Bad Vibrations
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Bad Vibrations
I've had a growing vibration that i can feel spinning. Worsens at higher speed. A lot of shaking in the steering wheel. At this point the car feels unsafe over 60. I blamed the drive shaft but I got under it today and it has no play at all.
Any ideas? Mechanic friend of mine suggested the torque converter.
It's an '85 with 90k
Any ideas? Mechanic friend of mine suggested the torque converter.
It's an '85 with 90k
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 412
From: WV
I had vibration in my drivetrain and it was the driveshaft, my driveshaft also didn't have any play in it...The reason there was no play in my driveshaft is because the U-Joints were frozen up solid.. The driveshaft on the Corvette operates in an almost straight line so the problem was hard to detect.. I would check the driveshaft again and this time make sure the universals are not frozen up....I had to unbolt the universal connection at the rear to find out the driveshaft wouldn't flex..I also had a squeek coming from under the car just about the same time that the vibration started..This may not be your problem, but it wouldn't hurt to give it a second look...WW
Last edited by WW7; Oct 11, 2014 at 07:46 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
If the "shake" is felt in the steering wheel and it's as bad as you mention your problem is in the front suspension or wheel/tire. Rotate the fronts to the rear for diagnostics. How old are the tires by date code?
If it's as bad as you mention do something with it now, it will NOT get better. Look maybe for a missing wheel weight, you can generally see where there's been a weight either hammered on or glued.
You didn't mention any feel in the "seat" so drive-line is unlikely.
If it's as bad as you mention do something with it now, it will NOT get better. Look maybe for a missing wheel weight, you can generally see where there's been a weight either hammered on or glued.
You didn't mention any feel in the "seat" so drive-line is unlikely.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
The vibration is definitely coming through the seat, feels like the center of the car. I've had three sets of wheels and tires on it over the years as this has slowly gotten worse. Just did the struts and didn't feel any play in suspension.
I'm gonna pull the drive shaft while I have the exhaust off next weekend and see what happens.
I'm gonna pull the drive shaft while I have the exhaust off next weekend and see what happens.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
The vibration is definitely coming through the seat, feels like the center of the car. I've had three sets of wheels and tires on it over the years as this has slowly gotten worse. Just did the struts and didn't feel any play in suspension.
I'm gonna pull the drive shaft while I have the exhaust off next weekend and see what happens.
I'm gonna pull the drive shaft while I have the exhaust off next weekend and see what happens.
You mentioned "struts" but I'm sure you meant shocks.
Rotate wheels and tires front to rear and see if it moves! You never mentioned tire age. It's much easier to rotate tires than it is to remove drive-shaft.
Last edited by WVZR-1; Oct 12, 2014 at 06:43 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
The steering wheel is your connection to the front of the car when it comes to vibration. Your rear is your connection to the rear of the car.
If it's in the wheel it's something involving your front end. Drive line parts like driveshafts and u-joints will typically be more vague and often appear to come from the rear, or the transmission, as that is where they are linked.
Have the wheels balanced. If it takes a lot to get them balanced, then it's probably an issue withe tires. Tires can often lose there round from the inside, steel belts stressing and seperating. The tire can look great from the outside, but be 'falling apart' so to speak, on the inside.
It could also be an alignment issue. Not unheard of for these suspensions to get out of whack once in a while. The suspensions on the C4 tend to amplify issues, especially at speed.
If it's in the wheel it's something involving your front end. Drive line parts like driveshafts and u-joints will typically be more vague and often appear to come from the rear, or the transmission, as that is where they are linked.
Have the wheels balanced. If it takes a lot to get them balanced, then it's probably an issue withe tires. Tires can often lose there round from the inside, steel belts stressing and seperating. The tire can look great from the outside, but be 'falling apart' so to speak, on the inside.
It could also be an alignment issue. Not unheard of for these suspensions to get out of whack once in a while. The suspensions on the C4 tend to amplify issues, especially at speed.
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