What is causing vibration?

BARRY724

MEMBER
1988 CHEVROLET BERETTA
240,000 MILES

I recently put new tires on and still felt a little shimmy or vibration in steering wheel and or front end.I took car back and they said they were an ounce out of balance each wheel and after driving again I can still feel this in the steering wheel from 50 mph + should I take to different place and try balancing again? Was thinking of switching the two front wheels to opposite sides.

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,873 POSTS

Switching side to side won't help because an out-of-balance tire will still be on the front. You need to switch the two right side tires and try it, then the two left side tires. Besides a balance problem, a wheel could be bent or some rust or debris could have fallen between the hub and brake rotor or is stuck between the wheel and rotor. That can be found with a dial indicator while running it in gear on a hoist.

Also, if the vibration was the same with the old tires and you only feel it when under load or accelerating, especially at lower speeds, you could have a worn inner cv joint.