Mk3 Astra's got the shakes

[andyblackastra]

My 92 Mk3 Astra Si shakes really badly at 80mph. The steering wheel woobles so much, you just have to hang on. I've had all of the wheels balanced and have even tried another set of alloys which I know are balanced, all to no avail.

One of the rear wheels wears the outer edge of the tyre more quickly, but the front seems pretty even. It seems to wooble more when your on the power, so could it be a bent driveshaft?

Also the type of tarmac your driving on effects it, some surfaces its good on and hardly woobles, whereas on others its like an alcholic off the booze! So could it be the suspension or wishbone bushes?

[Orange Peel]

You need the tracking doing mate. Goto a 4 wheel alignment centre and get it done properly

[LEE69]

Have you got the spiggot rings on the alloys?

[andyblackastra]

Never heard of that. What's a spiggot ring?

[andyblackastra]

I didn't think the rear end of the Astra could be adjusted at all. So how does a 4 wheel alignment help the rear?

[Orange Peel]

I didn't think the rear end of the Astra could be adjusted at all. So how does a 4 wheel alignment help the rear?

It doesnt. The reason I recommended a 4 wheel centre is because they have very accurate gear unike Halfords and most back street garages. I had mine tracked at a wheel centre using the 'shine a light on a gauge chart' but didnt think it was correct so I booked into a 4 wheel specialist and they found 2 problems with my setup and corrected them.

A 4 wheel place will tell you if something is bent or twisted too. They are also very accurate.

However the rear wheel rubbing is a bit of a worry.

[LEE69]

Never heard of that. What's a spiggot ring?

Its a plastic ring that sits inside the aftermarket alloys,sothey area tight fit onto the hub.
If these are missing you generally get the wobbling between 60-80.

Like has been said though outer wear of a tyre on the rear is cause for concern though.

[john humphries]

you sometimes get a wheel wobble from one of the bushes on the front end, i would say it is the front end because it is coming threw the steering, does it happen when you slightly turn the wheel but not so much when on a hard turn. I would say it is a acumulation og things rather than just one thing wrong. try strut tops,shockers,wheel bearing,suspension bushes your best bet would be to buy a uprated bush set poli something like that have that fitted then go from there.... I know astra's are different to range rovers but i have just spent £600 trying to sort mine out for the same problem

[jimbo750]

I had this problem and it turned out to be the suspension .. I renewed the front and rear springs and shocks and its fine so if its not the tracking , spiggot rings, wheel balance etc etc it could be the suspension

The wear on the rear looks like a different prob (tyre pressure ?)

[nova13sr]

i had that sort of problem with the steering.it was the track rod end ball joints. changed them and the problem was fixed!

[MuppetMule]

You need to get it on axel stands with front wheels off, and start trying to move suspension and lower arm bushes to find play, there will be somewhere.

When you tighten the wheels up, the bolts centre the wheel correctly so rings wont do it and tracking does not usually cause vibration or wobble, but rather pull car to one side, poor handling and uneven/premature trye wear.

It will defo be a bush or a suspension fault. Having said that, there is a weight on the long driveshaft, if its missing i suppose it will cause wobble.

[DJastra]

When you tighten the wheels up, the bolts centre the wheel correctly so rings wont do it and tracking does not usually cause vibration or wobble, but rather pull car to one side, poor handling and uneven/premature trye wear.

I had some after market wheels on my car a couple of weeks ago and had the same problem, put on another set and its fine. Only difference was the diameter of the spiggot rings (was adout 3mm)!

[MuppetMule]

Do you honestly think a plastic ring is going to support your wheel?

Its there to help put the wheel on. When you tighten the bolts, they centre the wheel and make it true. Take a bolt out and have a look at one, then you will understand.