bad vibration in entire frame

rk4g63 · 09-19-2005

Car:
94 Talon awd, 7 bolt/4 bolt. 16g. stock inj. Balance shafts not eliminated.

Problem:
At any speed, there is a bad vibration that goes through the dash all the time, sometimes the windows, the center console all the time, and sometimes the windshield. This does not happen at idle and happens rarely when in cruise (when I say cruise, I mean the cruise control is actually set, not just holding doen the accelerator constant). At all other times the vibration exists.

History of this car:
The previous owner experienced a different vibration - he thought it was a timing belt problem but ended up changing the tranny and tcase. That fixed his problem.
Also, the car has 132k - timing belt was changed at 90k.

Prior experience (not sure if it applies to this case):
97 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT - had a vibration coming from the engine bay and the car was shaking at idle. Turned out to be a timing belt jump. Got lucky since thats a horiz opposed design so just had to change out the timing belt at the dealership.
97 acura legend - same vibration in windshield, windows, etc - turned out to be wheel bearings going bad. Buddy's car with 150k.

Suggestions, anybody?

EclipseGST · 09-19-2005

Check the carrier bearing that supports the drive shaft. Other than that I would check the balance shafts and make sure they are both lined up and rotating correctly.

rk4g63 · 09-19-2005

how do i check the balance shafts are rotating?

EclipseGST · 09-19-2005

Pull off the timing belt and oil pan and inspect them. I had a bad vibration throughout my car when the bearing on the rear balance shaft got chewed up. The bearing was in the oil pan and the balance shaft was just flopping around in the block. Just make sure it rotates ok and nothing is causing any harm.

rk4g63 · 09-19-2005

Damn. That's big work and I dont know how to do that.

Matt D. · 09-20-2005

Wheels out of balance? Bulge in a tire? If anything like that is too bad your car will seem like it's falling apart.

Jakey · 09-20-2005

Did this vibration suddenly appear or slowly appear or ......?

rk4g63 · 09-20-2005

Its not the wheels/tires. I checked that already.

rk4g63 · 09-20-2005

I wouldn't know Jakey - I bought the car yesterday. Kenny mentioned he didn't have issues coming from Colorado. Seems to be the vibrations were there today - I wasn't paying attention when I test drove yesterday.

MATCHBX · 09-20-2005

Could be a wheel weight that fell off. When you said you checked the wheels, do you mean just visually? Or did you take it to a shop and have them check the balance of the wheels and whether or not the rims were straight?

How long ago was the last tune-up (plugs, wires, filters)? Could be a slight miss or it could be that one of the plug wires has come loose on the coils.

Also, this is a long shot, but check the idler shaft from the left side of the transmission to the left halfshaft. The bolts ended up falling out on mine and it vibrated like hell when I got on the accelerator. If the bolts have loosened up, it could make some vibrations.

Usually the carrier bearing will thump the floorboards under hard acceleration rather than just be a constant vibration.

cudvig · 09-20-2005

check the lug nuts, make sure they are tight!!!

-Colin

rk4g63 · 09-20-2005

tuneup was 5k ago. I'll have the wheels checked at a shop - could be a wheel wt fell of. I'll have the shop check the idler shaft too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MATCHBX

Could be a wheel weight that fell off. When you said you checked the wheels, do you mean just visually? Or did you take it to a shop and have them check the balance of the wheels and whether or not the rims were straight?

How long ago was the last tune-up (plugs, wires, filters)? Could be a slight miss or it could be that one of the plug wires has come loose on the coils.

Also, this is a long shot, but check the idler shaft from the left side of the transmission to the left halfshaft. The bolts ended up falling out on mine and it vibrated like hell when I got on the accelerator. If the bolts have loosened up, it could make some vibrations.

Usually the carrier bearing will thump the floorboards under hard acceleration rather than just be a constant vibration.

rk4g63 · 09-20-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by cudvig

check the lug nuts, make sure they are tight!!!

-Colin

lug nuts are tight. What torque do I torque them to?

MATCHBX · 09-20-2005

I do mine from 90-95 ft. lbs.

TGPilot · 09-21-2005

Well I do not know where it is coming from. The car has always had a vibration from 3400-4000RPM but that stopped after the tranny and transfer case was replaced. I posted it on here a while ago and some thought it might be the balance shaft was out of phase or not working at all. That is most of the reason I bought and gave you all the components for T-belt and balance belt replacement.

My suggestion would be to have one of the guys (JET maybe) drive it to feel it also and maybe track down the source.

You say it is in the frame...then windshield? Is it just an engine vibration maybe from a bad motor or tranny mount? I did not replace them at anytime nor did the previous owner as far as I know.

I did not feel a vibration the entire drive out nor when you were beating it...I mean test driving it before you paid me for it. Maybe you tore something up in the tranny with that missed shift/slam when you were test driving?

Hope you get it sorted out...Kenny

rk4g63 · 09-21-2005

LOL!!! Funny man!!!
The motor and tranny seem fine. Looks like it happens more significantly when I am slowing down without brakes - just kinda coasting down from 60 mph. Happens at hard boost as well. I'm relatively sure its some small shit, thats all. Just driving me nuts with the vibrations. LOL!

Outlaw1 · 09-21-2005

Is the vibration speed sensitive? If you're doing 60mph and feel the vibration, can you push the clutch in and get the vibration to change or go away? Engine RPM sensitive? Does it feel like a missfire? Does the vibration start at 5mph, or any certain mph? Details please.

rk4g63 · 09-21-2005

yes, seems to get higher as I go faster. vibration at 70 is significantly more than at 50. Also, vibration seems to be more in the dash, center console and A-pillar - kind of the situation when you're in a high gear and coast down to a low speed - then forget and try to accelerate in that same high gear.
Also, seems to be rpm sensitive - 90% sure of that.
Starts more at about 50 maybe, but its also there at at lower speeds - I think thats when I'm accelerating hard - corresponds to higher rpms too.

Haven't checked pushing in the clutch at higher speeds - will try that tomorrow.

1QUICK4 · 09-21-2005

Does it do it more under accelleration? If it does it could be a bad inner C/V joint.

Outlaw1 · 09-22-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1QUICK4

Does it do it more under accelleration? If it does it could be a bad inner C/V joint.

I agree. Possibly driveshaft or CV dying. Did it start vibrating right after beating on the car? Hard launch maybe?