SPC control arms and inconsistent steering wheel vibration

[sangaroo]

I have been dealing with a vibration issue since April. Steering wheel and wobbling and vibration was felt through my feet as well on the pedals and floor board speed between 65-80. I took my car to reputable indy shop and had them check it out. The shop told me that SPC's were loose and lower control arm bushings were worn.

SPC control arms were installed at 65k miles on odo and this car currently has 76k miles on it.

OEM shocks were changed preemptively since I had it for last 76k miles..



Shop had my car from 6/11 to 6/19 and this is what the tech wrote:

Customer states there is a vibration. Found vibration due to lower front curved control arms. Road test verified concern. Performed tire balance and found front tires slightly out. Found adjustable upper control arms loose. Tightened arms. Road test. Vibration lessened but still present. Checked lower control arms and found bushings slightly worn. Replaced front lower control arms. Road test. There is still a slight vibration present, but vastly improved.

Replace front and rear shocks with supplied by customer (I bought brand new bilstein sport shocks from tirerack)

4 wheel alignment. Performed 4 wheel alignment with adjustable control arms. Road test. System operates correctly at this time.



On 6/19/15: Car picked up, no vibration felt

On 6/20/15 I took my car out for 100 mile drive (Danbury - West Hartford). Unfortunately vibration came back as soon as I got on highway, but it was lessened and it changed its characteristics. The steering wheel shakes between 50-70 mph and it is inconsistent, it comes on and off as I travel on the highway. It was always present prior to last visit to the shop. Once steering wheel starts shaking, I can feel vibration through my feet from the floor board. The wobbly steering wheel can be seen with naked eyes, since the steering wheel wobbles about 1/8 - 1/4 inch changing its severity randomly. What I feel on my hands are definitely less aggressive vibration/shimmy prior to replacement of lower control arms and tightening SPC.


I called shop this morning and the shop tells me it may be the bushings in SPC's being too stiff. However, I cannot find a person complaining about SPC's and it has been fine for last ~12 months.


Does anyone have suggestions/ideas?

Thanks!

[Luis_Heineken]

rotate the wheels and tires

[sangaroo]

Forgot to mention, all of the simple and obvious procedures were done. Tried taking off spacers and rotating wheels were done, as well as trying a different set of wheels.

[MisterB8er]

Vibration was still present with a different set of wheels? I had a vibration which noticeably moved the steering wheel. Come to find out my wheels (at least one, probably more) were bent and tires bubbled. New wheels and tire and no wobble, smooth as silk at all speeds.
I have the SPC arms as well and so far everything is great.

[sangaroo]

Tires, wheels, and tie rods were checked as well. I even bought a brand new set for BBS, but the result is not any different than OEM 18". I was hoping it was easy repair when I dropped my car off at the shop, but it didn't turn out to be an easy one. I wish there is Dr. House for cars lol

[drob23]

I have the SPC arms and don't have any vibration issues. Had them on for about 15k miles and 13 track days. Hope you figure out your issue and please post back. You don't have the spherical bearing EC SPC arms, do you?

[sangaroo]

I have the SPC arms and don't have any vibration issues. Had them on for about 15k miles and 13 track days. Hope you figure out your issue and please post back. You don't have the spherical bearing EC SPC arms, do you?

It's not spherical bearing.

http://www.ecodetuning.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=2065 this is the one that I bought.

I think the chance of SPC's are actually causing this weird vibration after ~ 1 year/10k miles of usage would be very small, but I cannot figure out if any other parts that could be causing this.

[sangaroo]

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/23/ce8c16423d406a4df48c1c2ea4d3e1b1.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/23/0c3a6cb599765b79c45babe8c07c742a.jpg

I am able to wiggle about 3-5mm left arm in top picture (front passenger rear) and and right arm bottom picture (front driver rear). Does anybody know if that's normal?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[blackfunk]

Try the other side. If it moves I'll say maybe if it does not then you have your answer. I honestly don't think that it should move at all but I cannot say definitively.

[sangaroo]

I wasn't able to make other one wiggle because there isn't enough space or my hands are just too fat. I'll try when I get to jack this car up.

[sangaroo]

Old thread in b7 mentions that spc uses hein joints inside the rubber boot. Is anyone able to confirm?


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[sangaroo]

Update 7/9/15

Found some plays in both lower ball joints. Passenger side was worse than driver side. Both ball joints were replaced with OEM and problem was solved.

[drob23]

Update 7/9/15

Found some plays in both lower ball joints. Passenger side was worse than driver side. Both ball joints were replaced with OEM and problem was solved.

Nice, thanks for the follow up and putting this to rest. It's always hard to solve suspension issues.