It's not a Cav anymore but maybe someone on here can help me out.

About 50% of the time, usually under acceleration or at about 40-60 KM/H, the steering wheel on my Protege5 shakes rapidly back and forth about 1/2 an inch.

It just started doing this and I have no clue as to why.

There is weird noises when turning, moving the wheel, going over bumps, etc. and the car tracks straight, this is really starting to bother me. I just can't figure it out.

Thanks

typically, a vibration or shimmy under load is likely a bad axle.

the other things to check are bent rims, severly out of balance wheels, tires with broken and/or shifted belts.

the only other things it could be are driveline components, or off the wall problems that are car specific.

Good Luck.

Sorry I meant to say there is NO weird noises at all

Jeff: thanks man, bent rim could be, just came back from the mountains from a ski trip