09-10-2021, 12:36 PM
Yes, there are a few ways that they can 'wiggle'... as mentioned above...
With the wheels off the ground:
1. When the wheel is spun - if it is out of true, as Howard says.
2. When grabbed and rocked back and fro vertically with the brakes off - wiggle shows wear in the kingpins.
3. When grabbed and rocked back and fro vertically with the brakes on - wiggle shows any wear in the bearings.
4. When grabbed horizontally and shaken intelligently - reveals play in the various steering joints, if any.
One time I grabbed a front wheel on a car that had been laid up for a long time - there was a lot of wiggle in all directions - it didn't feel right - turned out the hub and bearings had been damaged in a heavy collision - another wheel had been fitted so the car could be rolled about, but it would not have been safe on the road.
With the wheels off the ground:
1. When the wheel is spun - if it is out of true, as Howard says.
2. When grabbed and rocked back and fro vertically with the brakes off - wiggle shows wear in the kingpins.
3. When grabbed and rocked back and fro vertically with the brakes on - wiggle shows any wear in the bearings.
4. When grabbed horizontally and shaken intelligently - reveals play in the various steering joints, if any.
One time I grabbed a front wheel on a car that had been laid up for a long time - there was a lot of wiggle in all directions - it didn't feel right - turned out the hub and bearings had been damaged in a heavy collision - another wheel had been fitted so the car could be rolled about, but it would not have been safe on the road.