Steering vibrates - Honda Prelude Forum

PatrickC1026 · 09-05-2003, 04:50 PM

The steering of my '92 Si vibrates when I drive above 60 mph. It has been about a year or so, but it seems getting worse. I've driven over 200K miles and still have stock suspension. I've only replaced the CV boots. I pressed on the front end of the car and it's not bouncy either, so I guess shocks are still OK.

Any thoughts?

cantdrive55 · 09-05-2003, 04:54 PM

Have you had an alignment done recently?

MR.CLIFFORD · 09-05-2003, 05:03 PM

or new brakes?

PatrickC1026 · 09-05-2003, 05:16 PM

Actually, I just replaced the stock wheels and Goodyear Eagle II tires with 17" wheels and 215/40/17 tires. They didn't make it worse though. I haven't done the alignment for a while. Would alignment cause this at higher speed?

I replaced rear brake pads at 180K, but the front pads are still factory installed.

ar5enal · 09-05-2003, 07:33 PM

Yes, improper alignment would cause a "shimmy" in the steering wheel at higher speeds. My car does this, and I need to get a proper alignment done soon, because it's very very annoying.

I don't think it's your brakes, because warped rotors only cause your steering wheel to shake under braking.

As long as your wheels are on straight, and your lugnuts are torqued down okay, I would say it's your alignment.

rybred · 09-05-2003, 07:51 PM

it's either your alignment or a bent rim...i know a bent rim causes a shimmy definetly noticable at higher speeds...not at lower at all!
good luck finding it

Absolut · 09-05-2003, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PatrickC1026
I've driven over 200K miles and still have stock suspension.

Holy bad bushings batman!

Your suspension is worn out... Your going to want new bushings. And your shocks are probably worn out... You may not notice it now, they get worse over time, but if you put new shocks in, you'd ask yourself how you drove with it so bad.

PatrickC1026 · 09-06-2003, 01:50 PM

I'm quite sure that the new rims are not bent, and I have torqued down them properly. I'm going to do the alignment and see if it fixes the problem.

Since I spent over $2K recently on I/H/E mod, stereo upgrade and replacing some moldings and weather strips, I need to wait for a while to replace the shocks and springs.

ViZ · 09-06-2003, 05:26 PM

an alignment isn't to expensive.. even if you need to replace bushings and such you should still get an alignment because thats the #1 cause.

shocks and springs wont cause shimmy.. bad shocks will make the car to float or bounce more after a bump instead of absorbing the shock..

get an alignment and if you can afford bushings then get them first if not at least get an alignment..

anytime you alter the suspension.. tear it down a little or alot you should have the car aligned (ie: axel or cv joint )

brendon2k · 09-07-2003, 01:25 AM

If it is worse at specific speeds it could be a wheel is out of balance.

y2james00 · 09-07-2003, 01:39 PM

balance them

PatrickC1026 · 09-08-2003, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ViZ
shocks and springs wont cause shimmy.. bad shocks will make the car to float or bounce more after a bump instead of absorbing the shock..

My lude doesn't bounce when I go on bumps although it's a harder ride.

Since I have had this problem even before I replaced the rims and tires, I doubt that it's a balance problem, but it could be next thing to do if the alignment doesn't fix it.

KB798 · 09-08-2003, 08:22 PM

i had to change out my tie rod...i believe it was the outer tie rod. try looking into that

SolRayz · 09-08-2003, 09:01 PM

I had the same problem,,,,,had my tires rotated/balanced,,,,,,,,,problem solved!