At a loss. Vibration.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 43
Likes: 0
At a loss. Vibration.
Having a weird vibration at 80 mph. I have had numerous wheel balances on road force balancing machines. Changed wheels. Just went to extreme of changing front tires today. Cannot get it to stop. It seems like an out of balance vibration in steering wheel but I have seriously exhausted balance on wheels as an issue. It's an 2009 1lt base coupe. I have owned since new. I am wondering if it is something with the steering itself. When it happens it kind of has a harmonic pulse to it. In the intensity that is. It visibly shakes my hand on wheel while it happens but it goes in about a two second cycle of intensity. Below 65 it's not really noticeable. But I now live in North Dakota and driving on straight open interstate below 70 isn't really an option. Last year I bent the drivers front wheel on a road trip. But it has been replaced twice as the issue. So.... If anyone has any helpful suggestions it would be greatly appreciated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,611
Likes: 5
From: Thousand Oaks California
Take it to 85 - 90 mph (not on a public road), put it in neutral and shut off the engine. As the car coast down to 80 mph, is the vibration still there? If not, you have something in the powertrain out of balace such as driveshaft, flywheel, etc.
Dealers have an EVA (Electronic Vibration Analizer) which is a good tool to help diagnoise vibrations.
Dealers have an EVA (Electronic Vibration Analizer) which is a good tool to help diagnoise vibrations.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,339
Likes: 1
From: Lake Delton (WI Dells) WI
I solved my slight cyclical vibration around 80mph by removing the wheels and wrapping a couple rounds of tape around the hub and then putting the wheels back on. You want a nice snug fit where the wheel goes onto the hub. Give it a try.....won't hurt anything and if it doesn't work you can just remove the tape.
I had that same vibration with OEM wheels and with my CCW's. In both cases tape solved it. I had a very thin plastic hub centric rings made and now use them with my CCW's. I also use extended reach lug nuts as well.
I had that same vibration with OEM wheels and with my CCW's. In both cases tape solved it. I had a very thin plastic hub centric rings made and now use them with my CCW's. I also use extended reach lug nuts as well.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,019
Likes: 2,714
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
GM has a bulletin about Corvette (wheel) vibrations, I think it's oriented toward GS/Z06 but the principles will apply to any C6.
But if OP hit something hard enough to bend a wheel, then that's a good area to investigate.
But if OP hit something hard enough to bend a wheel, then that's a good area to investigate.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,220
Likes: 16
From: Sugarhill Ga
did all this start after you bent the wheel ?
you need to check your wheel bearings and rotors. if you are sure that your wheels and tires are round & in balance start by lifting the front of the car and before removing the wheels, shake the assembly up/down & side/side. does the vibration get worse when braking ? how about when you are turning ? as far as shutting the engine off when driving, that seems dangerous. I would drive it down a clear road but not shut the engine off, you will loose brakes & steering, just put it in neutral and coast. what do the brake pads on the car look like, I would resurface the rotors or replace the rotors & pads if marginal.
good luck
you need to check your wheel bearings and rotors. if you are sure that your wheels and tires are round & in balance start by lifting the front of the car and before removing the wheels, shake the assembly up/down & side/side. does the vibration get worse when braking ? how about when you are turning ? as far as shutting the engine off when driving, that seems dangerous. I would drive it down a clear road but not shut the engine off, you will loose brakes & steering, just put it in neutral and coast. what do the brake pads on the car look like, I would resurface the rotors or replace the rotors & pads if marginal.
good luck
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,078
Likes: 19
From: Cumming, GA
Still running the Goodyear OEM tire?
Would check:
Hub
100ft lb lugs torq
Is replacement wheel OEM or Repro?
Vibration at that particular speed tends to be as a result of one of the above almost everytime.
Would check:
Hub
100ft lb lugs torq
Is replacement wheel OEM or Repro?
Vibration at that particular speed tends to be as a result of one of the above almost everytime.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,694
Likes: 106
You answered your own question. You need a suspension expert to look at it man. Could be a bushing, bearing, out of alignment, etc. Or a combination of things. At least you know where to look. And next time give more details man; how hard did you hit the wheel? How damaged was it? It obviously was hit harder than just a casual brush with a curb, to cause suspension damage. Anyway, good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,108
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
I had that same speed vibration (also at 35-45 mph) after I bent my left front wheel. The bent wheel was slight, but out of OEM spec. Both fronts were replaced at the same time which cured the problem.
I had another set of tires/wheels for a while (about 9,000 miles) before I got the replacement wheel, which confirmed the vibration was not wheel/tire related. I drove nearly 20,000 miles before replacing the bearings.
It may not be your problem, but it's cheap to check.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Does anyone know the number for the service bulletin about wheel vibration? I am having the exact same issue. Cyclical vibration above 80mph. Wheels and tires have been balanced 6 times and it is still happening. Alignment has been done as well and the issue still remains. Tires are 75% new.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,999
Likes: 200
From: Bay Area Ca.
I have experienced alike vibrations and the culprit turned out to be aftermarket rims not fitting the hub correctly, rims bore was a mm to large. With the bore being only slightly larger than the cars hub a spigot ring would not fit. THe rims bore need to be larger to accept the smalles spigot ring. Remedy came with just wrapping some tape around the hub.
Sounds to easy but it worked in my case and has for others dealing with a slightly larger bore than the cars hub.
I have not heard of this happening with the OEM rims, only aftermarket wheels.
Sounds to easy but it worked in my case and has for others dealing with a slightly larger bore than the cars hub.
I have not heard of this happening with the OEM rims, only aftermarket wheels.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,312
Likes: 72
From: East Amherst NY
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,019
Likes: 2,714
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
I've had this problem on several cars. The solution is to find a shop with a Hunter road force balancer, and get a good tech to get the RF number below 15 on every tire. 10 is even better.
There are other things besides wheels/tires that can cause vibration, but the road force machine has always found/fixed the wheel/tire problems for me.
There are other things besides wheels/tires that can cause vibration, but the road force machine has always found/fixed the wheel/tire problems for me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,694
Likes: 106
My '12 GS also has a slight steering wheel vibration in the mentioned range since day 1, but it's slight enough that I can live with it. But would like to know what is causing it. Only 4,300 miles and original Gen2 tires, and no hits or accidents of any kind.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,019
Likes: 2,714
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Within the last year, someone posted the bulletin here or a link to it.
Unfortunately, I didn't save a copy of anything.
Yes, that was dumb.
Hopefully, someone will re-post and we can all share it.
IIRC, the bulletin was listed as being for Z06 and/or GS and/or ZR1 cars, so searching in those forums might give better results.
Unfortunately, I didn't save a copy of anything.
Yes, that was dumb.
Hopefully, someone will re-post and we can all share it.
IIRC, the bulletin was listed as being for Z06 and/or GS and/or ZR1 cars, so searching in those forums might give better results.