Steering Wheel Shakes Options

[HardHead93]

During my track day yesterday I ran off the road into the dirt. When I got back onto the road my car started making a thumping noise and the steering wheel was vibrating while driving. I got home and put the front of the car on jack stands. There was no play up and down or side to side when I shook the wheel. I also inspected the wheels and rims, there was some lost tread from where I locked the wheels but no warping of the rims. Lastly I started the car and put it into gear to get the wheels spinning. Usually when I did this both wheels turned normally. When I did it this time the driver side wheel would turn a little bit then get stuck. Once it got out of that sticking point it would turn some more but slowly, then get stuck again. When I turned the wheel by hand doesn't spin as easily as the passenger side and does have a point where it gets stuck and I have to push through it. I don't think it is the wheel bearing because I just replaced that about 6 months ago. What could be causing this? Could it be a sticking brake caliper? I do remember when I was driving home smelling a funny odor at first I thought it was gear oil but nothing was leaking from the car.

This post has been edited by HardHead93: Nov 19, 2017 - 1:45 PM

[Tigawoods]

if anything it would be something in the knuckle/wheel area. What rims did you warp? Rotors could be adding to it but chancing are you would be able to hear that slightly when turning the wheel.
Wheel bearing change is a must. Id say the root of the problem is there. Did you check for any clumped up dirt that might be throwing off balance?

[HardHead93]

if anything it would be something in the knuckle/wheel area. What rims did you warp? Rotors could be adding to it but chancing are you would be able to hear that slightly when turning the wheel.
Wheel bearing change is a must. Id say the root of the problem is there. Did you check for any clumped up dirt that might be throwing off balance?

It was the driver side wheel that got warped. There were branches from the bushes I ran over when I went off the track but no dirt. I am really thinking it is the wheel because there is a flat spot on the tire from braking hard and the bent rim.