[zxspeedfreq]

My 2002 ZX3 has had a slight vibration in the steering wheel pretty much since it was new. It has 20,000 miles now and I still haven't figured it out. This morning I was airing up my front driver's side tire (slow leak) with the car idling and noticed that the tire was shaking very slightly. Checked the passenger's side and it wasn't shaking at all. What would make the tire vibrate while the car is parked in neutral idling, and does it have anything to do with my steering wheel shaking?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[GTIspirit]

It only vibrates when parked in neutral? What about when it's parked and idling in Park, Reverse, or Drive? What about with the A/C on/off in the gears above? Just some more things to think about when you're diagnosing the issue.

 

[zxspeedfreq]

It only vibrates when parked in neutral? What about when it's parked and idling in Park, Reverse, or Drive? What about with the A/C on/off in the gears above?

Sorry, it's a 5 speed, so it's parked in neutral with the e-brake set.

Also, the AC was on at the time.

 

[MichaelXi]

Any Aftermarket parts?
There are a Handful of Possibilities.
Motor-mount under the air-cleaner?... swaybar endlinks?...loose lug-nuts?...Loose Wheel-Bearing?
I dunno for sure...

 

[zxspeedfreq]

Lug nuts are tight. Iceman, UDP, 2K manifold, and SVT springs/dampers are my only mods. Can anyone tell me if their front driver's side tire vibrates while parked with the car running? It's a very light shaking, you'd have to be right down by the tire looking at it or feeling it to notice, but the passenger side definitely doesn't do it. That's the part that really confuses me.

 

[noresull]

The Focus is a cheap 4-cylinder car. All of Ford's 4-cylinder's have had vibration's in the steering wheel. The vibrating tire You speak of can and will happen to any engine idling. My focus does it, my older truck does it, my parents 2000 GMC has done it...so on and so on. If the vibration isn't bad, and there are no clunks, don't worry about it.

 

[P.]

The Focus is a cheap 4-cylinder car. All of Ford's 4-cylinder's have had vibration's in the steering wheel. The vibrating tire You speak of can and will happen to any engine idling. My focus does it, my older truck does it, my parents 2000 GMC has done it...so on and so on. If the vibration isn't bad, and there are no clunks, don't worry about it.

yeah i think he is right.... plus the trans is on that side of the car so that halfshaft is shorter and may communicate vibration better than the passenger side.

 

[MattHarrell]

The Focus is a cheap 4-cylinder car. All of Ford's 4-cylinder's have had vibration's in the steering wheel. The vibrating tire You speak of can and will happen to any engine idling. My focus does it, my older truck does it, my parents 2000 GMC has done it...so on and so on. If the vibration isn't bad, and there are no clunks, don't worry about it.

Hmm, maybe that makes it more likely to happen, but I've never seen that on either of the 4-cylinder Ford's I've owned. My '91 Escort GT didn't do it, and neither does my 2001 ZX3. Both had/have rock solid steering unless there was/is a wheel balance or pulsating brake issue. I'd be taking my Focus to Ford if I saw any wheel shaking at idle.

 

[nordy200]

I agree with matt-I have never had that type of problem on my ZX3, 99ZX2, 97 Escort, 90 Escort. I have spent a lot of time working on the ZX3 and the steering is rock solid, except when I have problems with my 17" Primaxwheels/Kumho tire combination. Damn, those wheels are fragile.

 

[MichaelXi]

Bump.