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Oscillating Vibration, any clue ??

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Old May 1, 2006 | 07:43 AM
  #1  
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Default Oscillating Vibration, any clue ??

Forum Members,

I have an '02 C5 Coupe, Stock, Automatic, with 17,000 Miles. I have new Kumho ASX tires with Road Force Balancing. Here is my problem.

My C5 at speed between 72 and 75 MPH has an oscillating vibration. This vibration oscillates at about every 100 feet of travel or so and is a slight vibration not a rough vibration. It also seems more prevelent in the front of the car, not the rear.

I'm looking for anyone that may have a clue as to what might cause this kind of vibration.

Additional information: Wheel are stock thin spokes, lugs nuts torqued, tires are not out of balance, I did recently put Z06 Bars on but I thought I notice this vibration before that.

Thank members
c5firstimer
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Old May 1, 2006 | 09:41 AM
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I am not too sure what you mean by " oscillating " but my car gets this very slight bouncing sesation every few seconds or so. At highway speeds on smooth black top. I am not sure what it is, but I was thinking MY problem may be the balancing, although there is no vibration or shimmy in my steering wheel. Maybe one of the back wheels? The dealership used stick on weights, which I hate. I hav'nt done anything about it being so slight. But I will eventually!
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Old May 1, 2006 | 11:07 AM
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Default So...

By osillating... do you mean it feels left then right... left then right, or it it just vibrate, gone, vibrate, gone...? Can you feel the vibration in the gas petal?
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Old May 1, 2006 | 12:17 PM
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Default Oscillating Vibrations, cont'd

Thanks thus far for the responses.

By oscillating vibration, I mean its gone, then vibrates, gone then vibrates.

Since I don't use my C5 too often it is hard for me to remember exactly where its felt when I'm driving. I do recall that it starts to go away slighty once the car / tires / temperatures warm up.

I don't feel it in the gas pedal, or in the seat of my pants.

Again it is an oscillating vibration that seems to happen on smooth highway and at about every 75-100 feet of travel at 72-75 mph.

Could it be something with a wheel bearing ??? Or drive shaft ??

c5firstimer.
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Old May 1, 2006 | 12:49 PM
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Hi firstimer, My '03 does the same thing. I know EXACTLY what you are feeling. Mine however, feels like it is in the rear of the car. I believe it to be tire related as I've found nothing else wrong. It is a bit annoying & hopefully disappears entirely when i can my runflats
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Old May 1, 2006 | 03:05 PM
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My '03 does the same thing. The vibration cycles about every 2-3 secs at 65-70mph. It doesn't vibrate like a tire out of balance, but its possible. I had one of GY SC tires that had to be rotated on the rim to balance. Even though its balanced perfect on a road- force machine, the tire could still cause the vibration. The vibration in the drive train somewhere.
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Old May 1, 2006 | 05:36 PM
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Me three!! Mine does it around 50MPH and comes from the rear. I swapped the rear tires/rims and it didn't go away, which leads me to believe it's a wheel bearing.
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Old May 1, 2006 | 07:46 PM
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well, i am glad to run into some others who share the same problem. Mine started after a unplanned 35ish MPH trip across a curb in a sideways fashion. I thought maybe it was the wheels/tires, but i switched the back to the front and nothing seemed to change. A oscillating slight vibration about 55+MPH is exactly how i would describe it. Everything seems to be tight and in good order under the front end according to the guy that aligned it for me, but i know something isnt right. I seem to notice the vibration coming from the front and i can feel it slightly in the steering wheel. Looking forward to seeing some feedback on this issue.

I was kinda thinking along the lines of wheel bearing, but not sure.

thanks
eric
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Old May 1, 2006 | 08:35 PM
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Originally Posted by stngh8r
Mine started after a unplanned 35ish MPH trip across a curb in a sideways fashion.
I here I thought those moving curbs were only located in my part of the country.
If you curb'd it you may want to try a 4-wheel alignment. It didn't help my oscillation, but it did handle better.
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Old May 1, 2006 | 08:40 PM
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Originally Posted by muncie21
I here I thought those moving curbs were only located in my part of the country.
If you curb'd it you may want to try a 4-wheel alignment. It didn't help my oscillation, but it did handle better.
hehehe, i understand. Well, i had the alignment, but as with you, my vibration still exsists. thanks for the reply
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Old May 2, 2006 | 12:14 AM
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Mine does it too....

Mine sounds like it's coming from the rear driver's side. I took it to the tire place and he checked the balance (it was perfect) and he did find one rim to be very slightly bent, but he said that wouldn't cause it.

Looking at the tires (original run flats), he said they are just wearing out a little un-evenly (they have 9200 miles on them), so I'm going to run them till they wear out and then we'll see on the next set if the problem persists.

Until then.....
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Old May 3, 2006 | 04:11 PM
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ttt
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Old May 3, 2006 | 09:02 PM
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Mine does the same thing. Around 70 mph there is a light hum/vibration for a second, then gone for a second - repeat. Sounds like it is from the rear. I also noticed that it is only around 70 mph.
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Old May 3, 2006 | 09:27 PM
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maybe a bent rim? ....or bad tire?
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Old May 3, 2006 | 11:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Stiffy
maybe a bent rim? ....or bad tire?
Could be for some folks, but not in my case. My noise comes from the right rear. I've got a spare set of rear rims/tires. Put these on one day, and the noise was the same, came at the same MPH, etc.
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Old May 4, 2006 | 12:27 AM
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Maybe this is a common thing with our cars. It seems that so many of us are experiencing the same symptom. Could it just be the way the suspension handles highway warp at certain speeds?
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Old May 4, 2006 | 01:51 AM
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I would have to say that in my case i feel that something is definitely not normal. I am not convinced just yet that it is something dangerous, but since mine started after a careless showboating run in with a curb, i have to assume something is wrong. I'm leaning towards a wheelbearing, but i am really looking forward to seeing some posts from someone who has possibly had a similar problem and fixed it. I hate to just start throwing money at the car with new parts.

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To Oscillating Vibration, any clue ??

Old May 4, 2006 | 02:08 AM
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Default As a guess.....

It could be.... a wheel bearing... or a warped rotor... as all other things were covered.. So... you people that have it... when you go to stop.... do you feel the standard... warped roter feel in the brake petal? At 50-70... it could cause a "Slight" vibration... in-out.. in-out... hummmmmmm think about it...
Someone go get "NEW" rotors.. or get them turned... see if it goes away.......
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Old May 4, 2006 | 02:40 AM
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I also considered the possibility of a rotor, but i havent noticed any of the common feel of a warped rotor. Could it still be a warped rotor?

thanks for al the replies
eric
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Old May 4, 2006 | 03:07 AM
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AtHomeSoda you might be right .....you prob wont be able to tell if its bent unless its spinning and right in front of it..lol but try to figure how to do that one??? lol
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