Horrible shake

[masho95]

Well I'm looking for some suggestions to help me out with a problem. My car shakes pretty bad. You can notice it anywhere from 30mph and up. (possibly lower but i haven't really tried to look for it) It's bad enough were you can physically SEE the steering wheel move back and forth. I was thinking out of balance tires, but obviously not at the lower speeds... I was wondering if a serious out of alignment car would shake like this?? The front end has brand new balljoints and outter tie rod ends on both sides. I checked for play in the front end and noticed a little (maybe inner tie rods going?) but didn't think it was that serious where the whole car would be shaking like this. The shake is very noticeable at highway speeds and actually it's grown VERY annoying... So any suggestions on what it may be or things to check out would be VERY appreciated!!

Thanks.

 

[SHO SPD]

could be alignment, but probably something else.. Tire balance wont make your wheel shake back and fourth.. if it does it at slow speeds I would say slipped, or broken belt in a tire. at high speeds hmmmm... not sure.. I need to drive it to see..

 

[Ace]

check your wheels to see if maybe one is bad...usually if a bad balance you wouldnt feel it till about 55 to 60...but if at low speeds its def something else...do you hear any noise..it could be a possible wheel bearing if its real bad...check all your front end bushings as well...

 

[Dave Kegel]

Most likely a bad tire on the front (broken belt or something). Could also be a bent wheel. Swap the front wheels/tires with the rear and see if it changes.

Dave

 

[GoofSHO]

How many miles are on you axles?? I had the same problem a while back..Did the usual "checking & replacing " Nothing worked until I replaced the Axles..

B

 

[masho95]

Ok axles are new. At least the driver side one is. Front left wheel bearing is new.

I'd guessing on a bad tire then, since the ones on there are "used", after I had a kinda tire blowout. And I seemed to have noticed it after I put the new "used" tires on there... in fact there was a strange noise I couldn't figure out... sounds kinda like truck tires. You know like the big Jeep tires on the highway... kinda hard to explain. But oh well I'd shoot for new tires soon then. They need to be done anyways... Thanks!

 

[SHO--ripper]

Check to see if the tire has a bubble.

 

[masho95]

Check to see if the tire has a bubble.

I assume you are refering to the sides of the tire and not the tread? Correct?

 

[SHO SPD]

A bubble in the sidewall usually wont effect the ride of the car... unless its ungodly huge.. like bigger than the whole sidewall.

 

[zhowell]

I once had a bubble in the tread of my old SLO. man it made the car feel wierd for a day till I found it. Turned out the belt inside the tire broke and caused a lump.

 

[SHO--ripper]

I meant on the tread. It will cause the same kind of vibration you're having. Also check the front right wheel bearing.

 

[masho95]

I didn't see a tremendous amount of play in the right side tire, so I think the wheel bearing is ok. But I have a brand new one sitting around to install anyways. I just haven't had the time and the mechanic the help me with the other one (pressing the old one out and the new one in) is no longer around. So I'm going to have to pull the knuckle and finding someone to do the same.

 

[bcdescd22]

Well Im having the same prob. It shakes when I go about 70 or above and theres a rattle. I just got back from Big O tires and they said it was my front strut mount! You might want to try that!

 

[Endri_SHO]

hey man,
replace your axels and you should be all set to goo. i had teh same problem,, i posted here like couple times and got up and down with tires, balancing, alignment and all that till sliped under car replaced both axcels and all shkaing, vibrating went away.. good luck

endri

 

[masho95]

Well yesterday I confirmed that is was one of the front tires causing the shake! My buddy has his 89 here and I threw on his new tires and basketweaves on the front of my car and took it for a quick ride. Absolutely no shake in the car at all.

So today I went out and got 4 new BFG Traction T/A's. Full testing of the tires to come. But I had a slight exhaust problem soon after leaving the tire place. I don't know how it happened but the "collar" on the resonator pipe, that attaches to the y-pipe via the spring bolts and nuts, slipped over the flared end of the pipe and thus caused the catback section of exhaust to become disconnected. I drove the car home with a y-pipe only. Man was it loud. Came home and got that taken care of, thankfully. Going to have to test out the tires tomorrow on the way to work.

Thanks for all the suggestions! :wave:

 

[SHO--ripper]

Glad the shake is gone Eric