Sounds like flat tire is driving over rumble strips?

Tiny
BBBLONDIE
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 CHEVROLET EQUINOX
  • 3.4L
  • V6
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 186,500 MILES
Doesn't matter what speed I'm going or how much I'm turning left, as soon as I turn my steering wheel left it sounds like my left front tire is driving over the rumble strips in the middle of the road and I'm nowhere near them.
Since this started, I noticed at higher speeds of 50mph+ the steering is very erratic and loose, making it difficult to stay in my lane/on the road. Constantly having to correct the wheel in the middle of a turn as it will gradually make the turn wider going into the other lanes.

Not sure if this is relevant and important to note, but right before this problem started, I had a severe death wobble in the front end that I was told was due to my tires being very bald and showing wire.
So, I got new tires on the front and once balanced, the wobble momentarily went away. Until this new problem started, now the wobble is also back but only occurs when I let off the gas.

I don't have the money to just throw random parts on this deathtrap hoping it'll be the problem solver. So hoping you guys can help narrow down the possibilities so I can get back to feeling at least a little bit safer driving to and from work when I only had to worry about my brake line collapsing and catching on fire behind my wheel (happened the day I got it and was bringing it home, thus when she got her name. Fireball). I should've taken that sign a little more serious.
Sunday, April 13th, 2025 AT 11:11 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,144 POSTS
The best thing to do is have a helper move the steering wheel back and forth while you watch the linkage to see what is loose. Can upload a short video of what you are seeing so I can help fix it. Also to be clear, you have new front tires on it, correct? It sounds like you may have a wheel bearing hub going out. Please go over these guides to get you familiar with what you are looking at:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/steering-wheel-shakes-when-accelerating-or-braking

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/popping-noise

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Monday, April 14th, 2025 AT 11:31 AM

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