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2003 lesabre vibration

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Old 02-18-2012, 09:23 PM
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Default 2003 lesabre vibration

I have a 03 lesabre that roughness or vibration when I turn to the right even slightly, like changing lanes on the interstate. I have replaced both front bearing assemblies and passenger cv/axle which was leaking grease. I put new tires on. I put new struts last year. The car has 100,000 mi. Any one have any ideas what it can be causing the problem? Thanks Tim
Old 02-18-2012, 09:27 PM
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have the tires been balanced and an alignment done? and when the struts were put on did you make sure they put new mounts on too?
Old 02-18-2012, 09:35 PM
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Originally Posted by timtrader03
I have a 03 lesabre that roughness or vibration when I turn to the right even slightly, like changing lanes on the interstate. I have replaced both front bearing assemblies and passenger cv/axle which was leaking grease. I put new tires on. I put new struts last year. The car has 100,000 mi. Any one have any ideas what it can be causing the problem? Thanks Tim
Do you feel it in the pedal when braking?

It could be your tie rods, jack the car up in the front, enough to get the wheels off the ground, and then tug on each tire from 3-9 o'clock and see if you hear the noise.

Another thing, it could be warped, or irregularly worn brake rotors, I had a problem where seized caliper pins caused the rotors to warp a bit, I also had bad inner tie rods on both sides, due to hitting a big ditch that sheared my rack bolts, and due to not knowing I was supposed to grease them once and a while.

The lower control arm ball joints could be bad, but I'd check the tie rods first.
Old 02-18-2012, 09:36 PM
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Default 2003 lesabre

I had alignment done with new struts and tires balanced when installed 500 miles ago. This feels like a wheel bearing but just put both sides on and no change. I don't know what strut mounts are. tim
Old 02-18-2012, 09:39 PM
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can't feel it when braking
Old 02-18-2012, 09:42 PM
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Originally Posted by timtrader03
I had alignment done with new struts and tires balanced when installed 500 miles ago. This feels like a wheel bearing but just put both sides on and no change. I don't know what strut mounts are. tim
Did the vibration start after the alignment was done? If so, makes me wonder if the left the lock nut loose on a tie rod.
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Old 02-18-2012, 09:46 PM
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Default 2003 lesabre

Originally Posted by Mike1995
Did the vibration start after the alignment was done? If so, makes me wonder if the left the lock nut loose on a tie rod.
no it'* started recently 'the struts were put on last year.
Old 02-18-2012, 09:46 PM
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strut mounts are the top part of the strut if you open the hood those dome shaped areas in the wheel well are where they are located, i say this because my buick lesabre had many problems with suspension and vibrations and just recently i found out that the shocks and struts i had replaced all around a couple years ago were replaced but for some dumb reason they didnt replace the mounts, and now my car shakes and pulls hard to the right because of it. but there are many reasons for vibrations so make sure to check all the areas mentioned here, buicks are a tricky car to own ive come to find out owning 2 different generations now.
Old 02-18-2012, 10:01 PM
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Default 2003 lesabre

Originally Posted by Buick96
strut mounts are the top part of the strut if you open the hood those dome shaped areas in the wheel well are where they are located, i say this because my buick lesabre had many problems with suspension and vibrations and just recently i found out that the shocks and struts i had replaced all around a couple years ago were replaced but for some dumb reason they didnt replace the mounts, and now my car shakes and pulls hard to the right because of it. but there are many reasons for vibrations so make sure to check all the areas mentioned here, buicks are a tricky car to own ive come to find out owning 2 different generations now.
i will check that, i'm not sure if i'm describing it right but it feels like running over those little rough strips they put on the edge of the road that let you know when get on the shoulder of the road. its not that rough and it stops when you ease the steering back to the left.
Old 02-18-2012, 10:38 PM
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it could be in my experience either unbalanced wheels, bad wheel bearings, strut mounts, tie rods, soo many things if you can get someone to get it on a lift and have a look under there do it, since theres so many possibilities you can check each thing while its up in the air.


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