Front end seems to be loose but not transmitted to steering wheel

A loose front end is no joke. Ignoring the problem can cause premature / uneven tire wear and other costly repairs or accident due to catastrophic failure when least expected.

Typically, front end pivoting points used for steering - called "ball joints" - wear out providing similar sensations as you describe. This is not really a DIY type of repair - and should be brought to a trusted mechanic for a proper diagnosis and repair.


Ball Joints

Some front end part is worn, probably ball joint(s). Jack up and put on stands, have helper put long bar or 2x4 under front wheel and raise wheel up and down while you look for loose motion. If none found, have helper wigle steering wheel back and forth while you look for loose play in steering parts.

check steering ball joints for wear. Check for loose wheel bearings. Check front end suspension

Go to an Alignment Only Shop & have them road test
while you ride along

Then have them inspect for worn parts

it could be the shocks but due to wheel wobble i would say its more to do with worn bushings on the suspension arms etc.... best way to check is to jack up each front corner of the car at a time and shake the wheel see if it has movement side to side or front to rear if so i would reccomend getting it looked at or replacing the bushings :) hoep this helps

you need to have your tires checked for a slipped belt, also if you get a shake in the steering wheel when you apply the brake you need to have the brake rotors re-surfaced or replaced.

Grab hold off the prop-shaft to see if it is quite solid, it could be a worn UJ. Check the balance weight on the same shaft to ensure it hasn't slipped forward or backwards on the shaft.
Then get wheels checked, they could need re-balancing.

Stop driving and have this checked out ASAP.

You have a worn, loose or broken track rod and/ or streering rack. Also the front suspension should also be checked just to be safe

Hi I am Vortash .. I have to say first that this is not a car I have ever worked on , but it's a car so the fundementals will still be the same . Steering shudder usually occours due to 4 things Road wheels or suspension or steering itself ( this includes the ball joints that you say you have replaced )
1/ when you have new tyres fitted it is usually par for the course that they are balanced , this is the wheel is spun mechanicaly and a machine measures the axis wobble or TRUE .. a metal weight is placed at a point indicated by the machine to equalise the weight and give a true spin.... These weights sometimes come off causing the wheel to shake .
The wheels are buckled pot holes cause severe camage if hit at speed also knocking the tracking out causing tyre exstensive tyre wear .
2/ The suspension uhits .. if they become damaged they themselves wobble transfering movement to the steering
3/ steering the track rod ends wear and become loose allowing the front wheels to again wobble and run out of true .
4/ wheel bearings worn severly
The popping you hear I suspect is the sound of the tyres being dragged one way or the other traping air and poping it out , but I would have thought to do this the tyre pressure would have to be extreemly low .. you should have a miniumum of 24psi in the front and 28psi in the rear which is increased at the by 10% if towing .

I hope this is of some help Regards Vortash

It sounds like you have either a broken steel belt in your tire or a worn out idler arm in your steering assembly. Other causes may be a bent wheel, a flat spot on the tire or worst case your brake rotor / wheel hub may be loose. If the rotor / wheel hub is loose you may have severly damaged wheel bearings. Good luck...