Vibration and shock on the steering wheel (Opel Astra J)

Knocking sounds from below may be caused not only by faults in the suspension, but also in the vehicle's steering.

Table 1. Possible causes of vibrations and shocks on the steering wheel and ways to eliminate them

Cause	Method of elimination
Increased clearance in front wheel hub bearings	Replace the bearings
Loosening the tie rod ball joint nuts	Tighten the nuts
Increased clearance in the ball joints of the steering rods	Replace the tie rod ends
Increased clearance in the steering gear	Repair the steering gear
Loosening of the steering gear mount	Tighten the steering gear mount

Attention! The condition of the steering significantly affects not only the ease of driving, but also the safety of the vehicle.

Knocks and vibrations on the steering wheel may be caused by faulty ball joints of the steering rods and steering gear, wheels of the car. Check the steering according to the method described in the subsection Inspection and testing of the steering system on the vehicle.

Useful tips

A possible cause of vibration and impacts on the steering wheel when driving at speeds above 70–80 km/h may be an imbalance of the front wheels. Contact a car service or tire service center to check the balance of the front wheels.

If shocks and vibrations on the steering wheel occur when the brake pedal is pressed, the brake pads must be replaced, and the front brake discs must be repaired or replaced (see Front wheel brakes).

(Article posted on a web portal OpelBook.ru)