Rhythmic vibration above 65
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2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2022
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Rhythmic vibration above 65
Picked up a 2002 coupe, 58k miles, tires about 8 months old about 300 miles. Drove it home 4.5 hours. At 65 + I feel a rhythmic vibration in the seat. Steering wheel is smooth. Vibration is about a half second then smooth for half a second, very consistent. Tire pressure is good. Do you all think a balance issue? Maybe shocks? Kinda odd to me how it is rhythmic. Also, can I take it to my local Goodyear shop? I know there is a certain way they need to lift it. I have had a few c3s in the past but I had a vette shop close. No vette places near me now. Thanks for the help.
Last edited by Shadec5; Oct 1, 2022 at 02:28 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2021
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Same thing on a 99. It gets a little better as it warms up. Also where is that anitfreeze smell coming from? Its under the hood and it does not leak any. New hoses,water pump,radiator, recovery bottle and cap basically everthing thst has anit freeze in it.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2022
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From: Portland, OR
Anytime something hits at speed I think tires first. Could try sitting in the driveway and hold the throttle at the same revs you'd be at at 65+ for bit. That would tell you if it's one of the belts or balancer that spin when the drivetrain isn't working.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Prescott, Arizona
Get a good balance of all four wheels/tires. Make sure the tech watches each for out of round tires or bent wheels. Tires on bent wheels can be balanced but still cause a vibration from out of roundness.
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New tires and wheels and it didnt change anything. Also replaced the balancer along with basically the whole front of the engine. It did it with the wagon wheels and the Z06 17&18 and 18& 19 now. I am wondering if its not in the torque tube, maybe the couplers?
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2021
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No and no, I just find it hard to believe that 4 different tires and nothing would change. I have zero shake in the steering wheel, its still in the exact same spot and still improves after driving for 30 minutes or so. Something is getting warm and exapnding with heat to improve it.
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From: Basehor, KS
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Mine does exactly the same thing. Get up to speed and it has a slight vibration for about 2 seconds then quits, 2 seconds and quits. I’ve never known a tire or wheel vibration to be rhythmic. Typically you reach a point or speed and the vibration holds. I’d like to figure it out but it’s never bothered me enough to spend any time looking for it.
Melting Slicks
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St. Jude Donor '21
Mine does exactly the same thing. Get up to speed and it has a slight vibration for about 2 seconds then quits, 2 seconds and quits. I’ve never known a tire or wheel vibration to be rhythmic. Typically you reach a point or speed and the vibration holds. I’d like to figure it out but it’s never bothered me enough to spend any time looking for it.
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From: Basehor, KS
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Is the coolant level low? Is your oil discolored? Do you only smell it when the car is up to temp? Have you really looked over locations that could leak for signs of coolant? All the hoses, water pump, tank, base of the heads? Do u smell it with the heater on from the vents?
Safety Car
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It's coming from the rear? ... Perhaps the axel bearing, right or left wheel... Listen as you drive and sway the steering wheel right and then left.. That will tell you right or left axel bearing is kaput... Replace both right and left axel bearings.... About 300 bucks... You don't want that bearing coming apart at speed! That will STOP rear wheels immediately!... You can imagine the outcome from that!
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All new silicone hoses, water pump and radiator. New coolant recovery tank and cap. Never smell it inside the car, even with the heater on. No anit-freeze in the oil (ever) and it never drops the level of oil or anit-freeze. Use Mobil 1 oil and Dex cool. Never see any on the ground (oil or anything else for that matter). Only smell it after I drive for a bit and put it back in the garage. Almost like it vents it out after I shut it off. I have had this car over 2 years and still have yet to find the smell.
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St. Jude Donor '21
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My tech suggested today that I briefly put the car in neutral and let it coast when this happens at about 70MPH and see if that makes a difference. Not sure where he's going with it, but I am going to try it. Has anyone with this problem done that ?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Sleepy Hollow- NJ
Picked up a 2002 coupe, 58k miles, tires about 8 months old about 300 miles. Drove it home 4.5 hours. At 65 + I feel a rhythmic vibration in the seat. Steering wheel is smooth. Vibration is about a half second then smooth for half a second, very consistent. Tire pressure is good. Do you all think a balance issue? Maybe shocks? Kinda odd to me how it is rhythmic. Also, can I take it to my local Goodyear shop? I know there is a certain way they need to lift it. I have had a few c3s in the past but I had a vette shop close. No vette places near me now. Thanks for the help.
Although balanced to 0 the new rubbers exascerbated vibration from a slightly bent rear wheel. I had the tires remounted and balanced but still had the issue. Always over 65mph and worse on some streets than others. Making it intermitent vs. constant (paving contingent).
Swapped wheels with another OEM set (and although one of the rears in my replacement set was also slightly bent) the vibration went away completely.
Some tires just mate better to some wheels.