curls

I have a problem that has been eluding me for months now. I get a vibration at any speed above 50mph. The vibration occurs in the steering wheel, dash, seats, rearview mirror, shifter, pedals, etc... basically everywhere. Normally, front-end suspension component vibration will only vibrate the steering wheel and that's it. My problem is different as it is felt in everything including the steering wheel.

The car is a 1991 Integra GS, pretty much stock.

Things I have done to try and fix this problem:

- balance tires
- swap tires/rims with known-good set
- replace axles (whole axle including CV joint)
- check rotors for warp / runout, and check pads for rubbing
- alignment (x3, over various stages in this problems' life, as required)
- new LCA bushings
- new tie-rod ends (both were worn so they were replaced)
- new lower ball joints (one was worn so I replaced them both)
- Energy Suspension front motor mount insert

About the only things I can still think of doing are as follows: Wheel bearings (although there is absolutely no sound coming from the front suspension area.. no grinding, whirring, etc, which is normally associated with a worn wheel bearing).

Secondly, my rear motor mount (near the firewall) is very worn and in need of replacement, but my thinking is that a worn rear mount with a strong front mount, will cause the engine to "bounce" at the rear, therefore transferring that vibration and weight to the tranny, which transfers to the axles, and then to the wheels... BUT the weight of the engine is also enough to shake the chassis and hence I feel the vibration not only in the steering wheel, but also in the seats, etc...

What else can I check and what kind of crack am I smoking (or not) to think that the rear motor mount is causing this problem? ANY help is appreciated, as this problem has eluded a lot of mechanics for a long time now.

Thanks!
~Eric

3.504

i believe you're on the right steps. you already named off everything i would have done (which is stuff you should be maintaining on your car anyways, so it wasn't a waste). try replacing the rear motor mount and see what you come up with.

heres what i'd do to save some money on it: remove the mount, place masking tape on 1 side. go out to an auto parts store/home repair type store and buy a product called wind-o-weld (comes in tube like caulk). pour the wind-o-weld into the 1side taped up motor mount by laying the motor mount on the taped side and squeezing the wind-o-weld in. wind-o-weld is a quick urethane and is alot cheaper than inserts.

curls

I already have the rear Energy Suspension insert (I bought the motor mount kit but only put the front on in at the time, as the rear one is a real ***** to get in there). I doubt I'd need to use the Wind-O-Weld. (??)

Would my logic about the rear mount actually hold true in reality though? One part of me thinks that yes, the motor mount would cause this, but the other part of me is leaning towards something else that might be part of the rotating/spinning driveline, being out of balance. Is there anything else aside from completely-internal tranny parts, that spins/rotates and would cause symptoms like this?

Thanks for the response too by the way... greatly appreciated!

~Eric

IVI

this has to be a tire / rim problem.

who balanced the wheels? how did they balance them? was it static balanced? how old are the machines?

did you check your rims for out of roundness or bent?

no uneven spots or a slipped belt on the tires?

did the shop actually dismount the tire from the rim and inspect inside for any debris ?

curls

It's 100% NOT the rim or tires. I've swapped with some Heliums w/ Falken tires that we know are perfect (they're my buddies' rims), and the problem was exactly the same as when I had my rims on.

~Eric

PnX-R

As Honda's get older, they have a tendacy to vibrate the steering wheel.. In that case, the answer is to replace the tranny mounts..

But in your case, what I would start out doing is to replace engine and tranny mounts. You'll never know until you try, because asking that question about the mount isn't going to give you that answer.. It's easy for me to say that because at the dealership, I have an unlimited amount of parts to help diagnose the problem..

But whatever you do, good luck..

curls

Do you define the "tranny mount" as the one on the passenger side of the engine, or the rear mount which is near the firewall and down near the front crossmember?

I'm getting mixed opinions on which is the tranny mount from a few sources.

Thanks!
~Eric

Sack Master

The tranny mount is the one on top of the transmission. The one near the fire wall is the back mount. It could be a few other things that you didn't change. Something internal in the engine or transmission(hopefully not), wheel bearing, or tie rod. You should take it to an alignment shop and have them check it out. allthough you said you aligned it already you would think they would check it out.

curls

The last alignment shop I went to (the best in town for many years by reputation) fully checked out the front end and everything was gerat in their eyes. No play in the wheels vertically or horizontally.

I am getting my parts supplier to look into a new rear mount rubber. My tranny mount (near distributor, on top of tranny) was in good shape last time I saw it, and wasn't cracked or shrunk. Still looked intact and in decent shape. The front and rear mount take the brunt of the torque force and are the first to go by a long shot according to most people.

~Eric