Ever since I have owned the car, I have felt slight but definite vibration through the steering wheel at between about 65 - 75mph.

I have had all four wheels balanced twice at different garages - no effect.

A month ago, I had the front bushes and lower ball joints replaced on the advice of an independent Jaguar specialist - no effect.

When I jack the passenger side up and put my hands on the front tyre at 12 & 6 o'clock, I can feel slight play in the wheel when I rock back & forth towards me (maybe 1mm of movement, but hard to say).

When I do the same thing on the front driver's side, I can feel no play at all.

What do you think I should be looking at replacing next to try and sort out the problem?

TIA

 

You may have a wheel bearing going bad

 

Thanks, that was what I was thinking. But having just changed all the bushes without effect, I am loathe to spend more $$$ on a bearing if it's not that either.

I just want to be as sure as I can that I am changing the most likely culprit

 

that play is usually the sign of a wheel bearing going bad.

 

Dumb question: should I replace both front bearings, or just the side that seems to have play in it?

 

I would change the one that has the play and recheck the good one. The good one could last for another K Miles. I had the same problem with my 03 XKR. I took it to a Firestone dealer that had the Hunter Road Force balancer and they checked and balanced all four wheels. Their machine simulates how the wheels run on the road, so you know there was a balancing problem. Since I had the wheels balanced on the Hunter machine, I no longer have the slight vibration between 65-75 MPH. Let us know what finally fixed your problem.

Bill N
03 XKR

 

^Thanks. Are you saying you just had the wheels balanced, or did you change the bearings as well? I have seen Road Force mentioned on here before, but I'm not sure it's available here in Europe.

 

Just the balance. I had all the bushings replaced along with a lot of other front end work, but still had the vibration problem until I had the wheels balanced on the Hunter machine. The Hunter balancers should be available world wide. Check their web site for dealers in Europe.

Bill N

 

Given the work you've had done, I'd go for the wheel bearing as the most likely culprit.

Other than that, any possibility one the the front wheel rims is out of true? Several posts have mentioned the 20 inch rims being particularly susceptible to damage from potholing. They could be OK on the balancing machine but set up a wobble at the critical 65 - 75 mph on the road.

Graham

 

They seem to have people in Germany, but that's it

Yes, I thought it might be a rim, though the slight play I can feel (plus the cost of a new rim!) makes me want to try the bearing first.

 

Agree that you should change the bearing, there shouldn’t be any play, so regardless of the vibrations.

Next balancing the wheels must be done with care to get the best results; I actually make an appointment upfront, to make sure they can lift my car right away to avoid any faltspotting.

Also I have seen that some don't center the wheel right on the balancer, make sure the use the center ring of the wheel (and not the bolt holes). In addition I also check that they use the right ring on the balancer so the fit is good, and after the balancing, I ask to have the wheel reattached but turned a little, to double check. The latter will confirm if the wheel was centered right (you wouldn't believe how many times this simple thing isn't done right...).

Anyway, attached is the wheel balancing procedure from Jaguar if you can't get it right.

 

Many thanks for your input, Avos. I have just ordered the bearing, so we'll see what difference that makes.

Is there anywhere in northern France/Belgium you would recommend I go for the balancing?

 

Not really, most important is to find someone that does it with care, but the tips given will already help. If you can come to Antwerp you could also visit me and my local shop (they are already used to my pickiness when it comes to balancing). With the top grade tires I use I have not experienced any load issues that would require a Hunter 9700 balancing, so my local shop with normal machines has done good enough. The nearest specialist I know that can also balance a wheel while it’s on the car in at the Dutch boarder, but then you must have an unusual issue, which I don’t expect.

 

This may sound strange, but i had a rear wheel bearing that was going bad, and it actually contributed ALOT of vibration to the steering...through the frame and drivetrain. i know, I told you it would sound strange.

 

Lol, I am prepared to try anything to get rid of the wobble

 

I would take each wheel off in turn, and use a wire brush to clean the fitting surfaces of wheel and hub. When you replace the wheels, use a torque wrench on the nuts, to the specified figure for your car; it varies as to car and wheel type. If that doesn't fix it, find a flat area of concrete or bitumen,like an empty car park, and run the car very slowly with hands off the steering wheel. If the wheel moves a few centimeters side to side, then you may have a tyre in which the treads were not correctly aligned during manufacture.
good luck
Pete

 

Pete makes a good point about cleaning the surfaces of those hubs! A little rust at the edge or center can affect the geometry of the wheel.

 

Had also vibration issues.
Most of them are related to the tires/wheels.
Roadforce balancing could help to define problems like out of roundness of tires/wheels.
Audi (not all of the concesionaries)has roadforce balancing equipement since they had issues on certain A5 models.
Play in 1 wheel could be the wheelbairing needing replacement.

 

Thanks for all your input I will replace the bearing on the wheel exhibiting play, clean all the hubs and then try and find a good balancing centre.

 

I had a vibration in the front. Turned out to be a bad bearing.