Extreme vibrations while driving

[svtmystique]

I just need to someone to let me know if my boy is right about the cv joint. At any speed I hear a loud vibrating sound and I can also feel it in the pedals and see it in the rear view. I put on new struts and the sound went away until I had an alignment the other day. Now the sound is louder than before. I also noticed that when I make a right turn it stops at a certain point. If anyone has any ideas about what this could be, please get back to me.

Thanks,
D

 

[Tony2005]

I just need to someone to let me know if my boy is right about the cv joint. At any speed I hear a loud vibrating sound and I can also feel it in the pedals and see it in the rear view. I put on new struts and the sound went away until I had an alignment the other day. Now the sound is louder than before. I also noticed that when I make a right turn it stops at a certain point. If anyone has any ideas about what this could be, please get back to me.

Thanks,
D

What is the time interval between new struts and alignment?

Is it the same mechanic who did the alignment and struts? If yes, ask him what he did to cause the vibration again after the struts took care of it. Maybe the outer tie rods have an issue. Many a times, they have to do a "major adjustment" to the outer tie rods after changing struts or springs.

Based on your description, it could be the right front suspension/steering.

Do the o'clock test.

O'clock test

Jack up the car one side. Place on jack stand.

Grasp wheel at 12 and 6 o'clock and push in and out. Any movement, most probably suspect wheel bearing.

9 and 3 o'clock - tie-rod/ball joint.

Lower the car and do the same for the other side.

 

[FavoriteMystaque]

Wheel bearing or bad tire wear. I had both recently. Moved worn left front tire (jagged edge due to previous bad alignment of rear spindle) back to rear, much less but still noisy in left front, swapped one of my "good" wheels on, tiny bit less. Impending wheel bearing job on my sister's Mystique. I had a bearing go on my fine Lancer, it was just mild noise, then one day, you could feel it, it was almost scary. Same thing happened on my Dad's 2003 Toyota with 30 kmiles. (We consume bearings:help

 

[mrutkaus]

Yes with a bad wheel bearing, I understand the wheel will eventually come off when you are driving down the road at 70mph!

Mike

 

[svtmystique]

What is the time interval between new struts and alignment?

Is it the same mechanic who did the alignment and struts? If yes, ask him what he did to cause the vibration again after the struts took care of it. Maybe the outer tie rods have an issue. Many a times, they have to do a "major adjustment" to the outer tie rods after changing struts or springs.

Based on your description, it could be the right front suspension/steering.

Do the o'clock test.

O'clock test

Jack up the car one side. Place on jack stand.

Grasp wheel at 12 and 6 o'clock and push in and out. Any movement, most probably suspect wheel bearing.

9 and 3 o'clock - tie-rod/ball joint.

Lower the car and do the same for the other side.

The struts were about two weeks prior to getting the alignment. And for the alignment I went to my tire place. I went back and my buddy did another alignment, rotated the tires, and balanced them all for free. I'm not sure if I still should argue the point that it wasn't making that sound before I brought it in or just let it ride since I got that much done for free. He did notice play in my wheel, but I'm not sure if that could be my bad sway bar bushings (problem about #675,000,010 with my car!).

 

[Tony2005]

... He did notice play in my wheel, .....!).

Fix that and see what happens. A loose wheel due to lug nuts, tie rods, wheel bearing or lower ball joints can cause vibration.