wheel has been sent to the back)

*needs to be only slightly to the right for the car to go straight on most roads

That have pumped the tyres to...

front left 273

front right 268

rear left 255

rear right 244

I hope it's not too bad when I set them to 250kPa all around.

Question

Does everyone's steering wheel settle off-centre according to road slope?

Edited August 7, 2014 by tekkyy

[DeafDave76]

Mine was shaking quite a lot a week after I had my car serviced at Scarboro Toyota. Also my petrol which was full tank prior to service disappeared in just 5 days when it should have been 2 weeks max! On Sunday morning when I cleaned out rubbish in the car, I immediately noticed one of my tyres were flat so i went to petrol station and had air put in.

Machine recorded:

Front left tyre: 11 psi

Front right tyre: 20 psi

Rear left tyre:20 psi

Rear right tyre: 28 psi

I was absolutely livid when I saw this and swore blue at Scarboro. They were supposed to have done the tyre air checks when doing servicing. I have left a message to them to say I wasn't happy to have flat tyres all round!!! And I wasn't the only Aurion at the petrol station. There was a modified white one with 2 asians and the owner got his car serviced just a week before (same as me) but at different place. His was bloody similar to mine!

Since putting air back in tyres, the steering wheel wasn't shaking anymore but the petrol use still dropped quickly leading me to think maybe the front wheels are not aligned properly so I am booking my car in at a reputed wheel alignment place in 2 weeks (back log). I also suspect i may have a hole in my left front tyre cos it seems to feel soft again.

Cheers

Dave

[Brendo88]

They have done...

4 wheel balance

4 wheel alignment reset

camber modification (they said they drilled a hole)

rotated wheels

Now it's all improved.

*settles off-centre (but less than before, and close to symmetry in that it starts settling to the right on a slight road slope to the right)

*no longer shakes at 110km/h (it's possible the problematic wheel has been sent to the back)

*needs to be only slightly to the right for the car to go straight on most roads

That have pumped the tyres to...

front left 273

front right 268

rear left 255

rear right 244

I hope it's not too bad when I set them to 250kPa all around.

Question

Does everyone's steering wheel settle off-centre according to road slope?

Mine Always has a little. I wouldn't call it drastic, its just because of the camber of the road surface.

[tomdelaney]

mine shakes a little, but only well above 100...

[Roughasguts]

Some things I have had in the Past Cordia Turbo shakes at speed. Tyres were out of Round! common problem with Silverstone at the time.

2003 Toyota V6 shaking at speed ... L/Hand front disk warped.

Good luck.