2000-2005 Discuss your 2000-2005 Bonneville SE, SLE, and SSEi Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.

Vibrations at highway speed

Old 10-24-2007, 07:46 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
Thread Starter
 
big_news_1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Glendale, AZ
Posts: 3,459
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
big_news_1 is on a distinguished road
Default Vibrations at highway speed

My wife'* 2000 SSEi has a vibration at 60-75mph, and I'm not sure if it'* warped rotors, tire balance, or some sort of alignment issue. What are some general ways to check what might be causing a vibration? Feels like it'* coming from the front end, particularly the right front. The car also pulls to the right when you let go of the wheel. The vibration seems slightly more noticeable when you use the brakes, but not enough that it has me convinced it'* a rotor issue.

What should I try first? Should I just take the car to an alignment shop and have them check it out?

(By the way, I put this in General because I figured any solutions would be applicable to all years, not just 2000+)
Old 10-24-2007, 08:24 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
Posts like a Camaro
 
Bugsi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 857
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Bugsi is on a distinguished road
Default

My 97 has a similar vibration at those same speeds. Over the years I've tried various things to diagnose it, and the best I've come up with is having the tires rotated and balanced, to see if it made a change, and it did. However, within a month or so, if the vibration had gotten better after rotate & balance, it would be just as bad again. Brand new tires made it go away, but after a few months of driving, it is always back.

Tire dealer tells me I need new struts, points to slight cupping wear on my tires. I spoke with a coworker who used to race cars, and he agrees with this assessment.

I've had brakes done with new rotors, no change in vibration, so I suspect this is not a warped rotors issue, although you typically hear from several members who did get vibration because of warped rotors, so it'* definitely something to check.

If you have the luxury of swapping new tires on, that'* a pretty big giveaway if your vibration goes away.

For now, I just drive it as-is, but some time soon I'll probably have struts replaced around the time I'm due for new tires.
Old 10-24-2007, 09:00 PM
  #3  
RIP
True Car Nut
 
Archon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, Mi
Posts: 5,656
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Archon is on a distinguished road
Default

This has been a common theme for the 2000+ Bonnevilles. No one solution has been found that works for everyone. Doing a search for vibration in the 2000 - 2005 section will give you an idea of things that have been tried. These cars use lighter suspension components and are more susceptible to vibrations. Some have found relief after Hunter Road Force Balancing. There is a TSB for the problem. TSB
Old 10-25-2007, 06:56 AM
  #4  
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS

Expert Gearhead
 
BillBoost37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Enfield, CT
Posts: 41,391
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
BillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of light
Default

With the pulling..I'd direct the attention there. A collapsing brake hose or sticking caliper can cause a pull. Alignment can also cause a pull and bad enough alignment for enough time can cause the tread on the tire to wear unevenly. That could cause a vibration as well.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jds
1992-1999
4
03-11-2006 11:31 AM
Bugsi
1992-1999
4
11-02-2005 01:15 AM
1fatcat
1992-1999
19
08-13-2005 08:36 PM
Highlight
1992-1999
3
05-21-2004 04:13 PM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Vibrations at highway speed



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:35 AM.