Steering vibration that comes and goes...(MR2 content)

So new wheels and tires, yay! But I've noticed on the highway that I get steering wheel vibration that over the course of say 1-2 miles on I-75 that doesn't change, the vibration and shake will come and go.

I mean it'll be nothing, then I can feel (& visibily see) it fade in for awhile, then disappear, without any noticeable change in road condition... The seller did quite a bit of suspension work before I bought it, and I trust him entirely (Mike Helm, club races an MR2 and much experience). Trying to remember everything he said he did. Springs, struts, ...

Assuming the brand new tires are properly balanced, what should I check next? The coming and going is really what has me confused.

I wouldn't assume the new wheels and tires are properly balanced, personally. When dealing with the small light rolling stock on your car, it's going to be super sensitive to that. I've had this issue on my Miata three or four times over the past ten years when getting new tires.

It is the bushings inside the steering rack. It is accentuated by the v-tread tires you recently mounted.

That was my personal experience on my '88 MR2 SC.

JohnRW1621 wrote: It is the bushings inside the steering rack. It is accentuated by the v-tread tires you recently mounted. That was my personal experience on my '88 MR2 SC.

This. I had the exact same issue on one of mine. Replaced the plastic cup looking bushing inside the steering rack and it went away.

racerdave600 wrote:

JohnRW1621 wrote: It is the bushings inside the steering rack. It is accentuated by the v-tread tires you recently mounted. That was my personal experience on my '88 MR2 SC.

This. I had the exact same issue on one of mine. Replaced the plastic cup looking bushing inside the steering rack and it went away.

These guys? ( BFGoodrich g-Force Sport COMP-2 )

Hmmmm probably the only bushing/part that wasn't replaced by my friend, so I'll definitely try that first.

Do you have another set of 4x100 rims with straighter tread that you can swap on for some testing?

I had the same vibration on my SW20. I eliminated the problem by wrecking the car.

Will wrote: I had the same vibration on my SW20. I eliminated the problem by wrecking the car.

I'm not sure what could be causing the vibration. But I can pretty confidently recommend doing not that.

wae wrote:

Will wrote: I had the same vibration on my SW20. I eliminated the problem by wrecking the car.

I'm not sure what could be causing the vibration. But I can pretty confidently recommend doing not that.

I confidently recommend not having an Explorer turn in front of you, but it wasn't really up to me.

JohnRW1621 wrote: It is the bushings inside the steering rack. It is accentuated by the v-tread tires you recently mounted. That was my personal experience on my '88 MR2 SC.

So would this be the item in question?

MKI MR2 Steering Rack Bushings [18-702] MKI MR2 Steering Rack Bushings Prothane's rigid polyurethane bushings replace the factory rubber bushings that attach the steering rack to the car body.

2's R Us site

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A3ri-vU1U4

Watch video.
White bushing INSIDE steering rack.

My solution was to go back to tires in the front that had straight (non-V) tread.

http://www.mr2.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-77370.html

Were the TC rod bushings replaced?

In reply to evildky:

Since I'm not sure what they are, I'd have to ask. I think I'm going to try the bushing above (Mike says he might have one laying around, big surprise) and maybe have them check the wheel balances. Just in case.