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Shaking Steering Wheel 200 1991


I have noticed that when my gas tank is less then half full the car sometimes begins to shake, especially the steering wheel. I usally slow down a bit and it then stops. It happen about half the time. I recently replaced the in-tank pump. But this has not helped the problem. I has my mechanic check out the front suspension. He says everything is ok with the suspension. It's an annoying problem. Does anybody have any idea what couls be causing this occassional problem. Thanks, Neils








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    Shaking Steering Wheel 200 1991

    Maybe your car is nervous that it's not going to get another tank of fuel!

    Seriously, there's no way that fuel level is related to a front end shake. There are causes of shaking, which must be addressed and corrected:

    Like blue horse mentioned, a bent wheel; a separated tire belt; flat spots or other serious damage to a front tire; a bad steering universal joint; a bad inner or (less likely) outer tie rod end; a worn ball joint; worn out struts or very bad strut mounts; or a loose power steering pump causing the belt to grab and slip.

    If there is anything going on with the engine, there could be bad mounts or a loose exhaust (broken hanger) causing vibration at any time on the road or idling.
    --
    Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 92 244-M47-207K ::: 90 745GL-M47-268K ::: 88 245DL-AW70-230K ::: 88 244 SOLD! 87 244 SOLD! Still looking for a bright red or black 244 with sunroof...








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    Shaking Steering Wheel 200 1991


    Maybe some sort of fuel delivery problem??

    -Sending unit and main fuel pump good?


    --
    90 244DL 271k - All original drivetrain :)








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      Shaking Steering Wheel 200 1991

      Assuming it's not an engine problem, the following are likely causes:

      Bent wheel---sometimes obvious, sometimes not.
      Bad tire---either uneven wear or belts separating internally.
      Either one is best diagnosed by rotating the tires front to rear (keep them on the same sides) and seeing if the vibration diminishes and seems to come from a different place.

      Less likely is a problem with the drive shaft---either U joints or the center support bearing/cushion.

      As you didn't mention any relationship to braking, the brakes are probably not the cause.








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        Shaking Steering Wheel 200 1991


        He said it only happens when his fuel tank is less than half full, which made me guess a fuel delivery component.

        Again, only a guess...


        --
        90 244DL 271k - All original drivetrain :)








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          Shaking Steering Wheel 200 1991

          Yes, I saw that but gave it little importance, as in my experience, engine roughness is rarely felt strongly in the steering wheel, but wheel/tire problems are. Driveshaft vibrations tend to be felt throughout the car, rather than specifically in the wheel, which is why I mentioned them as a less likely possibility.







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