Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Vibration question...

Ok, so here's the situation. My '97 V6 ATX Contour has had a vibration for a while now. It occurs between 70 and 75MPH. It seems to occur after I accelerate but it persists even if I let off the gas and shift into neutral. I've replaced all 4 tires. No fix. Balanced all 4 tires. No fix. Replaced all 4 rims with brand new ones from Ford. No fix. Ok, so now I know it's not the rims or tires. I've had the whole front end inspected. Everything's tight. Now what?!!! My next thought is the CV joints. Shouldn't a CV joint click when turning when it's gone though? Mine doesn't click when turning but there is a strange clunk or click when I go from park to drive though. I've had all the mounts (engine and tranny) replaced also. Anybody have any insight? I'm tired of throwing money at it. Thanks,

Chad
rivetc78@hotmail.com

To be honest I think it is normal, my car has always done it on the highway. Two different sets of tires, both balanced as well.

If it's any consolation, I've been facing a similar situation for over a year. I feel my vibration mainly at speeds of 50+. However, with mine, the vibration isn't consistent. Most of the time I have vibration, but occasionally it is smooth as can be. I've replaced tires, rotated tires, switched tires from one car to another, balanced tires, new brake rotors, four new motor mounts, four struts, two ball joints, two new (rebuilt) drive axle assemblies, and a driver's side sway bar end link. The tie-rods seem to be fine, but maybe I'm overlooking something. The only other thing I can think of is control arms, or a 4 wheel alignment, although the tires are wearing normally, and the car drives and handles fine. Don't know.

anybody done ball joints???

I wonder if it's just general looseness in the drivetrain....

I've wondered about that too. There does seem to be a little looseness in the driver's side axle, where it emerges from the differential. I don't know how much looseness is too much though. I still can't figure out why on some days it will run really smooth, and then on other days, it will vibrate badly. If it is having a 'smooth day', it will run smoothly for maybe 100-200 miles,and then when I park it overnight, and start again the next day, the vibration will start all over again.

I think I finally fixed my vibration problem. Last weekend, I replaced the front pads, turned the rotors, cleaned and lubricated the caliper slide pins, put on new rear drums, new rear shoes, new rear wheel cylinders, and put on two new tires (on the front). Right now, the car probably drives as smooth as I could expect a 10 year old car with 134K to do.

I still don't know what was causing the problem. I've worked on that vibration problem for two years. I suspect the problem was either in the tires (one was slightly out of round (very slightly), or in the front rotors, or in the rear drum. When I opened up the right rear drum, I found a leaking wheel cylinder, which had caused the drum and shoe to be gummy, gunky, sticky. I figure it's possible that an intermittent drag from a sticky brake shoe might cause a vibration under certain conditions. Don't know.

Now, if I can just get the air out of the brakes, so I can stop the car without having to run into a tree, I'll be in business. I hope.

ARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The vibration is back. After 4 or 5 days (and 2-3 hundred miles) of blissful driving, the vibration is back... I even took the car back to the tire shop, and they re-checked and re-balanced all four tires. It's still vibrating. Below 55 mph is fine, and it seems to be okay at 75 or above (although I haven't had much opportunity to check that out. At about 65 mph, there is a vibration that can be felt through the entire car.