Pulsing steering wheel vibration

Mike8491 · 03-01-2025, 10:13 AM

2022 ZL1 coupe with 5200 miles. Pulsing steering wheel vibration between 55 and 60 mph. Pulses are about 1/2 seconds apart. Road force balanced all tires with no change. Vibration only noticeable on newly resurfaced smooth asphalt road. Any thoughts appreciated

N Camarolina · 03-01-2025, 11:50 AM

Low miles so I doubt its a wheel bearing (hub bearing). Not likely brake pad / rotor related given that only experience at specific speed and not under braking condition. Could be tire/wheel weight (one fell off), or lug nut related, but also unlikely given your recent road-force balance.

Since the conditions you experience this under are very specific (newly paved road, and at a specific speed), my guess is you are only seeing this on one particular road and that this may be a by-product of the paving process. Ever drive on a newish road and hear the tires "sing?" It's nothing you can see, but causes a resonance within the tires. Try another (but different) smooth road and see if the vibration is there.

Mike8491 · 03-01-2025, 12:01 PM

Thank you for your response. I have noticed the same condition on other stretches of newly asphalt paved roads. I bought the car with 1700 miles. I believe I hear some tier sing on smooth roads as well. Doesn’t pull right or left. Could there be an alignment issue that isn’t revealed by right or left pull?

m6-lt1 · 03-01-2025, 12:34 PM

I had the same exact issue on my 2016 Camaro SS. I didn't keep it long after I "think" I fixed it, but I replaced front pads, rotors AND wheel hubs and it finally seemed to fix the issue.

Do you by any chance wash your car/wheels and then immediately pull into the garage (ie not take it around the block after your done washing it). The reason I ask is because I did that and my hubs where so rusty I believe it was keeping the rotors from sitting true on the hub surface thus leading to vibrations on smoothly paved roads.

It might be worth inspecting your front hubs. If they look like they came off the titanic, I would try replacing them. If you can get the rust off, put everything back together and see if it helps. Mine were so rusty you could not get the rust off unless you used a hammer and chisel.

discgolf01 · 03-01-2025, 09:36 PM

My first guess would be the road itself having something up with it that aligns with your car's design.

The quick and dirty math says that at 60mph your wheel is doing 12 revolutions per second, or 6 per half second.

So if it was something with your hub, rotors, or pads, it should be more machine gun pace as they complete 1 revolution rather than pulse every half second.

Have you tried this same road at significantly lower or higher speeds?

Or have you maintained the exact same speed with cruise control on this same road but over a long stretch to see if the pulsating changes?

03-01-2025, 10:13 AM	#1
Mike8491 Drives: 2022 ZL1 Join Date: Nov 2023 Location: Florida Posts: 2	Pulsing steering wheel vibration 2022 ZL1 coupe with 5200 miles. Pulsing steering wheel vibration between 55 and 60 mph. Pulses are about 1/2 seconds apart. Road force balanced all tires with no change. Vibration only noticeable on newly resurfaced smooth asphalt road. Any thoughts appreciated

03-01-2025, 12:34 PM	#4
m6-lt1 Drives: 2023 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS 1LE Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,599	I had the same exact issue on my 2016 Camaro SS. I didn't keep it long after I "think" I fixed it, but I replaced front pads, rotors AND wheel hubs and it finally seemed to fix the issue. Do you by any chance wash your car/wheels and then immediately pull into the garage (ie not take it around the block after your done washing it). The reason I ask is because I did that and my hubs where so rusty I believe it was keeping the rotors from sitting true on the hub surface thus leading to vibrations on smoothly paved roads. It might be worth inspecting your front hubs. If they look like they came off the titanic, I would try replacing them. If you can get the rust off, put everything back together and see if it helps. Mine were so rusty you could not get the rust off unless you used a hammer and chisel. __________________ Current: 2023 2SS 1LE Prior: 2016 Camaro 1SS 2007 Mustang GT 2008 Civic Si

03-01-2025, 11:50 AM	#2
N Camarolina Drives: 2021 2SS 1LE Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 960	Low miles so I doubt its a wheel bearing (hub bearing). Not likely brake pad / rotor related given that only experience at specific speed and not under braking condition. Could be tire/wheel weight (one fell off), or lug nut related, but also unlikely given your recent road-force balance. Since the conditions you experience this under are very specific (newly paved road, and at a specific speed), my guess is you are only seeing this on one particular road and that this may be a by-product of the paving process. Ever drive on a newish road and hear the tires "sing?" It's nothing you can see, but causes a resonance within the tires. Try another (but different) smooth road and see if the vibration is there.

03-01-2025, 12:01 PM	#3
Mike8491 Drives: 2022 ZL1 Join Date: Nov 2023 Location: Florida Posts: 2	Thank you for your response. I have noticed the same condition on other stretches of newly asphalt paved roads. I bought the car with 1700 miles. I believe I hear some tier sing on smooth roads as well. Doesn’t pull right or left. Could there be an alignment issue that isn’t revealed by right or left pull?

03-01-2025, 09:36 PM	#5
discgolf01 Drives: 2018 ZL1 Convertible M6 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: USA Posts: 64	My first guess would be the road itself having something up with it that aligns with your car's design. The quick and dirty math says that at 60mph your wheel is doing 12 revolutions per second, or 6 per half second. So if it was something with your hub, rotors, or pads, it should be more machine gun pace as they complete 1 revolution rather than pulse every half second. Have you tried this same road at significantly lower or higher speeds? Or have you maintained the exact same speed with cruise control on this same road but over a long stretch to see if the pulsating changes?

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