steering wheel wobble

After getting the new toy, I noticed that the steering wheel vibrates at about 74mph. when I mentioned it to the OPC, he said it was because I wasn't used to porsches...Sounds like wheel balancing to me?

I would go straight round to your dealer and tell him to sort it out, probably wheel balance, but i would ask for a geometry check at the same time. I am on my 4th porsche, and he is at it[&:]

I had exactly the same kinda issue at 74mph when i first got the 996. I took it to my local tyre specialist and they re balanced the wheels after finding that one was 100gm out and another 60gm!!! The vibration has gone now although there is a minor judder on braking. One of the inside front tyres is completely scrubbed on the inside edge, whereas the rest of the tyre is fine, so looks like the geometry is out. I have it booked in to the local OPC next week for the geometry to be done

Thanks guys - Now armed, will make a lot of noise at OPC

Have had a similar wobble on my 996 after purchase 2 months ago, took it back to OPC, first time they said nothing wrong. Insisted they do new geometry check plus rebalance wheels (geometry check should be done as part of used car prep). They found balancing to be out and rebalanced wheels however can still feel vibration at circa 70 mph and its really bugging me! As Turbo wheels on my car were refurbished am worried that they may be buckled slightly thus causing vibration , has anyone had problem like this before that wasnt resolved by balancing ?? Am currently contemplating purchase of new 18" Porsche alloys to try and resolve problem (anoth 2K I dont want to spend but cant live with the vibration). Have to say that after coming out of E46 M3 into 996 I have been really disappointed with handling/road holding of 996. Previously had a number of 993's and cant remember them feeling so light and vague at speed! Drove abroad regularily in M3 and it was rock solid and planted 130-150mph could even take hands off the wheel. Doing over 100 in 996 and front feels like it is all over the place ..... really surprised and cant imagine what it would be like at 160+. Again contemplating spending more cash to drop suspension to try and pin front down more !

I don't much about any thing too technical. But in the past I have had a similar problem on a car. Which was corrected when I changed the tyres. Depending on whether the tyres were put onto the wheels by a real specialist or not, could make a big difference. Some time ago I watched some tyres being forced onto a set of alloys. They were hammered and stretched and still didn't go on the rims in the time that I was watching, I wonder what sort of ride these produced. Or one of the tyres may have a fault in manufacture. Just a thought,

Sounds like you need the geometry sorting. It also helps to have a full tank of petrol when stepping into 3 figures on the speedo. I have had mine (2002 996) upto 165 on the autobahns and it felt very composed.

alex, 996-C4s I've just had my tyre balanced after a puncture which I didn't twig until next morning following a track day.Rears got covered in marbles and gave little grip,fronts not much better I had too surform the stuck on rubber off and theyre cleaning up in road use.But interestingly I never got a wobble thro' the steering just whole car vibration. O3 986 S I've always had the wobble at 70-75-re-balanced the18" 5 spoke carrera's (dunlop 9090)still there,changed to spare set of 17"continentals re-balanced-still get it. So It may not be cured with change of tyres/wheels . I spoken to OPC who's said bring it in test/check. I'll let you know. Some cars seem very sensitive and others not peter

I have now had the wheels balanced - and it's still the same :-( I have also tried stomping on the brakes at about 70ish on an empty road and cant feel anything through the pedal. I'm starting think that whatever it is, is somewhere between the wheels and steering wheel rather than the wheels...

I always had a wobble at about 80mph and then at about 85 it stopped until I hit 120 and it returned again. It then stopped again at about 125. I changed to 19" wheels but same deal. I had my wheels balanced about 4 times, the tracking checked twice, even had the camber changed. Still same problem. It seems nothing could fix the damned wobble. Then I read on rennlist that this wobble is normal. Many people see it and treat it as a feature of the 911 driving experience. Anyway, I had a blow out a year back (rear offside) and as a result had to get two new tyres (you know the deal, must replace a complete axle of tyres). I have always used pzeros but my tyre dealer talked me into a set of Goodyear Eagel F1 GS-D3s. I reluctantly took the bait but had no choice as I needed to get on the road and he had no pzeros in stock. So he fitted the Eagle F1s and off I went. These tyres are amazing. They have changed the driving of my car entirely and as you know the driving experience in these cars is hard to beat as it is. The wobble is lost forever and the car is absolutely glued to the road.....especially in wet weather. It takes corners at unbelievable pace. A motorway bend near me has traffic slow down to 50mph (suggested). I have always been able to take this at about 75. Now I can take it at 90. They are also the quietest tyres I have had so far and I drive a cab so it matters. So far they show hardly any sign of wear and I have done 10,000 miles! But the most important thing is the wobble is gone forever. The downside is that they are expensive (about £250 each) and they are "not" Porsche approved. But then neither is 19" wheels......why not? I dunno but I notice the 997 has 19" wheels now. Anyway thought this may help. Cheers,

Just an addition to what I said before regarding these tyres...... There's a write up on them here: http://www.zr1.net/F1G3D3.html Some more info from the blurb.... I never thought of fuel consumption (item 4). 1) The tyre's main characteristics are its striking appearance with its sweeping directional tread design and exceptional levels of grip and steering response. 2) The directional tread design features grooves which follows the natural flow pattern of water thereby assuring that water is evacuated via the quickest and most efficient path. 3) The tread pattern features a tread shift arrangement which means that no two blocks enter the tyre's footprint at the same time. This means significant reductions in noise frequency levels. 4) The silica based tread compound allows the tyre to achieve exceptionally high levels of grip in both wet and dry conditions, improving wet braking, rolling resistance (and therefore fuel consumption) and roadholding at speed. 5) The Eagle F1 features a multi-radius tread contour which helps provide even pressure distribution across the road contact surface of the tyre, thereby maximising the amount of rubber in contact with the road. A further benefit is high levels of vehicle control, even at high speeds.

FWIW most 996s send a lot of kick-back through the steering at any speed. I think that C2s are worse than C4s. At 160+ I can assure you that the car is very firmly planted and the steering effort is heroic at that sort of speed. Couldn't hear the crappy radio though!

cheers for all the info guys! One thing I couldn't get my head around though was spending 70k on a brand new car that shakes like a horse and cart... Have now left my baby with local OPC who also agree it is not right and will sort it - phew...

Have now had the geo done at the local OPC and although the car handles much much better following the quite major adjustments, I still have the vibration at about 75mph! The opc rebalanced the front wheels and all is OK. Not sure what is going to cure this?

The latest solution to my wobble is that one of the front rims has been badly cast(has a lump on it) which they think is the problem. It goes back this week for the new rim - fingers crossed...

Don't forget that aerodynamics play their part, as well. The spoiler is deployed at around 75mph, which much upset the balance between front and rear downforce. That is, at 70 there is, presumably more downforce at the front, and so the steering will feel more planted. When the rear spoiler is deployed, the front will probably 'lift' slightly, in response to additional rear downforce. This change in equilibrium must have an effect, which will be exacerbated by the relatively light loading of the steering in 911s. I am no Adrian Newey, but it is a thought? You should also notice that the car is considerably less fidgety and feels more and more planted the faster you go. Take a fast sweeper at 80-ish, and the 996 does the usual 911 dance. A bit of bump steer here, and a correction there. We all know the sensation. Try the same corner at 110, and it just goes exactly where you point it. If it doesn't, then you get it checked!!!! Do the aerokit boys get the 75mph collywobbles?

Yep, I have ful aerokit and have the wobble

I had this problem on a Range Rover. Turned out to be a faulty shock absorber.

Got car back today and it feels great!! Just need to get round all the different road surfaces at different speeds to be sure...

Hey Alex, what did you do to get rid of it?

All they did was replace one of the front rims as it had a lump on it!!! I meant to try and get a look at the deformed one before it went back but: a) I dont fit under the car b) couldn't be bothered with jack c) forgot to ask when I picked it up as I was to eager to drive the thing...

alex, Pleased to hear you reckon its sorted. I have a feeling my problem may be a shock absorber/damper. Why else do I get it on both wheel sets. Why is it reduced with full tank/luggage in front. I don't go for geometry either steering wheels straight and level with even tyre wear . Tramlining and following the road are different sensations to my wobble which is best felt on smooth roads,with no steering input. peter

Whoa - That all sounds very techinical!!!! My advice is get someone or several people to try it - My local OPC have been very good about me turning up every week with a fresh complaint...

I have just read your post and don't know if you have sorted it yet. I just bought a 996 with something loose in the steering column. took it to opc silverstone, (Gary in service dept), who traced it to a loose bolt in the steering column. they re-torqued it and used loctite, also had the front discs refaced and new rubber bushes on the front wishbones. The car is like new again, no wobbles, or knocking from the front end. Steering a 911 is the greatest pleasure, don't accept ANY compromise...

I think it's sorted - feels a hell of a lot smoother. Still not perfect, but the problem is that I have nothing to compare it with. I suspect that it's alot more road that I can feel now!!!!