Thread: Steering wheel shaking a little after tire rotation

Have a shop check the balance on your tires. And also the alignment. Both can cause a shaking. But I would lean towards the tires are out of balance.

Its more then likely a bent wheel that was on the back that you didn't notice. Balance NEVER causes a steering wheel shake unless there REALLY bad. Balance always causes a vibration, a shake is almost always a direct result of a bent wheel or a tire hop from broken belts or out of round tire. Take it back to your tire shop and have them spin your fronts and look for a bad tire or bent rim

edit- Swap your wheels front to rear to check this at home, side to side won't change much. Get the bad one to the right rear to minimize you feeling this

Originally Posted by Pittman06

Its more then likely a bent wheel that was on the back that you didn't notice. Balance NEVER causes a steering wheel shake unless there REALLY bad. Balance always causes a vibration, a shake is almost always a direct result of a bent wheel or a tire hop from broken belts or out of round tire. Take it back to your tire shop and have them spin your fronts and look for a bad tire or bent rim

edit- Swap your wheels front to rear to check this at home, side to side won't change much. Get the bad one to the right rear to minimize you feeling this

In my book, a vibration in the steering wheel is very similar to a wheel shake. For someone not familiar with cars trying to figure out a problem over the internet, I assimilate the two the same. And from that, I try to offer advice for the most common problems first.

None the less, have someone take a look at the tires, rims, and check balance.

I usually send the fronts to the rear same side, then send the rears to the front cross sides if they are not rotational tires... that way it takes 4 tire rotations for a tire to be in the same position.

Otherwise if they are rotational than front to rear, rear to front same sides.

As to the OP, Check your front tires if they are chopped. Rub you hand on the threads and see if you feel uneven wear, that will cause a vibration. Also, do you have rotational tires that u rotated to the other side of the car cuz that will cause the tires to rotate against the threads and cause vibrations...

after rereading your post i noticed you swapped your fronts left to right and right to left and the same for the rears...

Make sure you dont have rotational tires....

Originally Posted by Haulero

It may sound stupid.... but what do you mean with "rotational tires"?

Rotational tires are usually have a performance tread that is designed to rotate in one direction only. Look for an obvious arrow next to the word "rotation" in the sidewall.

Originally Posted by BackInBlack

Rotational tires are usually have a performance tread that is designed to rotate in one direction only. Look for an obvious arrow next to the word "rotation" in the sidewall.

actually called "directional" tires as in they only go one direction, like Asymetrical tires that have one side ment to face out. Your problem is you crossed your tires and you have a shake in a tire/wheel. Thats it, no questions asked. I've done this for 7 years and see it everyday. A proper automotive rotate with non directional tires is front to rear, rears swapped sides to front. Shops put a bad balanced or bent wheel assembly on the r/r of your car so when you leave the shop you can't feel it. Once you rotate that one ends up on the l/f and you feel it. Swap those 2 back and it will more then likely be gone or spend the $15, go to a shop and have them balanced