Hey everyone. I have had a persistent problem with my 99 Solara since I bought the car 2 years ago. It has always had some kind of vibration when moving. When I first got the car, the steering wheel shook like mad. My mechanic determined it was because Oldsmobile rims on the car were not compatible with the Solara. I got some $10 junkyard rims and used 2 year old tires. There was significant improvement, but the issue remains. However, before I switched out the wheels, I also replaced the CV axle. The old one was badly damaged from a ripped boot. So to sum up my situation:
1: car has always vibrated
2: replaced axle before swapping wheels.
3: swapped wheels. Noticeable improvement.
4: so i don’t know if the vibration remains because of the cheap wheels/tires combo or cheap $60 eBay afternarket axle.
Symptoms of vibration as it currently stands: the vibration occurs most noticeably at freeway speeds. Every time I have my backpack or a grocery bag in the passenger seat, you can see it vibrating at a high frequency. And I can feel it too. Not through the steering wheel most intriguingly, but through the cabin. The vibration is worst if I floor the gas at freeway speeds, putting the car under load. Vibrations get bad enough to cause my sunglasses to rattle on the dash. The vibrations are not as noticeable at lower speeds. I can floor it in first or second and not feel it much, but I can feel it in 3rd. I mean would wheel balance issues show markedly worse vibration issues under load? The vibrations don’t dissipate when I am cruising or decelerating.
Are there any things I can check to see if the problem is the CV axle or the wheels? I am planning on lifting the vehicle soon, to inspect the tires for roundness issues and maybe bumps. I have no idea how to diagnose the axle.
This issue has plagued me for the past 2 years, and my patience is wearing thin.
I have had the wheels balanced just under a year ago btw.
1: car has always vibrated
2: replaced axle before swapping wheels.
3: swapped wheels. Noticeable improvement.
4: so i don’t know if the vibration remains because of the cheap wheels/tires combo or cheap $60 eBay afternarket axle.
Symptoms of vibration as it currently stands: the vibration occurs most noticeably at freeway speeds. Every time I have my backpack or a grocery bag in the passenger seat, you can see it vibrating at a high frequency. And I can feel it too. Not through the steering wheel most intriguingly, but through the cabin. The vibration is worst if I floor the gas at freeway speeds, putting the car under load. Vibrations get bad enough to cause my sunglasses to rattle on the dash. The vibrations are not as noticeable at lower speeds. I can floor it in first or second and not feel it much, but I can feel it in 3rd. I mean would wheel balance issues show markedly worse vibration issues under load? The vibrations don’t dissipate when I am cruising or decelerating.
Are there any things I can check to see if the problem is the CV axle or the wheels? I am planning on lifting the vehicle soon, to inspect the tires for roundness issues and maybe bumps. I have no idea how to diagnose the axle.
This issue has plagued me for the past 2 years, and my patience is wearing thin.
I have had the wheels balanced just under a year ago btw.
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