Bad Vibration

[ChuckWright]

I've got a strange vibration. Brand new Z06 18x9.5 wheels and BFG T/A tires balanced . Vibration starts about 65mph and gets worse with speed. I don't find much play in the front or rear drive shafts. there is some radial play in the front drive shaft. I don't know how much play is acceptable. What have I overlooked? Is there anything in the front drive that could cause it to vibrate. Would driving it with the front driveshaft removed prove anything. anybody got any ideas?

 

[Merk]

Re: Bad Vibration

Propshaft could possibly be bent or mis-aligned. It is possible to remove this piece for evaluation purposes

 

[ChuckWright]

Re: Bad Vibration

Thanks for the reply. Do you think it could be the front drive axels (half shafts)? do you know how to tell if they are worn? thanx again for the help.

 

[WyoSyclone]

Re: Bad Vibration

I've got a strange vibration. Brand new Z06 18x9.5 wheels and BFG T/A tires balanced .

Was the vibration there before the new wheels and tires?

 

[Merk]

Re: Bad Vibration

Thanks for the reply. Do you think it could be the front drive axels (half shafts)? do you know how to tell if they are worn? thanx again for the help.

Half Shaft boots will crack/split. Look for grease oozing out. A bad halfshaft will start to click. Don't think your problem is there.

 

[ChuckWright]

Re: Bad Vibration

Was the vibration there before the new wheels and tires?

Not much, but some vibration above 80mph. Seems like the vibration came with the new tire/wheel setup. I'm running 1.5in Adapters in the back. I'm wondering if there's any chance that the adapters are somehow causing the vibration. I had the tires re-balanced that improved some but vibration remains.

 

[Daryl H]

Re: Bad Vibration

Some tires require a warm up during the winter to get the flat spots worked out.

Drive for about 30 minutes and see if the problem goes away.

 

[George Blake]

Re: Bad Vibration

If the problem was there before but didn't happen till 80mph, then only changing tires and wheels, then it's the tires and wheels. Do like they said and drive them a bit. Sometimes the weights fly off if they aren't secured well and then you'll have problems. If the problem persists, take it back, have them check the air, rebalance and possibly check the alignment.

Now I had a vibration at LOW speed. Seemed someone liked my sawblade corvette wheels and tried to get them off. That was a scary ride across the parking lot. Lug nuts had all been loosed about 4 turns each. I've got lockers now.

 

[WyoSyclone]

Re: Bad Vibration

Make sure the center hole in the rim is big enough to allow the rim to fit flush against the rotors and drums. I remember reading on another thread where the wheel had a center hole just a hair too small... if the rim is actually riding away from the rotor even a SMALL bit it's a big problem that you'll need to fix before you do anything else.

 

[ChuckWright]

Re: Bad Vibration

Make sure the center hole in the rim is big enough to allow the rim to fit flush against the rotors and drums. I remember reading on another thread where the wheel had a center hole just a hair too small... if the rim is actually riding away from the rotor even a SMALL bit it's a big problem that you'll need to fix before you do anything else.

Good thinking. I hadn't thought of that but it makes sense. I removed the 1.5in wheel adapters from the rear and must of the vibration went away. I don't see anything wrong with the adapters but it seems that they are a major source of the problem. Now I need to chase down a minor vibration above 75mph. I thank you for the help. I'll name my next child after you. Regards Chuck

 

[ChuckWright]

Re: Bad Vibration

Half Shaft boots will crack/split. Look for grease oozing out. A bad halfshaft will start to click. Don't think your problem is there.

Thanx for the quick comeback. I'm working on my 1st all wheel drive. It will take some time for me to get a handle on how thing are supposed to work. Thanx for the help Regards Chuck

 

[ChuckWright]

Re: Bad Vibration

If the problem was there before but didn't happen till 80mph, then only changing tires and wheels, then it's the tires and wheels. Do like they said and drive them a bit. Sometimes the weights fly off if they aren't secured well and then you'll have problems. If the problem persists, take it back, have them check the air, rebalance and possibly check the alignment.

Now I had a vibration at LOW speed. Seemed someone liked my sawblade corvette wheels and tried to get them off. That was a scary ride across the parking lot. Lug nuts had all been loosed about 4 turns each. I've got lockers now.

Thnx George the alignment is a suspect. There is too much freeplay in the steering. My next project is to rebuild all the steering componets. Thnx for the help Chuck

 

[ChuckWright]

Re: Bad Vibration

Vibration?? My ty is as smooth as you could ask for up to about 80mph. At 80mph if I add any throttle I get a vibration. It seems as though the vibration is associated with the throttle position more than the speed I'm traveling I've checked the tire balance. I've rebuilt the steering, replaced the shocks. I've tried swearing at it and calling it names. I find no play in the drive shafts. Is there something I'm missing? Is there anything in the driveline that could be causing my problem. Regards Chuck

 

[Black Knight]

Re: Bad Vibration

Unfortunately Chuck there are lots of things that could cause vibration issue's.

Did a weight fall off either of the drums when you installed the adapters or the wheels?

Are all the weights on the drive shafts?

A vibration above 50 mph is typically resulting from a component being out of balance, i.e. anything listed above or a "brand new wheel and tire package"--You said you had these rebalanced so that should safely rule them out.

Take the front drive shaft out and go for a spin, they have a long history of going bad and taking out other pieces of the vehical when they do. This could be an early warning sign.--Just like Merk said.

Some tires require a warm up during the winter to get the flat spots worked out.

Drive for about 30 minutes and see if the problem goes away.

Just so you guys know these tires don't require any warm up period, they're good to go the second you start up :tup:

 

[4C FED]

Re: Bad Vibration

Vibration?? My ty is as smooth as you could ask for up to about 80mph. At 80mph if I add any throttle I get a vibration. It seems as though the vibration is associated with the throttle position more than the speed I'm traveling I've checked the tire balance. I've rebuilt the steering, replaced the shocks. I've tried swearing at it and calling it names. I find no play in the drive shafts. Is there something I'm missing? Is there anything in the driveline that could be causing my problem. Regards Chuck

Motor mounts maybe. The drivers side is a common failure item with all of the heat & torque it see's.
If your upper fan shroud has exploded or the upper radiator hose has been cut by the alternator, that's a sure sign the drivers side mount is broken.

 

[ChuckWright]

Re: Bad Vibration

Good advice. I hadn't thought of the motor mounts. I'll check them soon. I couldn't get over the thought that it was something out of balance. I'll pull the front driveshaft just as soon as I can get to Sears and get the sockets for the driveshaft bolts. What I don't understand is once I get close to 80mph I can cause the vibration to come and go with the throttle. It seems as though the vibration is connected to the throttle position at that speed. The car is a rocket through the gears. I'll let you know what happens after I pull the front driveshaft.
Thanx for the advice.

 

[ChuckWright]

Re: Bad Vibration

Yep, I pulled the front driveshaft and ran the typhoon to 115mph and everything seems fine.
I don't know how to judge the amount of play that is acceptable. Can these driveshafts be rebuilt? Anyway thanks for the help, I do appreciate all the good advice you guys provided. Regards Chuck

 

[Black Knight]

Re: Bad Vibration

Good to hear Chuck, you can replace the factory shaft with another like it, but like I said they can have problems because of design and the amount of stress they're under. Alot of people switch over to a Gilbert shaft which most of the vendors here sell and to the best of my knowledge has never been broken.

They're a little expensive, so if don't decide to go that route definitely consider a front drive shaft loop, cause if it does brake you can damage the transmission.

 

[ChuckWright]

Re: Bad Vibration

Thnx for the advice. I'll have to look into a driveshaft loop for the front.