Cascade Crew

d00012 · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 3:44 pm Post subject: Violent shaking

Get to 35mph and it starts to shake violently. Like the car is ripping itself apart. What would cause this? Bad u-joints/driveshaft?

Car idles fine, revs fine. Brakes work, steering works. Will drive perfectly under 35mph. Shifts good.

GREG DAVIDSON · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 3:51 pm Post subject:

Bad tire ? Does it shake the steering wheel ?Check for a bulge or shifted belt in the tires. I always check the simple things first.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 3:55 pm Post subject:

Sounds like tire first, then broken alignment parts/u-joints. Any clunking like the torque arm mount died?

Look for signs of missing wheel weights.

d00012 · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 4:06 pm Post subject:

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 4:23 pm Post subject:

There are clip on the outside and inside of the wheel weights, and there are stick on the underside of the wheel weights.

Make sure each wheel has weights.

Where does the shaking come from? Front? Rear? Is it pulsing or consistant?

Possible death wobble?

Has the car sat for a long time? Any work done? ETC Lug nuts?

d00012 · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 4:26 pm Post subject:

Death wobble?

It has sat for a year. Just got it going recently, put 200 miles on it, and no issues other than a code 32.

Shaking felt like it was more towards the rear. Pulsing shake. Was really violent.

GREG DAVIDSON · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 4:29 pm Post subject:

I was going to say it more than likely something in the rear of the car, if the steering wheel isn't shaking violently. Jack it up put it on jack stands and check all your suspension pieces and bushings, and fwiw i have seen new tires go bad.

d00012 · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 4:31 pm Post subject:

chevymad · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 4:35 pm Post subject:

Also jack it up and make sure all the wheels turn freely after stepping on the brakes. Sometimes a brake hanging up will cause a bad shake too. And that will happen after sitting a long time.

d00012 · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 4:41 pm Post subject:

Will jack it up tomorrow when I have more time. And check what everyone has suggested. Thank you.

aaron_sK · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 4:50 pm Post subject:

While you have it up in the air, yank the driveshaft back and forth to check the u-joints, then put the car in neutral and spin it over to look for any spot were a weight might have fallen off.

Also, don't forget to check the inside of the wheels and tires for damage, bulges, lost weights, ect.

d00012 · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 5:00 pm Post subject:

Will do.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 6:13 pm Post subject:

Pulsing vibration like a WHOMMMMMMmmmmmmmWHOMMMMMMmmmmmWHOMMMMMMmmmmm

Is driveline /angle related.

d00012 · Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 6:03 pm Post subject:

I guess the brakes locked up the first time I used the handbrake. Doesn't do the shaking anymore, everything else was tight, no bushings worn, and the torque arm mount is still good. Driveshaft/u-joints are good.

Side note, a good smack to the window motor works when you don't know how to fix it. Laughing

d00012 · Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2010 7:18 pm Post subject:

Did it again today. This time I was ready for it and felt exactly where it's coming from, the front driver side. Hit a bump, and appears the strut seized up. It's fine after been driven for a bit, but there's no way I'm driving on it, obviously.

I let it sit for a few hours, went out and pushed down on the front. That strut makes noise and sticks, have to pretty much put all my weight to make it decompress. After it goes up and down a few, it stops seizing and works.

Does that sound about right? Did I find my problem? I will be raising it tomorrow to check the whole front end.

d00012 · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 3:02 pm Post subject:

Replaced the struts. Ride felt better, drove around for a little bit...hit a pot hole with the front driver tire, and it did the shake (or death wobble) again. Hit it at 35mph, stopped once I hit about 5mph. It really needed new struts, but I guess it wasn't the answer.

Bad wheel bearings?

And when this is all done, should I get a Wonder Bar?

d00012 · Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2010 3:30 pm Post subject:

Not the wheel bearings, although I should check them regardless. Just looked at the steering box and where it is mounted. It's cracked, and it has been repaired before. Lots of left to right play on the wheels.

As you can see there's a crack through the middle. I don't think this looks like the best repair job.

There is where all the real fun is...

And has now gone above my abilities as it a DIY'er.