Hello forum,

I purchased a 97 Olds 88 a few months ago.
super nice, one owner, Florida car, had 41798 miles on it.

Owner could no longer drive

New tires, Michelins were installed and drove it home.

I notice it feels like one of the tires are not balanced and it is shaking the car at speeds 60-65 and up

I then have tires rebalanced.... and still getting what feels like balance shake

take it to a road force balance shop, and sure enough, one tire had 18 lbs of road force, they demount tire and turn it on the rim, rebalance, now ok

drive home and still have harsh vibration above 60-65 and up

replaced all struts and did alignment, both front axle shafts (two times), rotors
problem gone? NO

car runs and shifts perfectly, just this harsh shaking

had yet another road force balance at another place, inspected tires, wheels, hubs....all perfect

dozens of no results shops later, I still have the shakes

seems nobody can pin point what or where the shake is coming from


tire places say the tires are not out of round or wobbles of any kind

alignment guys inspected everything, can't find anything

they all drive it, feel the vibration and shrug their shoulders and puzzled

I took a jack and raised tire from ground, inspected ball joints, using pry bar under tire, did find pass side rear have play up and down...in ball joint and replaced

all others were fine
hubs are quiet when rolling, and no resistance
all a-arm bushings look fine,,
with jack under front arm, tire off ground, started up car, in drive, let wheel spin, tc off I do notice a shake on drivers side, removed wheel, checked again
I put all the lug nuts back on to hold rotor, and spin again
the car vibrates like the shake when driving 65 and up

I notice that the AXLE shaft is vibrating, and has a slight wobble to it, the outer cv joint near tire vibrates extreme enough to make the rubber boot hit the bottom of the strut, yes, the wheel is turning fast... prob above 100

could this be my shaker?

One of the mechanics had already replaced my axles, a month later, another says that it looks like I have a bad axle on drivers side, explained, it is only a month old, showed me the wobble so I replace it again.. this one wobbles too

The car had never been wrecked, runs and shifts perfectly just this damn shake while driving 65 and up

I do hear "POPPING" noise from rear of car once in a while, I am assuming its from the rear brakes (drums), they are new too..

anyone have an idea where my shake is coming from?

Video is at



Car now has 51k miles...

Yea, the shake really looks like its coming from that outboard shaft. Are you able to put that 34mm socket back on and re-torque that nut again?

i would try that. im thinking the hub might be bad allowing the axle to move if its torqued properly

I had thought of that too, and last week ..I took the impact and actually loosened the axle nut and retightened, thinking it may need reseated.. but no luck ,... the shake did not go away.. I checked out the hub more closely, no noise, or play in the hub.

I was thinking the same, some kind of factory defect in the hub, since it'* the third axle and still same shake, even tho the hub turns quietly and no play

this is the only area that has been narrowed down to shaking

unsure what is going on...

what is the size of the star bit that fits the 3 hub studs??

I found it, T55

make sure you give it a few whacks with a hammer and wd40, to free the rust and lock tight. they like to strip

Has anyone had the problem?

Car is rust free, has been in Sarasota Fl the last 16 years.. since new

I did order the 3 bolts just in case, but as you see in the videos, even the bolts look new, transmission side cover looks as if it never seen rain!

so hopefully the bolts will just turn out when I try

you never see one like that around here, must be nice