Hi guys,

Have a problem with my car, a Mitsubishi Lancer CK2A. Whenever it hits speeds of more than 100km/h the steering wheel starts vibrating violently. Kindly advise on what the problem could be before I blow my hard-earned cash on jua-kali mechs. Thanks.

@chris

Is it the steering wheel only or the whole vehicle seems to be vibrating? If the later have your front brake disks checked for signs of warping. Please report back after checking.

Steering rack,tie rod ends...

the problem could be bush (sic) - the rubber has worn out and therefore giving a big play. I had the same problem with my previous car.

For Mits check the tie rods ends,ball joint and arm bushes or drive past 110kph and the vibration will stop..

"Computerized" Wheel balancing should sort you out.
You can add wheel alignment if you must

How do you advice someone to speed, especially when they have indicated they have a fauly car and most importantly that the fault is with the car's steering?

You are the reason our roads have become grim reapers. Actually you must be the grim reaper himself

Rahatupu I get your point. I deliberately chose to keep quiet and read other people's solutions to this problem.

My take is take the car to your mechanic. Ask him to drive your car for some distance, pulling up to the speed at which the problem presents and then ask him for his diagnosis. If you take all these steps being flounted here, it will cost you an arm and a leg. If you chose to try doing more than 110kph with a steering problem that you do not fully understand, it could even cost your your car, limb or life.

However, there are those suggestions that you could carry out yourself.

1. I doubt it could be the problem but to check if your mountings are okay, ask your wife to get into the driver's seat with the hood open. Ask her to shift the lever from N to D then to Reverse as you observe. If all or one of your mountings is kaput, the engine will shift rapidly forward or backward.

2. Most likely the problem is with the steering mechanism. Switch of the engine and try to jerk the steering left or right. If the tie-rods are kaput, there is likely to be some sound coming from left or right side of the rack.

3. To check your hub if the bearings are okay, try switching off your stereo and roll your windows up and then drive on a straightline. If your hear some hhhhhhh sound, have them checked. They could be the problem

4. The most obvious culprit are wheel alignment and wheel balancing. As they remove the tyres for balancing, check that they are okay. Some GT-Radial Tryes form uneven bumps when they wear out beyond 60% and this can result into the steering vibrations.

to defend @Odec.. its true.. at 100km/h those mitsubishis shake, past that they kinda stabilize..

I dont know if Odec was joking but i have expereinced it...