Like I said, this mechanic wouldn't install junk axles...he didn't build a decades long reputable service center based on installing junk parts...I could buy the tires being bad before I could buy that brand new axles are bad...
2004 Corolla steering wheel shake
- Thread starter grampi
- Start date
This issue didn't happen all of a sudden, and certainly not after the axles were replaced. The shaking has been oncoming, slowly getting worse over time. It could absolutely be the tires. They are cheap, low dollar tires. It could also be any number of other things like tie rod ends, bad struts, etc. With a car this old, and with this many miles, I would think it would be any of these things over the new axles...
I would think if a tire does become out of round, it would be due to a manufacturer's defect...
To the first 3 questions, no. I will try running the tires with a high pressure to see what happens...
Apologies—the problem predates the axle replacement.
Ok, tires or suspension. Rotors?
I was thinking Tie Rods . Just have your mechanic check every possible thing it could be .
Easy enough to jack it up and spin them to look for a wobble.
Rotors? No steering wheel shakes when applying the brakes...also, my apologies, I should've stated that the problem existed prior to the axle replacement...
That's when my mechanic said he saw tire wobble, when it was up on the lift...
Then its got an out of round tire. No amount of balancing will fix it.
Back up a bit.
You moved the tires, so it’s clearly not the wheels and tires.
Vibration on acceleration is axles. During cruise it can be many things, but you are feeling it under the floors under acceleration so, axles.
“my guy doesn’t use junk” isn’t an argument. It isn’t even true.
Rebuilt axles from big box stores are junk unless they’re new. Even if he got them at NAPA, they’re rebuilt junk.
If you paid less than $500 per axle, the price of a new, not rebuilt, axle, then yeah, you got junk.
Believe me, or live with the vibration. Your call.
You may have multiple things wrong with this car. Find, and fix if needed, all the other things I mentioned in the previous post. But it is going to come back to axles.
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If I had an out-of-round tire on both the front and back, then yes it still could be bad tires. I don't know where my mechanic gets these axles, but to automatically say they are bad, and to be certain about it I think is being a bit overconfident in your diagnosis. If every rebuilt axle was junk, then they wouldn't be selling them for very long...also, vibration under acceleration can also be caused by a bad wheel bearing. I know as I've experienced that very problem before...
It may have more than one...
Usually, Discount Tire is good about pro-ration on bad tires towards new ones. This will be the easiest thing to check. What brand are these, Senturies? Since I'm kind of familiar with their offerings.
I’ve bought five rebuilt axles over the years. I’m five for five. Every single one of them vibrated under acceleration. Sure, they get replaced under warranty … with another one that vibrates!
Ask @Trav about rebuilds.
I don’t buy rebuilds any more. Reboot OEM if I can. New GKN if I have to. OEM if nothing else.
But no more rebuilds, even on a 400,000 mile car. Fix it right by avoiding big box rebuilds.
Know anyone with a PicoNVH in their arsenal? It is becoming a required service tool for some brands. This can probably narrow it down somewhat quickly.
www.aeswave.com
NVH Diagnostic STANDARD Kit in Carry Case (PQ129)
Pico NVH Diagnostic STANDARD Kit in Carry Case with two NVH interfaces, two accelerometers, two magnets, 2 microphones, two extension cables.
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Remans suck in every possible way, they grind the bearing surfaces which removes the hardness causing them to wear quickly and are not tight like OE. They do not balance the axle that can cause a whole host of issues and then to finish it off they use the cheapest neoprene boots that can be sourced from uncle wongs rubber shop and bushing factory in some back alley in shanghai or India.
Companies like Raxles uses all new OE parts and use an inspected and checked OE used shaft with quality thermoplastic boot, they are good but not cheap. OE new is simple, you get the original ones brand new. Sometimes these are not as expensive as you think they would be, for this car about $800 a pair.
Unless you have the originals that were on the car forget rebuilding them with new OE joints, buggering the original shaft is part of the cheap reman process.
Companies like Raxles uses all new OE parts and use an inspected and checked OE used shaft with quality thermoplastic boot, they are good but not cheap. OE new is simple, you get the original ones brand new. Sometimes these are not as expensive as you think they would be, for this car about $800 a pair.
Unless you have the originals that were on the car forget rebuilding them with new OE joints, buggering the original shaft is part of the cheap reman process.
Yes they are...
No, they will do anything possible to not “warranty” tires that do not have visible sidewall damage.
