Ok, these damn vibrations at high speeds for my girlfriends car is killing me. Brand new tires, 4 months old,
new 04TL rear sway bar, 2 months
New Rotora rotors, 2 months
New rear rotors, 2 months
New Sway bar end links, 2 months

Everything was running absolutely perfect, she could go 90 and not 1 vibration. But driving home from Philly this weekend, it sounded like small thumping and a vibration from hell in the seat . Also, slightly in the steering wheel.

I got the tires rebalanced this morning and rechecked the sway bar and end links. Also, had them run a diagnostics on the alignment, none was needed. Also, the car brakes absolutely perfect...

WHat the hell else can it be????

 

Bent rims.

 

Bent wheels

 

what kind of tires are they? I used to have vibration problems with some of the cheaper tires.

 

no, they are pretty expensive tires, I am anal about them. They are Bridgestone Potenzas G009, they are suppose to be rated very well against other high performance tires.

Only problem with the bent rim theory is, the tech and myself watched the rim on the balancing machine. I couldn't even see a tweek in the integrity of the rim. Is there any way to manually inspect the rim, that isnt a waste of time. Because jsut eyeing it up isnt very accurate.

 

Also, besides bent wheels, does anyone else have a theory.

 

is a balancing wieght missing?

is that what there called?

 

Are these stock rims or aftermarket? Might need hub rings if aftermarket. Could be a bad tire.

 

I should specify more...

OEM rims- Haven't hit any big potholes or curbs, etc etc..
Just got them balanced this morning. So no weight is missing

Its just, I went on vacation 2 weeks ago, prior to that, the car was perfect. No vibration at any speed. I come home from vacation and the woman and I are driving on the highway and it is just vibrating like hell in the seat. If i put my head against the headrest, its is like a massage. I mean, I am halfway decent with cars, but this is just baffling me.

Honestly, I feel its a bent rim, but I checked it out on the machine. It looked perfect, damn I am annoyed

 

To eliminate the wheels/tires, have them checked and balanced on a Hunter Roadforce machine. They measure wheel runout and tire runout. It also measures abnormal tire imperfections at the tire surface, not just a dynamic spin balance.

http://www.hunter.com/pub/product/ba...159T/index.htm

 

You need to take all out's recommendation. If you had not already had the balance etc., I would have said loose lug nuts as a possible culprit, but that is obviously not your problem because they have since been removed and reinstalled for the balance.

I think you have a flat spot problem.. If the car is new like you say and the car sat for several days and then this vibration problem, that is more than likely the case. Any random tire regardless of cost or brand can be subject to flat spotting. This was a big problem with the OEM Acura TL summer tires. They have since switched to a diff. OEM summer tire.

 

I was going to suggest the Hunter as well. SOme other ideas thoughnot likely are torn/worn axle shafts, or bent suspension. Have you tried relocating the tires front to back, or left to right?

 

I can't do left to right because they are directional tires, but that is my next trouble shooting process. Front to back, its just such a bitch when you dont have a lift and have to use the damn little car jack. Atleast I have an air compressor, that simplifies my job a little bit.

 

How many miles? Check both halfshafts for torn boots or too much slop. If it's not a bent wheel, I'd say it's a bad CV joint.

 

Thats next on my list Nitz, because today the front of the car has been acting up as well as the rear. Her car has 75,000 miles on it.

 

Oh ya, something else... If I am going like 55mph, and shimmy the steering wheel back and forth from 11 o'clock to 1 o'clock. It feels like my wheels are vibrating like crazy. I just rotated the tires this morning and its exactly the same as before I rotated them.

 

Check the CV Boots to see if they're ripped. When you turn right/left do you hear a clicking noise?

 

I miss read the first post. If the car has 75000 miles that sounds like the CV joints on the brink of destruction.

 

Let me say, I appreciate all the input. I jumped under the car with my shop light, and no rips in any of the boots, i cleaned them with some Green clean to get a good look, and nothing. This is killing me!!!!!!!!

 

if the CV joints are toast that does not mean there are or will be damage on the boot necessarily. wish I could help more.

 

If your vibration is still there even after balance AND rotating the tires.... You mentioned that the wheels shakes from 11-1 position...I suggest you look into the brake rotors.
A "balance" problem in the tire/wheel will be prevalant from 55-65 mph only......a hard spot on the rotors will be noted at any speed, even from the rear. Does the vibration get worse when braking?
Drive the car at the speed where the vibration is MOST noticable , while at that speed slightly apply the brakes... then note if the vibration rate in the steering wheel increases at the same frequency , but more amplified. What I mean is... the vibration will become more noticable when the pedal is applied.

 

If the CV joints are toast that does not mean there are or will be obvious damage to the boot. Wish I could help more. They may look fine but the insides could be shot. When mine started to go out on my old accord, they vibrated just like you are saying but the boots were completely intact. I suspect this is your problem. It could be the rotors as mentioned above. There really isn’t much else it could be if you have eliminated the tires/wheels/balance/bearings. If you do replace them do not get remanufactured units unless they are OEM remanufacture from the dealer. I do suggest buying new ones if you plan on keeping the car for a while. Check these links.

New parts
http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...All&vinsrch=no

used parts
(look for axle shaft and then select left or right)
http://www.car-part.com/index.htm

 

Thanks Jproy, I know its not the rotors, they are brand new and the car stops absolutely perfect with no shuttering. But about the CV Joints, wouldnt it do it even at 30MPH if that was the problem. It shouldnt just happen at the higher speeds, Correct???

I just realized yesterday, its the worst when its at 60-70mph and then it evens out a little around 80. But its still a bitch, you can see the rear window shaking when I look in my rearview mirror.

 

I think I was talking to RonJon about something like this. He said he has a lot of vibrations and it turned out to be a slightly bent control arm.

 

Are you talking about the upper or lower control arm? Howwould this cause a vibration but no other ill effects in driving quality.

I mean, if its the upper control arm, thats a cheap fix, I think they are only like $40. Labor can't be too difficult, but I hate fixing a part of a car and the problem still persists.

 

wheel bearing may be the problem.
to find out: test on a smooth roadway at accelerate to speed , rotate the steering wheel first left then right. listen carefully, if noise disapates from one side to the other, could be bearing on that side which is loudest/vibrates.if the noise/vibration is constant, it is not the bearing.

 

Honestly, a vibration that is not the tires or bent wheels or brakes could be very serious. Without a friend who is a professional mechanic to help you, you could be putting yourself and others on the road in serious danger. The reason those vibrations seem to dull out at 80 is because they are happening so fast that you can’t feel them or at a harmonic that the car chassis can dull out. You may have a critical suspension or engine/trans part about to fail. All this speculation is just that, speculation. You need to take your car to a qualified suspension/engine/trans mechanic ASAP. For all we know, you cold be doing more unnecessary damage to the car. I would not waste any time if you are driving this car every day. If you just go randomly changing parts you will probably spend more money than it would have cost just to drive down to the local Acura dealer and pay them $75 or so to find out exactly what the problem is now, the first time. You can then take your car back and perform the necessary service yourself if you like. I want to know what is wrong with your car just as bad as you do but your safety should not be put at risk. I don’t me to be negative but we seem to be getting nowhere. Best of luck.

Are you sure the rear 04TL sway is connected on both sides?

 

Yup, everything is connected. I took it to sears and they did a suspension inspection and guess what they found. NOTHING, I am sooo stumped...

 

Sears was not the place to go. I'd go to the dealer & see what they find. I'd bet it's a bad axle shaft. Just casue the boot looks fine doesn't mean it is fine.