still play in new ball joints ?

[germanz]

Hello to all,

e few weeks ago I replaced my balljoints. But my steering wheels still shakes by a certain speed. I filled them up with fresh grease.

Today I jacked up my car, to feel the bearing play. In vertical direction there was no play. But in horizontal direction there was much play on both sides. I could see, that the play is under the grommet. When I lift the car down, the play feels normal.

Is this caused by a conical construction without spring load ?

The balljoints, are made in taiwan.

Thanks for all your shared expirience

Rainer

[Bambikiller240]

There are many components of the 240Z front end that can cause the steering wheel to wobble.

Are you sure the "play" isn't in the inner or outer tierod ends, or the wheel bearings?

I would doubt that the new ball joints are the problem.

Poorly balanced tires/wheels can cause the wobble, as can the rubber donut between the upper and lower sections of the steering collumn.

[inline6]

I chased my shimmy problem for years and then found that my new ball joints did the same thing I think you are describing.

I jacked the front (either side) of the car under the ball joint (or outer end of the lower control arm) to keep the load as if the car was on the ground, but allow the wheel free movement. then grabbed the wheel and was shocked at the amount of movement in and out and front to back. When I jacked the front of the car off of the ground like done normally, everything felt tight and I couldn't perceive the play.

I literally replaced every bushing and rod end in the front end, prior to that, but didn't replace the ball joints because they were already new when I bought the car. Replacing them with new OEM nissan ones was the final solution. The shimmy finally was gone after I did that.

[germanz]

Thanks for all your feedback,

I replaced my bushings and tie rod ends too.

For me it looks like inline6 discribed. There is only the question if new nissan ball joint will make a differnce.

Even here in europe it will be a quite expensive test.

Cheers Rainer