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Old 07-08-2020, 02:51 PM   #1
Draken04
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Member#: 131657
Join Date: Nov 2006
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Three Rivers, MI
Vehicle:
2004 Impreza WRX Wag
WRB

Default 2008 Tribeca steering wheel shake

Ok, bought my wife a Tribeca to replace her worn out Forester that had gotten to small for the family, and we couldn't afford the Ascent she wanted.

It had mismatched tires on it so scheduled a trip to Tire Rack to get new rubber put on, but found it had a severely bent rim, so ended up with new rims as well.

From day one it had a minor shake in the steering wheel, and after having gone over the front end before we bought it, I just figured it was due to a tire issue because they were worn, so I wasn't worried about it. Putting the new tires on did lessen the shake, and how often it happens, but it is not gone.

Had the front end in the air, checked tie rods, ball joints, all bushings are OK (rear on the lower control arms show wear, but not a worrying amount), steering feels very tight with no slop. I have replaced the front struts in case one was bound slightly (we believe it had hit a curb at one point) and did a normal brake job on the front, new pads and rotors.

Taking it on the road, it will be smooth as glass up to speed. Sometimes taping the break will make the shaking start, sometimes turning will make it start, but it will stay for a while regardless, then just disappear and back to being a very smooth ride. It can happen at 5mph or can happen at highway speeds, and the shaking is always about the same amount.

We did take it into a shop, they checked the alignment and said that was good, they were able to replicate it on a test drive, but were unable to find anything as a smoking gun either.

This. Has. Me. Baffled.

Any ideas on stuff I may have missed?
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Old 07-13-2020, 12:06 PM   #2
kos
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Member#: 118334
Join Date: Jun 2006
Chapter/Region: SWIC
Location: IT'SOKIFYOUDON'TGETIT!
Vehicle:
2006 Red GDA-F
2005 Aspen White GDA-E

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Wheel bearings maybe? I know you said it's smooth at speed, but maybe a bearing is just starting to wear out? Does seem odd...
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Old 07-13-2020, 03:25 PM   #3
Draken04
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Member#: 131657
Join Date: Nov 2006
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Three Rivers, MI
Vehicle:
2004 Impreza WRX Wag
WRB

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Quote:
Originally Posted by kos View Post
Wheel bearings maybe? I know you said it's smooth at speed, but maybe a bearing is just starting to wear out? Does seem odd...
Bearings felt good when I checked them (not saying it's not possible). Bearings are ~$100ish so I may just replace them to rule them out.

The part that is most odd to me is that when it is there, it's the same at any speed, but when its not there, it's smooth as glass at all speeds.
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Old 07-14-2020, 09:01 AM   #4
Sub!eDr!ver
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Member#: 88924
Join Date: Jun 2005
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Vehicle:
2014 Cadenza, Sedona
Past: Tribeca LGTx2 Justy

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Could it be something in the power steering? Maybe a sensor going bad or possibly even the power steering pump.
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Old 07-14-2020, 10:21 AM   #5
Draken04
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Member#: 131657
Join Date: Nov 2006
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Three Rivers, MI
Vehicle:
2004 Impreza WRX Wag
WRB

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sub!eDr!ver View Post
Could it be something in the power steering? Maybe a sensor going bad or possibly even the power steering pump.
Will have to look into what sensor it could be, part of me is leaning towards the rack having an issue. Not sure how a pump could cause it, but can look at it and see if I see anything odd..
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Old 07-14-2020, 08:40 PM   #6
rjd_sti
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Member#: 103426
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Chino
Vehicle:
2005 WRX STI
Obsidian Black Pearl

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Have you checked both driver and passenger side lower control arms? both of mine were worn down after 230k miles and i would get wheel shudder every time I came to a stop and again when I let off the brake pedal. You can see the wheel shimmy if you are viewing it from outside. I replaced both LCA's and that solved my problem. I also got the dreaded knocking noise whenever going over any bumps or uneven surfaces on my right side.

What year and mileage is your wife's Tribeca?
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Old 07-15-2020, 12:09 AM   #7
Draken04
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Member#: 131657
Join Date: Nov 2006
Chapter/Region: MWSOC
Location: Three Rivers, MI
Vehicle:
2004 Impreza WRX Wag
WRB

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rjd_sti View Post
Have you checked both driver and passenger side lower control arms? both of mine were worn down after 230k miles and i would get wheel shudder every time I came to a stop and again when I let off the brake pedal. You can see the wheel shimmy if you are viewing it from outside. I replaced both LCA's and that solved my problem. I also got the dreaded knocking noise whenever going over any bumps or uneven surfaces on my right side.

What year and mileage is your wife's Tribeca?
It's an 08, and mileage on odo is 129k, but it was imported from CA so was replaced, and have no clue what it really is.

the LCAs overall look good, no bends or wrinkles in them, and the only thing I see as an issue is there is a small amount of cracking in the rear bushing. When we were at Tire Rack looked at them with it in the air, and again when I did the struts.

It's going in the air again this weekend (well jack stands) and going to be going over it with a fine tooth comb.
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Old 11-04-2020, 08:45 PM   #8
9three
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Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Florida
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its the axles. had the same situation in my 08. under slow acceleration from 0-40 mph, the wheel shook. replaced crap aftermarket axles the previous owner put in, and the shimmy was gone.
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