NCRider

I have an '06 TL w/ auto. Over the past few weeks I will occasionally get a pretty sever vibration at highway speeds that lasts for a few miles (12-15 miles today). It doesn't happen every day. I drive the same route on the highway to work and home daily and it's happened 4-5 times over the past 2-3 weeks.

When it happens there a very low and constant rumble. The vibration is pretty severe. It seems to be coming from the right side of the car. I can feel a severe shake in the wheel. I have shifted to neutral on the highway and it continues. I have tried the brakes at highway speed (65-80) and the vibration is very strong in the pedal.

I had michelin's put on 4 months ago. Had them rebalanced and rotated. No luck. Took it to the dealer to check out tie rods, bearing and brakes. No luck. The vibration (sometimes) continues.

Any ideas?

Will Y.

1) Check the lug nuts on all the wheels-- loosen them all and tighten to 80 lbs. with a torque wrench. If you don't know how to do that, get a friend or mechanic to do that, ASAP. If any of the lugs nuts are loose, I'd get the affected wheel(s) checked for damage.
2) Was the balancing done with a Hunter Road Force balancer?

NCRider

When I took it to the dealer, I asked them to check lugs. That happened to my father on a vacation road-trip when I was a kid. Luckily, no one was hurt.

I'm going to guess the balancing wasn't done with a Hunter Road Force balancer. But then, wouldn't the shake be a constant thing?

Will Y.

I kid you not-- check the lug nuts yourself NOW if you did not see the tech check them at the dealership. Use the tire iron to check that the nuts are not loose.
Sometimes techs miss things if not told by the service advisor, even if the request is written on the service order.
Hunter has a website which tells you if a dealer/tire place has a Road Force Balancer, if that isn't something that the tech/service advisor mentioned.

No, unbalanced wheels can shake/vibrate at different speed ranges-- a car can drive smoothly, then develop a vibration/shaking at 60 mph-75 mph, for example. Speeding up or slowing down will then eliminate the vibration.

CaliWowie

ball joints?

how many miles are on the car?

NCRider

Took it to the service place yesterday. They tightened all the lugs. I watched. They didn't loosen then tighten, though.

I'll check the Hunter site. Thanks! However, it doesn't always vibrate at highway speeds. Some days it's as smooth and as quiet as can be. Others, it's like I'm driving on a brick road at 65 mph.

The car's got about 53K miles.

NCRider

Hmmm...drove to and from work today. The vibration is still there. Happening more frequently now.

Going to the dealer tomorrow.

macnolias

I had the same issue at highway speeds... it ended up being one of the rear tires had separation. Those tires are overpriced garbage.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

If you get the vibration in the steering wheel while on the brakes, your rotors might be warped. If sitting at a red light and your steering wheel is vibrating, it may be your motor mounts. As for driving on the highway at speed and still having the vibrations, I couldn't tell you. Did you get a print out of your last alignment? If so, what are the specs?

TWiSDiT

iTrader: (4)

im on the same boat as you. I had my tires balanced twice.. first time it was balanced they told me my passenger rear is slightly bent, got it balanced the 2nd time with a hunters road force machine and its still the same, but they didnt mention anything about a bent rim.. wth.. running out of ideas. maybe i should go back to the one that has the hunter machine and watch them balance. I hope the last time i went they didnt just balance my tires like any other conventional balancer

NCRider

So, I just got back. The service mgr said he used a stethescope on the righ bearing and it was loud, but wasn't the bearing going bad. The (I'm going to get this wrong, I know it) secondary stabilizer arm or extension arm that comes out of the bearing under the right floor board is vibrating. Not always. But it is sometimes.

He said it's not overly dangerous (no long trips). $650

bigg_86

iTrader: (1)

How many miles in ur car? My friend had the same problem, he even changed the bearings got new tires n wheels but the vibration was still there. They replaced the drivers side axle and it drives smooth as new now.... in the other hand, I had the same problem after lowering my car, replaced my drivers side axle and the vibration was completely gone for about two weeks n now it came back... im thinking I might have to replace my passenger side axle too since both axles were worn at a same angle for 100k miles it makes sence that when lowering the car n changing the angle of the axels it will create a vibration...

bigg_86

iTrader: (1)

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...d.php?t=784347

Red Voodoo

I'm quite confident that you aren't using spacers, so that can't be a problem. I'm utilizing spacers with the OEM wheels, and I notice a very slight vibration in the steering between 65 and 75 mph that comes and goes. I've double-checked the tightness of all nuts for both the spacers and wheels and haven't noticed any discrepancies. Not a huge deal, but noticable. Your symptoms sounded a lot like a loose lug nut, so I'm glad that you had it checked and found that it not to be an issue.

NCRider

Me too! That's the first thing I thought when it happened. Scared the @#$! out of me.

I appreciate everyone's ideas and feedback!! Thanks!

I'll report back after the repair to tell how it worked out.

NCRider

Ok, so...I'm back. Here's the history:
- Fall of 2010 I get brake pads and front rotors replaced (third party, non-dealer)
- December 2010, I get 4 new Michelin MX M4V's

I've done no post-purchase customization.

April/May of 2011 I notice a large, violent vibration at highway speeds. Smooth road. I happened all of a sudden and scared me. It lasted for about 30 seconds probably 15-20 mins into my commute. This happened 3-4 times over the next two to three weeks. One time is stopped then it RESTARTED after I hit the brakes rather hard. What the heck??

I called the dealer and scheduled an appt. Got in. They found nothing. The tech even drove it home that evening. Nothing. Of course, it's only happened a few times.

I keeps happening off and on. I go back and go for a drive with the Svc Mgr. He diagnoses a bad "secondary stabilizer arm" or something. Replaces it for almost $500.

4 or 5 days later it happens again. Smooth highway. Sudden violent vibration for about 30-45 seconds. Then it stops.

Now, every morning and evening when I leave from work (haven't driven), the car will vibrate for the first 5-10 mins at speeds over 40. Vibration in steering wheel. Knocking in wheels. Not a consistent vibration like you'd expect from an unbalanced tire. It's not that rhythmic. After a few minutes, it goes away and it's smooth as glass. I will still get the occasional sudden, violent vibration. Shakes the hell out of the cabin. I pull to the right in case something falls off. Eventually it slowly goes away. (doesn't suddenly stop).

Thoughts? Am I dealing with multiple problems?

Here's what I'm wondering:
- Is the problem that occurs when the car is "cold" due to a bad shock(s)? Tire problem? Something that goes away as the car warms up?
- Is the random highway speed problem due to a loose brake pad? Could it be related to the 3rd party rotors I got? Tires?

CaliWowie

when you said: "I pull to the right in case something falls off. Eventually it slowly goes away. (doesn't suddenly stop). "

do you mean it starts to go away as your changing lanes..like the vibs go away as u r veering right??

another thing i lernded...i believe when ur steering wheel shakes more on the sides, its more likely compliance bushings. n upper n lower vibrations on the steering wheel can be the ball joints.

but since u describe it to be violent, it seems you've been on this vib prob for a while so if it was one it could have messed up the other by now...and maybe even more things.

it will take a lot of money to try all these ideas out man…i don't want to say it but maybe the subframe is bent…did you buy it from honda?

CaliWowie

ftw i have terrible vibrations...i dont have the cabbin raddle & i know exactly what that is(had it on my last car)...I feel it all the time but more so high speeds.

my plan of action is ball joints, wheel bearings, & upgrade front sway bar (for performance not vibrations) and front wheels balance all in one shot so all i have to do is one allignment...no i think its best to be honest here..i was drunk drunk driving and drove over a center divider because i cut a left turn wayyyy to short.......which to me prove 1. i was an idiot and 2. the tl is a great car because it has been almost a year now and its still rollin, and i drive ALOT.

NCRider

I bought the car new. It's been fine until this spring.

When I say the vibration stops, it just stops on its own. Not because I'm changing lanes.

I'm now noticing a squeak when I pull into the parking garage at work. It's only at low speeds (coasting) and not braking. I think I have a sticky caliper perhaps?

Wow, starting to sound like a lot of little problems. Starting to bug me. I like my TL, but chronic little crap like this will force me to sell it. Bugs me too as I've been a honda bigot for some time. That's all my wife and I buy.

NCRider

So, the issue is still going on. Got a new set of tires. Took my car to get it road force balanced and the shop noticed that my rear brake pads were worn down to nothing. (.1). I noticed on the way to the shop to get my balancing done, that the rear wheels would whine while driving or in reverse -- with or without the brakes applied.

Took it to the place that did my brakes last year. They said the rear pads were worn down and even were white -- meaning they were so hot they were ashen.

Could the occasional and sometimes violent vibration I would get be a stuck caliper? Two stuck calipers? Should they replace the hose as well?

mattyboy3288

A sticking caliper could be causing it if it is cause the rotor to become severely warped and the runout is bad enough. Depending on the cost of the lines in may not hurt but definitely do the calipers in pairs!.

shakinroch

This probably is irrelvent but I had a friend take an Accord to the dealer for a recall. The dealer offerred to wash the car and also applied tire dressing. Somehow the tire dressing got onto the rotors and actually caused a severe vibration until cleaned off.

Now my question. Can some of the suspension parts mentioned in this thred actualy be bad without a dealer being able to see the defect? Sounds odd.

7thgear

This is feedback on the vibration issue with my 2005 TL. Vibration occurs around 65-70MPH and is specially noticable when accelerating. Had the tires rebalance twice. No go. After reading a few threads and posts by other people who have this problem, I pretty much listed the possibilies and the most likely cause of the problem. Top of the list was the Drive Side Axle; second was Torn Compliance Bushings, Third was Bent Rim, Fourth was Balancing and Tires and fifth were Motor Mounts. I took mine to a Honda and Acura specialist and I went down the list of what the probably causes. Sure enough, the first thing they checked was the driver side axle and that fixed the problem. The owner of the shop said that the axles were so close to a heat source that they don't last that long. Anyway, I hope this helps somebody out there. I'm not saying this might the fix for all, but that's whay they did to mine. I hope Acura changes this so it doesn't happen in future models. My TL runs smooth now and I'm a happy camper.

paperboy42190

iTrader: (7)

Thanks for the feedback! Axles are definitely a possibility

NCRider

Had calipers replaced and am now on my THIRD (!!!) set of rotors which are now also warped. I've only got 80K miles.

I didn't have the lines replaced, but there were flushed. I'm pretty well convinced it's the brakes. What are my options here besides a full out brake overhaul?

Also, when replacing rotors, calipers, etc., are there brands that are recommended vs OEM? Is this something I should have done at the dealer or someplace else?

myua6

Did you get this fixed?

Craig Plumley

I went through everything you guys did and read about it for 2 years as dealer could not fix. Then I read a blog about the wind doing the same thing on a tesla. I went under the car and stuffed foam where the plastic covers the engine from below. There was on piece that was not well supported. After that no more vibration. It was wind buffeting. The same frequency as when you roll down your back windows and ge the booming sound. My guess is that is the same for all the advise with this problem. Each time someone pulls that plastic down to do a fix it may make things better or worse. Try the window test I mentioned to see if the same frequency them once confirmed by some cheap high density firm that is malleable and stuff it under where the plastic is somewhat loose or could flap especially in the drivers side. It's worth a try because it ended my torment

Craig Plumley

By the way I had my brakes done with an on car brake lathe and they are super smooth now but did not fix problem. That was my last hope as well until I figured out it was the wind. The brake job was with it for the great feeling in my brakes though.