Shaking steering wheel & other questions...

[Fire4FX]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me if it is my suspension that I need checked? I removed my front left tire on my 97 zook once to check something & since then I get the shakes especially if I run in it in 2WD.

It feels as though my transfer case starts to shake too = shift stick.

I went to a tire place today & asked for a wheel alignment which didn't fix the vibrations I get when I get to 60klm+ intermittently. The guy apparently tried to also tighten something inside either the steering wheel or on the column but that didn't help.

Or do I need to have someone check the sway bar that metal thing underneath my bumper? I usually go over speed bumps with my left tire @ 30kph.

Also, is it ok to go to one of those self serve car wash places & just wash the engine bay out or will water affect the engine bay or components?

In addition, I need to fully refill my brake fluid on another zook I have but will there be a difference if I used dot 4 brake fluid instead of the specified dot 3?

Thanks for all replies, Marcus

[BlueSuzy]

There is alot to do with the wobble. It ranges from the steering box uni's to wheel bearings, and everything inbetween. Wheel balance, warped disks, could be anything in the front end. Is your coily lifted? As that can affect it more.

Everything will shake if you wobbling. Hows the transfercase mounts?

You have wobbles or vibrations?

Alot of zooks run no swaybars. So it wouldnt be the cause.

Water wont affect the components if they are sealed good. Water on the dizzy and anything to do with water in spark control areas, and air intake is a no no. It can run rough, or even not start again until you get rid of all the water causing the problem. And high pressure water anywhere in the engine bay can cause more dramas.

Dot 3, 4, 5.1 are compatible. Dot 5 is not.

[V.W.Dave]

Hey mate where in sydney are you? I am baulkham hills but am always around the parramatta area through the week. Thingslike this are best looked at not talked about. Swing by some time and I will go for a drive and have a look. PM me

[Fire4FX]

Got it fixed by my original wheel & suspension place in Smithfield NSW.

I explained it to the guy & he got my left front tire wheel balanced all done in 30mins for $15!

It was more of a wobble & I have a coily 97 model.

I've got battery or power issues I need checked on now that I had an auto-electrician check out but couldn't find a fault apart from the low battery. I replaced the battery with NRMA earlier in the year then the alternator 1 month ago but my car lost power the other day when I went for a long drive. Drove it yesterday & it jutted for a moment but kept going - just had a full service in Aug so I don't think it's my spark plugs but I will check soon as well.

[Fire4FX]

The power issues I was having was actually the fuel pump failing. It was the last thing I hadn't replaced after installing a new alternator.

Getting death wobbles again. Have done a wheel alignment & balance. Will have to speak to my mechanic again since it's return after only picking my car up a couple of days ago.

Will have to have him check out tie-rod ends,radius arms' bushes, king-pins, wheel-bearings this should solve my problem hopefully. It did drive good for over a year but not too sure what's happened now. Apart from my 1.6L carby engine upgrade, I could feel my car shake when it started up. So maybe something has shaken loose.

[Fire4FX]

Hi all,

Finally fixed my own problems by diagnosing it myself.

Took it to the guys at St Marys & left it there for 2 days. Came back & the guy tells me there's nothing wrong with it! BS, I drove off & the death wobbles were still there, even though an initial inspection showed the wheel hubs leaking oil on the left they did nothing & good thing they didn't charge me.

So... I got some parts online, 2x new wheel hub bearings & 2x king pins - took them to my local trusty mechanic in Cabramatta this time & they replaced it all for me. They also mentioned it might be my steering box, but after I got it back the steering was really tight but no more wobbles.

A few weeks later much better still no more death wobbles, steering is easier & loosened up again.

Just recently drove up in my Zook to QLD & back to Sydney, epic 12hr drive each way! Did around 100kph easy but didn't want to push it at 110kph much in case something would blow. Had a 1.3L blow on me once before when the oil dried & piston melted.