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Vibration Problem

B

blackstang5.0

CEG'er
Joined
Dec 27, 2005
Messages
95
Location
Minneapolis MN
Ok, ive been having this weird vibration problem from after hitting a nice pot hole a few weeks ago on the passenger side of my svt.

The vibration is a strange one in that under 50mph you dont notice it, once above 50mph the vibration kicks in and you can feel it only through the streering wheel and not the shifter or pedals. The vibration isnt a steady vibration, its more fades in and fades out. Its not a violent vibration but more like when you go over those vibration grooves on the side of highways but less intense.

If you go above 80mph the vibration sorta disapears but is more of a constant low vibration in the steering wheel.

What ive tested: So far ive tested the transmission in disengaging the clutch and letting the car coast, the vibration still exists. Ive completely power off the engine while at higway speed and vibration still there.

The car drives straight and true and doesnt vear when i take my hands off the wheel so it isnt alignment. Im thinking it might possibly be the tierods or CV shaft possibly. Dont think its the CV since i dont feel the vibration in the pedals or shifter.

Well if you guys have any ideas please reply, want to have some sort of idea to give to the shop people when i bring it in to get checked on.
 
is it possible your wheels are out of balance? (better to check the cheap things first i suppose)
 
catfish said:
is it possible your wheels are out of balance? (better to check the cheap things first i suppose)
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Could be, but if that was the case, then the vibration would be there all the time, not this intermitent thing thats going on now.

Im almost sure its something with the steering, bent something, loosend something. God damn minnesota potholes.
 
You won't feel an out of balance tire at low speeds, and the vibe will come and go at high speed. For example it vibes from 55-62 then smooth until it shakes again at 75. Same thing for a bent wheel unless that pothole made a taco out of it..........then it'll wobble at low and shake at high speeds. Cheap way to diagnose....rotate that side of the car and test drive.
 
What TG said. Hitting a pothole can bend the inside of the wheel. Tires and wheels would be the first thing I would check.
 
Let me give you my anectodal experience. 55 mph to 65 mph vibration. Below and above that, smooth as silk. Could not get it figured out as the front struts and springs were new, wheels were balanced and steering was aligned. Started to blame Sears for not having calibrated balancing and alignment equipment. Finally, decided to change rear struts and springs even though it "looked" fine. The right (passenger) rear wheel was "cupped" (indication of bad strut or spring). 2 "new" (used) tires, 2 new struts, and 2 new springs at the rear later, and the vibration is gone. The struts and springs were 11 years old. :eek:
 
Another thing, the vibration has been getting steadily worse of the past weeks. I very much doubt that a bent wheel can get worse without hitting another huge pothole.
 
BrApple said:
wheel bearing getting worse?
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Thats another idea i had, maybe hitting the pot hole damaged the wheel bearing. Im going to be working on the car after work today so ill be sure to check to see if the bear is shot also. I know the way to test is to see if the wheel moves back and fourth on the hub.

Ill also rotate the tires to see if that was the problem also.
 
wheel bearing is more of a grinding sound . i'd check out the wheel & tire first and make sure it tru . then i'd look to the cv axel . i have one that vibrated like crazy at speed but wasn't noticable under 40 mph
 
00SVTGA said:
wheel bearing is more of a grinding sound . i'd check out the wheel & tire first and make sure it tru . then i'd look to the cv axel . i have one that vibrated like crazy at speed but wasn't noticable under 40 mph
Click to expand...

anything specifically i should look at with the cv shaft?
 
My car is doing the same thing I just bought it, and it comes and goes at high speeds The tires are really bad Im getting 4 new ones even though one is brand new, Ill get an alignment too because my wheel is slightly to the left and hopefull that will fix it, the tire also have no weights on any of them
 
Well it turned out to be the post hole did bend my rim. Its still driveable and just rotated the wheel to the back so i dont feel it through the steering. But sucks that my new 04 focus wheels are now bent on the passenger side.
 
WantaSVT said:
My car is doing the same thing I just bought it, and it comes and goes at high speeds The tires are really bad Im getting 4 new ones even though one is brand new, Ill get an alignment too because my wheel is slightly to the left and hopefull that will fix it, the tire also have no weights on any of them
Click to expand...
Welcome WantaSVT:) . Let us know if this fixes the problem.
 
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