Elantra steering wheel wobble/vibration

Excellent. It's good to see a conclusive diagnosis to a problem like this,
rather than the approach that seems to go the route of do more alignments,
rotate the tires, do more alignments, do four wheel alignments, do more,
rotate thetires again... ad infitum. So much effort is wasted in these
types of efforts. Four wheel alignments being one of the more abused
things.

Most cars that can benefit at all from a rear wheel alignment can only allow
for a camber adjustment in the rear. Camber is not the culprit in most
vibration related problems, yet too many owners suffer through, or worse...
pay for multiple four wheel alignments in pursuit of problems like this.

Hats off to your mechanic. Go buy that guy a beer.

Isn't it a shame how many tires are so much better than Michelins, at far
lower price points?

 

I agree mike i've almost fallen into that trap but as you say how many
times can you check the same thing. I know balancing and alignments are
renounded for being "easy money". I'll definetly be getting the rims
checked by someone who can actually measure them correctly.

 

If the strut bearings were loose, you'd hear a loud clunking sound on
bumpy roads.

The key is to run more pressure on the end that supports the most
weight, the front.

It was just a suggestion in case you were interested in improving the
overall handling feel of the car.

 

You know it. I've used the guy for years and, if I had a functioning
brain, I would have waited until the car was out of the dealer and had
him mount the tires in the first place. The new alloys do look good,
though.

It is. I've about had it with the MXV4s on my '03 Sonata. I may try a
set of Kumho KH16s although the reviews on the Yokohama Avid series
look pretty good, too.

 

My girlfriends 95 Elantra 151K miles has a slight vibration too. IT
started when I rotated the tires. Had them rebalanced which helped but
still vibrates some I'm almost sure it is a tire problem. Going to
unrotate them when I have a chance see what happens

 

I'd check for tread separation. I've had tire guys miss small bulges
before when I've complained of vibration.

Unluckily theres nothing you can do with separation except replace the
tire. If the tire is under warranty it should be pro-rated to the
mileage or treadwear depending on the warranty policy for that tire maker.

JS