I am wobbling

[DJStillman]

1991 Acclaim 2.5 120,600 miles

While driving around, I feel a wobble coming from the car. I notice it most when:

1. Driving steadily between 15 and 40ish MPH
2. Letting off of the accelerator at any speed above 20MPH
3. Adjusting slightly to the right in a straightaway (more noise too)
4. Taking a turn really hard
5. Using the brakes (feel it in the pedal, and a little in the steering wheel)

I have:

1. Checked the tires for inflation, and they seem ok (what is recommended pressure for this car, to be sure?)
2. Replaced the front brake pads
3. Checked sway bar bushings (sway bar did not wiggle in the bushings. Is this all that I should be looking for?)
4. Did the shock bounce check. Stopped right after being pushed.

I would appreciate any and all suggestions on what to check, and what I am looking for. The Haynes manual was woefully lacking on information for this, and I am starting to hear a thud/thunk noise more and more...

Thank you.

David

 

[Rick in PA]

Sounds like tires to me.

I'd jack the car up, spin the tires by hand and make sure they are running "true". Could be a shifted belt.

If everything looks OK, you could try rotating the tires front to back and see if that changes the situation.

 

[mrchecker]

Sounds like a bad wheel bearing to me.

 

[RussellA]

I've had tires wear funny and get flat spots on them. Very hard to see. Try rotating back tires to front (and visa versa) and see if it changes. Years and years ago places used to shave tires back true, but I don't think anyone does this anymore for liability reasons. The fact that it happens at a variety of speeds points away from balancing. Balance problems usually have some resonance making it worse at certain speeds.

IMHO, you would HEAR lots of noise from a bad wheel bearing.

quote:

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thud/thunk noise

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Is this when you turn? If this is a FWD car, vibration like this will tear up your CV joints quick.

[ August 31, 2003, 10:06 AM: Message edited by: RussellA ]

 

[3 Mad Ponchos]

I'll go with wheel bearing on this one. But also check that the tires are balanced properly.

Wheel bearing check: Jack up suspect wheel so that it is not touching the ground. Grab tire at 12:00 and 6:00. Attempt to wobble it. If it moves, wheel bearing is toast.

Cheers, 3MP

 

[RussellA]

Ok , so jack up the front and back of one side of the car. Do 3MPs wheel bearing test. If the wheel bearing is toast , you know what you have to fix. If not swap the wheel with the rear one and repeat on other side. Now get busy and enjoy your 3 day weekend working on your car.

 

[NutBuster]

I've worked around tires for years and this is a classic symptom of tire separation. It's usually visible when watching the tread when the tire is spinning. There have been rare occasions, in my experience, where the separation may be barely visible...even invisible.

I would suggest taking it to a reputable shop with a balancer. If they notice an out-of-round condition, have them show it to you. I'd bet you'll see a slight hump in the tread that could be small or even extend all the way around the circumference of the tire.

Usually this is indicative of damage, but sometimes tires just do this on their own without ever being struck by a curb or other damaging road debris. But just to be sure your car isn't the culprit, have the shocks checked.

I'd highly doubt it's related to a bearing or any other suspension problem. You might find a shop willing to sell you all kinds of crap you don't need, but just check the tires first. If you don't feel it in the steering wheel (pulling or shimmying), it's probably in a back tire.

there you go.

 

[RussellA]

In case it wasn't clear. Rotating tires won't fix the problem if it's a tire problem. But it will change how the wobble feels (i.e. moved it to the back tires) thus isolating the problem to the tires.

 

[DJStillman]

Thank you all very much for your thoughts and ideas. Since I still have today off, I think i am going to go and try and figure this out now. Hope it is not anything too bad...

David

 

[Amkeer]

Sounds like a bearing. Do what 3mp says above or you can try it without jacking up the car.


Daily Drives
-2003 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner XtraCab, Impulse Red, Peppy 2.7 Liter 4 Banger, Running Mobil1 Synthetics SS 5w30.
ODO 4500 Miles.
-1995 Toyota 4-Runner, Evergreen, 3.0 V6, Running Mobil1 Synthetic SS 10w30.
ODO 81000 Miles.

 

[DJStillman]

quote:

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Originally posted by 3 Mad Ponchos:
Wheel bearing check: Jack up suspect wheel so that it is not touching the ground. Grab tire at 12:00 and 6:00. Attempt to wobble it. If it moves, wheel bearing is toast.

Cheers, 3MP

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Did this yesterday. Right front nice and tight. Left front, little tiny wiggle. Not enough to be visible while trying to move it, only could feel it. Does this sound like a bad bearing?

Thank you.

David

 

[3 Mad Ponchos]

Maybe. Or maybe just some slop in the front suspension. Doesn't sound like enough to cause a bad wobble though. I'd suggest going back to checking for balance or belt separation.

Cheers, 3MP