hey everyone, I've been noticing either a shake or vibration on my car. The steering goes a little numb, and the car feels like its moving underneath me. Its seems rather random when it happens, as I've noticed it in a variety of situations.

Most recently, I was going about 30-40 mph, straight, and steering got a little numb. There an almost imperceptible vibration. The car was not accelerating.

If there is one way I can best describe it, its almost exactly like the numbness you get after going over train tracks, except without the bumps. otherwise, no noise, no bumps, no hiccups, etc.

With all this talk of axles, is this one of the signs that its going bad?

I don't want to take it into a garage or dealer, because this is one of those things that won't be readily apparent. I'll probably take it in for an alignment and ask them to take a gander at stuff, but still...any ideas?

Possibly relevant info: At 76,000 miles, A-spec suspension, CT RSB, rims and tires are lighter than stock.

CLIFFS: car sometimes feels numb, as if going over train tracks without bumps. Axles?

 

Hmm, any noises associated with it? Can you discern the direction of the shaking (side to side vs up and down)? My first intuition is the power steering. You say the steering feels numb. Does the car become unresponsive to small inputs at the wheel? Does the resistance at the wheel change at all?

 

No noises. Its numb on center but no change in resistance. I'd say in regards to steering, that it hasn't changed that much, but I do feel the effects of whatever this is through the steering wheel.

FYI, the slight shake and vagueness occurs with or without steering input. I can be mid turn or going straight, and I'll feel the car move underneath me ever so slightly.

Knowing how "tight" the TSX can be, its a very minute moment of vagueness that is very un-TSX like.

 

What's the condition of your tires?

 

new 5,000 miles ago. Had an alignment done when they were put on.

Think I should rotate and see what that does first?

 

Does the shake always happen at a specific speed, not matter what gear (i.e. like 1st or 2nd)?

I'm leaning towards axles if it weren't obvious.

 

^^ at this point, there is no specific speed, no specific gear.

My first inclination was axles, especially after reading your thread and a couple others. However, are there any other possibilities?

Might do an alignment first to see if the initial alignment was somehow knocked off of spec.

if I'm going to go with axles, how are those ones from excelerate holding up?

 

My vibration problem was at speed no matter what gear and it was the inside CV joints. I know before they found the CV joint problem they suggested a tire balancing. Not sure if you had that done or not.

 

I think your route of tire balancing and alignment are good options, but based on your description of the issue, I'm a bit hestitant to call it axles. If you recall, the CVs would give the shake at a very specific speed. Have you checked PS fluid as well, noting your comment about numbness?

To answer the question about the axles, they are still in perfect working order and doing great. No complaints from me.

 

^^Thanks for the advice. Looked into my power steering fluid and it is indeed at the lower mark.

Do you or anyone go with Honda's PS fluid or is there anything else you guys would recommend. This is the first time I had to do anything with PS fluild in over 375,000 miles with hondas.

 

You must use either Honda or at least "Honda compatible" fluid. Whatever it is they use is chemically incompatible with "regular" PSF.

You should probably poke around underneath and see if you can figure out where the missing fluid is going.

 

LukeaTron, forgot thank you as well, you mentioned the power steering in the very beginning....

I'm probably going to go down to a honda dealership and pick up the fluid from there. then I'll take a look around at it tomorrow.

 

Also it could be a loose belt on your front tires. Try to switch front to back see if that works out for you.

 

Well, this problem has gotten much worse. The vibration is somewhat dramatic, but it only happens on hard acceleration (50 or 60+% throttle). There are still no noise associated with it.

I had my wheels rotated, balanced, and aligned, but its still there. The front office tire shop guy said he thought it was a bent rim, but I don't see a bend, and the vibration didn't change places. Oh, and he told me this before the car was even on the rack.

I'm thinking I should just take it to a Honda/Acura dealership and get it taken care of. Have them diagnose it, then cut me open for the money. I have a feeling its the axles, especially after I've taken care of the alignment, balance, and rotation.

Any advice?

 

Happening under hard accelleration - it may be engine mounts. If it happened at one speed then I would say CV joints but if under load may be engine mounts.

 

^^Ya, I see what you're saying. This really isnt' nothing I can diagnose myself, so I think I'm going to take it in to a dealership.

Whats a typical price for axles or engine mounts?

 

Don't know about engine mounts, but talk to Excelerate about axles. I don't want to give a price for him. This is sounding more and more like axles though.

 

^^cool, I'll do so.

 

Has this problem been solved, I'm still having the same problem