Steering wheel shaking after dealer visit today

[stratodyne]

Hey everyone

I had a rather unfortunate experience today after getting my car back from a run-of-the-mill dealer visit. My car has almost approached the 15,000 mile mark, so I took it in to have an oil change performed, as well as a wash / wax / detail.

My service adviser informed me that the 15K warranty service normally includes the changing of the cabin air filter, as well as rotation of the tires. I showed him that I was running on new wheels and tires (17x8 Enkei PF01s, on Michelin Pilot Super Sports) that were only about a month old, and he said he would make a note that the tires were not to be rotated.

Anyways, after I received the car, everything was driving like normal, until I brought the car up on the freeway. At speeds over 50 mph, the steering wheel started shaking, and at 70mph+ it felt as though the car was shaking / vibrating, and the front wheels almost felt *floaty* (I'm guessing likely due to the vibration). I immediately called up my service adviser, informed him of how the car was perfect before I dropped it off, and that it was driving poorly now. I also asked if it was possible one of the shop techs attempted to rotate my tires, even though he noted that the rotation should be skipped. They would have not been able to remove the wheels anyways, as I have locking lugs and I did not give them my wheel lock key.

Anyways, they took the car overnight, since there were no shop techs left for the day, and I drove home in a rental forester courtesy car. The only thing that even makes a remote amount of sense is possibly a wheel weight falling off from however they spray the wheels, which would then cause the vibration.

Can anyone else lend some additional input as to what might have caused this out of the blue? Has anyone else experienced a similar issue?

Thanks in advance...just want to get my BRZ back :'(

[Ozzman]

The tire balance is off. Why is really the only question.

[autobrz]

If they detailed your car, they might have power washed the wheels and sprayed a wheel weight off. It's happened to me before after raining hard in another car. They just need to be rebalanced probably.

[SigmaHyperion]

Did you remember to re-torque your wheels a day or so after you had the installed?

Tire shops always say it, but I almost no one that really pays attention. But you always re-torque your lugs about 100 miles after installing new wheels. A loosening set of lugs on a front wheel will feel very similar to what you describe (yeah -- been there before).

I would expect it to happen within a few days, not a month out. But it's possible. It could certainly be a wheel weight knocked off too, but in my experience that doesn't feel "floaty" just shaky as hell. I've only had that "floaty" feel when on a low-profile flat tire or when I forgot to re-torque the lugs and it started shaking on its studs.

Good way to sheer off some studs too, lemme tell you. Forget to torque down the lugs on a 400hp/tq GTO, and it'll sheer those lugs right off the rear hubs if the wheel doesn't have a good solid seat.

[ft86me]

at my shop when we experiences this it's usually the case of the wheels needing to be balanced.

[EAGLE5]

It could also be mud on the wheels, a broken or worn suspension component, or a bent wheel.

[infinite012]

The technician(s) definitely took your car for a joy ride, hopped a curb, and promptly got fired.

This would explain a) wobbly steering, b) no technicians, c) racecar

[mwjcyber]

Originally Posted by infinite012

The technician(s) definitely took your car for a joy ride, hopped a curb, and promptly got fired.

This would explain a) wobbly steering, b) no technicians, c) racecar

Probably took a sweet jump

[stratodyne]

Originally Posted by mwjcyber

Probably took a sweet jump

Well that makes me feel worse. Guess I'll find out when they call me today and report back accordingly

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by stratodyne

Well that makes me feel worse. Guess I'll find out when they call me today and report back accordingly

[ame]http://youtu.be/6qoaVUdbWMs?t=50s[/ame]

You can stop at 1 minute.

[stratodyne]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

You can stop at 1 minute.

1.) Sam Rockwell is one of my favorite actors...why haven't I heard of this movie
2.) Hold right there...
3.) Dealership called and despite the explicit note to NOT rotate my tires (dunno how they did this anyways without my wheel lock key), they did. They got a hold of the tech that performed the work and said that my front driver's side hubcentric ring shifted slightly enough to cause the wheel to not sit flush against the hub, thus causing the vibration, shaking wheel, and goofy handling. I'm heading over to pickup the car @ 9AM this morning, and will have a service adviser ride along with me on the freeway to double check. At least this all makes conceptual sense

[infinite012]

You said you didn't leave the locking lug nut key with the dealership, so how did they steal remove your wheels?

[stratodyne]

I spoke with the sales manager on the phone, and I asked the same question. He said they've got a master set of wheel lock keys. Still have no idea how they got my lugs off, as I don't have the set of Subaru wheel locks, but a set of Muteki Lugs / Locks

Originally Posted by infinite012

You said you didn't leave the locking lug nut key with the dealership, so how did they steal remove your wheels?

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by stratodyne

I spoke with the sales manager on the phone, and I asked the same question. He said they've got a master set of wheel lock keys. Still have no idea how they got my lugs off, as I don't have the set of Subaru wheel locks, but a set of Muteki Lugs / Locks

Muteki's can be taken off with 17mm socket.

Locks are fairly universal, and any well stocked dealer/shop will have virtually every key available to them. Heck, even my local America's Tire has keys for 99.99% of the cars that come in.

Locks give a false sense of security.

Just my $0.02