Need advise on front end vibration
#1
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Need advise on front end vibration
Ok so here is the sad story of my beautiful white Bonnie.
I bought the car 6 months ago for $9500 with 74k on it in great condition. Perfect ride no noise it was fantastic! A month later I moved from St. George, UT to Salt Lake City, UT so I wouldnt have to travel to Las Vegas every week for work. As a testement to the excellent driving skills of Utahns I was hit twice within one month of moving here. The first accident was some B**** who wasnt paing attention and ran into my drivers side rear bumper while I was pulling a U-turn. This tore the bumper up and nocked a wheel weight off but otherwise everything was fine. A few weeks later I was run into by some Fast and the Furious moron driving a civic while totally wasted at 3:00 in the afternoon. This fool ran into the front fender making contact just behind the lamp assy. He may have also hit the tire as that is when my vibration problem began.
OK thats the background heres what it'* doing:
Between 65-80 MPH the car will vibrate from somewhere most likely the front end. This vibration is felt in the seat and especially through the steering wheel. It does not change the tracking of the vehicle. Its just annoying. The bodyshop balanced all four wheels and tires separately. The intermediate shaft was replaced too. They also suggested that I replace the CV axles which may have been bent - insurance wouldnt pay - stupid USAA. I have just finished that. The only other obvious thing is the wheel bearings. They don't however have any play in them at all. The passenger side may be making a light whirring noise but its not loud enough to be sure (may just be wind noise). I was wondering if there are any other things that could be causing this?
Thanks for the help.
I bought the car 6 months ago for $9500 with 74k on it in great condition. Perfect ride no noise it was fantastic! A month later I moved from St. George, UT to Salt Lake City, UT so I wouldnt have to travel to Las Vegas every week for work. As a testement to the excellent driving skills of Utahns I was hit twice within one month of moving here. The first accident was some B**** who wasnt paing attention and ran into my drivers side rear bumper while I was pulling a U-turn. This tore the bumper up and nocked a wheel weight off but otherwise everything was fine. A few weeks later I was run into by some Fast and the Furious moron driving a civic while totally wasted at 3:00 in the afternoon. This fool ran into the front fender making contact just behind the lamp assy. He may have also hit the tire as that is when my vibration problem began.
OK thats the background heres what it'* doing:
Between 65-80 MPH the car will vibrate from somewhere most likely the front end. This vibration is felt in the seat and especially through the steering wheel. It does not change the tracking of the vehicle. Its just annoying. The bodyshop balanced all four wheels and tires separately. The intermediate shaft was replaced too. They also suggested that I replace the CV axles which may have been bent - insurance wouldnt pay - stupid USAA. I have just finished that. The only other obvious thing is the wheel bearings. They don't however have any play in them at all. The passenger side may be making a light whirring noise but its not loud enough to be sure (may just be wind noise). I was wondering if there are any other things that could be causing this?
Thanks for the help.
#2
One way to test for a wheel bearing problem; While you are driving along and hear/feel the vibration, turn your steering wheel a little and if the sound and vibration change, it'* usually a wheel bearing.
#4
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Jack up the wheel, and then shake it side to side (3 and 9 o'clock) and top to bottom (12 and 6) to see if there is any looseness. If side to side, the tie-rod ends are likely worn. If both, it could be the wheel bearing, or ball joint.
The vibration you are experiencing has been a problem for many 2000+ owners, with no single cause being found. If you do a search, you'll find many threads on it, some without a solution where they decided to live with it. GM issued a TSB regarding it, where replacing the lower control arm bushings with a new design was suggested. I believe one member tried that, with mixed results.
The vibration you are experiencing has been a problem for many 2000+ owners, with no single cause being found. If you do a search, you'll find many threads on it, some without a solution where they decided to live with it. GM issued a TSB regarding it, where replacing the lower control arm bushings with a new design was suggested. I believe one member tried that, with mixed results.
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If you've had the wheels balanced and steering column replaced, and there'* no play in the wheels, i.e. ball joints, tie rods and bearings, then your only other options are the brake rotors and bad tires. If your tires get "bubbles" in them, i.e., tread separation, that would cause a vibration. Also, if your brake rotors are warped, that would also cause a vibration. It'* fairly inexpensive to have your rotors turned. If that wheel has been impacted, make sure the rim isn't bent or damaged. Have the tires rotated and put the fronts on the back and that will tell you if you have a bad tire/wheel or something up front like axle, brake rotor, etc. going on.
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Thanks for the replys
I have seen many postings about vibration but have not been able to find an answer.
I assume that it can only be the wheel bearings or not likely but possibly a tire issue.
Heres why.
The wheel has been checked and is true and balanced.
Brakes are smooth and show no sign of pulsing.
According to the mechanic there is no play in the joints. I will double-check this myself to confirm
Tie rods and ball joints *look* perfect
however, I have not heard any noise out of the wheel area that would suggest a wheel bearing but it may just not be that bad yet.
I will try rotating the tires and see if the problem moves with them
Thanks for the ideas!
I have seen many postings about vibration but have not been able to find an answer.
I assume that it can only be the wheel bearings or not likely but possibly a tire issue.
Heres why.
The wheel has been checked and is true and balanced.
Brakes are smooth and show no sign of pulsing.
According to the mechanic there is no play in the joints. I will double-check this myself to confirm
Tie rods and ball joints *look* perfect
however, I have not heard any noise out of the wheel area that would suggest a wheel bearing but it may just not be that bad yet.
I will try rotating the tires and see if the problem moves with them
Thanks for the ideas!
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