I have a 07 xf limited and could really use some help. About 2 months ago I replaced the front brake shoes and since then the steering wheel has been shaking. I have replaced the front tires and had them balanced but nothing changed. The brakes feel good it doesn't shake anymore or less when you apply the brakes so I don't think it is the rotors. I was told when I had the tires replaced that the right front wheel bearing had a little play but was told it didn't need to be replaced yet. The shaking starts at about 65 mph but goes away for the most part at around 75 mph. Any help would be great.

 

I think the people who replaced your tires need to re-check the balancing. Sure sounds like balance to me.


Jeff K

 

Old school wisdom, below 45mph check the front end. If above 45 mph, check the rear tires,or rear of vehicle.

 

Do you have a auto or manual?

 

It's a automatic.

 

Steering wheel shake is usually front end and that speed is usually a tire harmonic. Several possibilities:
1) tire out of balance (threw wheel weight)
2) tire not properly mounted on rim
3) rim bent
4) rim not mounting properly on hub
5) tire belt shifted

For everything other than one need to spin the tires, best on the car, and look for a wobble. Good tire place should be able to do this. Suspect a tire is not round.

 

The only new parts are brake pads? (shoes are on drum brakes)

If the rotors were also replaced and it started after they were replaced I would not investigate tires. Unless the shop knocked off some wheel weights. What rotors were used? Was the runout measured after they were installed on the car? Rotors can be out of balance or have a heavy side.

 

The rotors were not change. They still appear to be in good shape and there is no pulsating when I apply the brakes.

 

The symptoms you state are quite possible with a tire that has internal damage that is unseen by the eye, as noted by Padgett.
I had something similar and it went away when new tires where installed. But you have had the tires balanced.
A little play in the bearing could be taken up with a minor adjustment of the nut.
Worn steering joints could lead to this, how many miles on the car?

 

Pull the wheels, make sure they seat properly, maybe even swap them side to side (if non directional tires) Maybe get a passenger to hang out the window and look to see if anything is wobbling.
A vibrating out of balance tire will quickly ruin a shock, and then get worse without the damping.

 

I am assuming that they are OEM wheels and not after market wheels with the wrong type of spacers or some such.

 

They are the factory wheels.

 

The car has 70,000 miles

 

What kind of tires did you put on the front? I know for a fact that some tires come from the manufacturer out of round badly that even weights cant fix them. The Perilli's on my truck were that way and I had to have them index and even that hasnt fixed it all the way.

 

I put Firestone fire Hawks on it.