Steering jerky after wheel balancing and alignment

zaks · 30th June 2009, 08:14

I got the wheel balancing and alignment done at this well known place near Southend but I feel the steering is little jerky after the job. Since it was 12k on the odo they also did the tyre rotation. Could this be the reason for jerky steering and if so I assume this should go away after some time.

paragsachania · 30th June 2009, 08:45

zaks, 'Wobbling' is what I can infer from your post.

Is the steering jerky at specific speeds or is constantly exhibited?
Have you tried increasing or decreasing the speed a bit and verified of the jerks vanished?
Since wheel rotation was done, did you notice if any of the wheels had a bent rim from the inside? A bent rim on the rear when used in the front (after rotation) is also a likely cause of the jerks.
If not, the other likely cause would be fallen balance weights from the rims resulting the wobble and I would suggest to go back to the place and check the balancing again.

zaks · 30th June 2009, 10:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by paragsachania

zaks, 'Wobbling' is what I can infer from your post.

Is the steering jerky at specific speeds or is constantly exhibited?
Have you tried increasing or decreasing the speed a bit and verified of the jerks vanished?
Since wheel rotation was done, did you notice if any of the wheels had a bent rim from the inside? A bent rim on the rear when used in the front (after rotation) is also a likely cause of the jerks.
If not, the other likely cause would be fallen balance weights from the rims resulting the wobble and I would suggest to go back to the place and check the balancing again.

Ok, wobbling it is then. It is felt when I am in low speeds like in 1st and 2nd gear and vanishes past the 30kmph mark.

No, I don't think any of my wheels have bent rim. I just thought the differential wear might cause a slight imbalance after rotation, am I correct?

It was felt even as I was moving out of the shop after alignment. So weights can't be the problem.

paragsachania · 30th June 2009, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by zaks

Ok, wobbling it is then. It is felt when I am in low speeds like in 1st and 2nd gear and vanishes past the 30kmph mark.

No, I don't think any of my wheels have bent rim. I just thought the differential wear might cause a slight imbalance after rotation, am I correct?

It was felt even as I was moving out of the shop after alignment. So weights can't be the problem.

Now that additonal description makes me think otherwise. I suspect it could also be the clutch judder since the issue crops at speeds lesser than 30kmph.

But I was paying more emphasis on the fact that you started to experience it right after the Alignment & Balancing job.

How much has your car run?

zaks · 30th June 2009, 11:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by paragsachania

Now that additonal description makes me think otherwise. I suspect it could also be the clutch judder since the issue crops at speeds lesser than 30kmph.

But I was paying more emphasis on the fact that you started to experience it right after the Alignment & Balancing job.

How much has your car run?

12000 kms.

It is not clutch judder since it is present much after the clutch is engaged too. The wobble is felt lightly not strong.

sukiwa · 30th June 2009, 11:12

Quote:

I just thought the differential wear might cause a slight imbalance after rotation, am I correct?

Yes, uneven tyre wear will result in low-speed wobble. Check front tyres.

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/tyre-...ing-palio.html (Wobbling Palio)

Nikhilb2008 · 30th June 2009, 13:20

Hi Zaks,

It could be due to uneven wear, bent rims or something else.

I would temporarily rule out stuff like clutch, suspension etc since you felt it immediately after alignment balancing.

When exactly did you get the work done? Yesterday?

Do call me on the number given in the PM.

Magemegento · 5th January 2015, 12:15

Quite an old thread, but I've experienced the same problem on my 2005 WagonR. Got my wheel alignment done from Green cars in Koramangala, Bangalore and ever since the car has been wobbling at low speeds. It vanishes after 40-50kmph mark but up until then the wobble is terrible. I noticed the wobble during the test ride after alignment itself, but the mech said it is gonna stay coz my suspension needs overhaul and tires are old. While that is true, my car has run around 120,000kms and the current tires have done close to 50k kms, I experienced the wobble only after alignment and before that I had only a slight misalignment issue, non other.

While suspension is a problem for me, I suspect wobbling after getting the alignment done is specifically an issue maybe 'created' by the workshop guy. I'm not able to really discuss this with the Green cars guy because as soon as I give a hint that the problem appeared after the alignment he starts talking in Kannada and I can't understand.
I don't want to get a suspension and tire job right now, as I have to travel abroad for 6-8 months and am postponing it till I come back.

30th June 2009, 08:14	#1
zaks BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 952 Thanked: 181 Times View My Garage	Steering jerky after wheel balancing and alignment I got the wheel balancing and alignment done at this well known place near Southend but I feel the steering is little jerky after the job. Since it was 12k on the odo they also did the tyre rotation. Could this be the reason for jerky steering and if so I assume this should go away after some time. Last edited by zaks : 30th June 2009 at 08:14. Reason: typo
	() Thanks

30th June 2009, 08:45	#2
paragsachania Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Belur/Bangalore Posts: 7,147 Thanked: 27,207 Times	zaks, 'Wobbling' is what I can infer from your post. Is the steering jerky at specific speeds or is constantly exhibited? Have you tried increasing or decreasing the speed a bit and verified of the jerks vanished? Since wheel rotation was done, did you notice if any of the wheels had a bent rim from the inside? A bent rim on the rear when used in the front (after rotation) is also a likely cause of the jerks. If not, the other likely cause would be fallen balance weights from the rims resulting the wobble and I would suggest to go back to the place and check the balancing again.
	() Thanks

30th June 2009, 13:20	#7
Nikhilb2008 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 5,195 Thanked: 10,177 Times	Hi Zaks, It could be due to uneven wear, bent rims or something else. I would temporarily rule out stuff like clutch, suspension etc since you felt it immediately after alignment balancing. When exactly did you get the work done? Yesterday? Do call me on the number given in the PM.
	() Thanks

5th January 2015, 12:15	#8
Magemegento Newbie Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: B'lore, Delhi Posts: 20 Thanked: 14 Times	Re: Steering jerky after wheel balancing and alignment Quite an old thread, but I've experienced the same problem on my 2005 WagonR. Got my wheel alignment done from Green cars in Koramangala, Bangalore and ever since the car has been wobbling at low speeds. It vanishes after 40-50kmph mark but up until then the wobble is terrible. I noticed the wobble during the test ride after alignment itself, but the mech said it is gonna stay coz my suspension needs overhaul and tires are old. While that is true, my car has run around 120,000kms and the current tires have done close to 50k kms, I experienced the wobble only after alignment and before that I had only a slight misalignment issue, non other. While suspension is a problem for me, I suspect wobbling after getting the alignment done is specifically an issue maybe 'created' by the workshop guy. I'm not able to really discuss this with the Green cars guy because as soon as I give a hint that the problem appeared after the alignment he starts talking in Kannada and I can't understand. I don't want to get a suspension and tire job right now, as I have to travel abroad for 6-8 months and am postponing it till I come back.
	() Thanks