Generic Front End Vibration Question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
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From: Sudbury MA
Generic Front End Vibration Question
I get a vibration between 60 and 80 mph that I can feel in the steering wheel.
Other than removing and replacng rotors, wheels, tires, front end components, etc. is there a "scientific" way to determine if the vibaration is as result of tires being out of balance or if it could be brake rotors?
Thank you,
Kurt
Other than removing and replacng rotors, wheels, tires, front end components, etc. is there a "scientific" way to determine if the vibaration is as result of tires being out of balance or if it could be brake rotors?
Thank you,
Kurt
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
In my experience, vibration at those speeds is usually tire related. You could have the balance checked at a good tire store. Look for any bulges in the sidewalls that might indicate a tread separation also. If the tires are OK it would be worth finding a shop that can balance the wheels on the car so that you know the entire rotating assembly is balanced.
Rick B.
Rick B.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
Rick B,
Thank you for the reply.
One more question: If one tire had slight wear on the outer edge due to alignment, (or hard cornering) could that cause such a vibration?
Why is the vibration not there at ALL speeds? Just curious.
Thanks again,
Kurt
Thank you for the reply.
One more question: If one tire had slight wear on the outer edge due to alignment, (or hard cornering) could that cause such a vibration?
Why is the vibration not there at ALL speeds? Just curious.
Thanks again,
Kurt
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Hamilton Ontario
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,922
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From: Live Free or Die. N.H.
The quickest way to isolate the problem is swapping the front tires to the rear and if you feel the vibration in the seat of your pants you know its tire related.Most times if you feel a vibration in the steering wheel its the front,if you feel it in your seat its in the rear.
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From: AnyTown NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
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From: Central Michigan
The quickest way to isolate the problem is swapping the front tires to the rear and if you feel the vibration in the seat of your pants you know its tire related.Most times if you feel a vibration in the steering wheel its the front,if you feel it in your seat its in the rear.
Exactly what I did to narrow down a vibration problem, found it was an out of balance tire
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
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From: North Easton Mass
As to why the vibration occurs at higher speeds, I'm just speculating but I bet it's due to the mass of the tire hitting a resonant frequency at a certain speed. Sort of like a string on a guitar that starts vibrating in response to a sound that corresponds to its tuned note.
I have had other strange tire defects that you might want to look for also. If you take the wheel off and roll the tire slowly while looking across the tread down toward the ground you might see a deformed area in the tread cross-section. I had a noticeable divet in a tread cross-section once that caused a shimmy at walking speeds but went away at higher speeds. The tire store said it was caused by hitting a pothole or something like it that deformed the steel belt.
BTW, I have had good luck with alignments at NTB in Avon. They have the Hunter alignment machine. I did a search and there is a NTB in Natick.
Rick B.
