Del sol...no accidents, stock 14's from a saturn, new tires, balanced, aligned, rear lower, front upper, front lower braces, car shakes at 50-55 mph under load with top off. Top on no problem through all gears from 0-100 mph. Top off fine through all gears until 50-55 mph. Checked car thoroughly from underneath no structural problems no bolts loose. And now Im stumped, from everything I have done the only other thing is maybe a weight fell off. Any suggestions?

 

how bout with the top on? does it do it still? If it doesn't do it with the top on then it is a pure areodynamic problem

 

top on its fine

 

axles

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Pure Sol &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">top on its fine</TD></TR></TABLE>

Sounds like it's just the wind buffeting. Trying rolling up and down the windows when it is doing it to see if it stops.

 

i was thinkin maybe axles as well since the tires are new and all the wheels are balanced/aligned...

..is the car lowered?

 

Wheres it rattling from the most?

THis would help a lot....is it a mechanicle rattle, or more like interrior/exterior?

 

The car is lowered 2.5" on skunk2 springs. It isn't so much a rattle as a shake, to explain it best when driving and approaching 50 mph I can watch the top (near the sun visors) shake. It feels like I am drving through a series of rumble strips. I have tried windows up and down but no difference. Axles are brand new but Im not saying everything brand new is perfect, I've had many brand new things screw up from factory.

 

so you're saying this only happens while the motor is under load and the top is off? I don't see any correlation between the two.

 

yeah doesnt make any sense. having the top on or off affects the wheel balance about as much as having your stereo on or off. theres no way the 2 are connected. now if the top is rattling or vibrating when its on that would be something different.

 

sounds like worn bushings, with top off there is more wind resistance so it affects the car more,

get front end checked out

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by onegreedy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">sounds like worn bushings, with top off there is more wind resistance so it affects the car more,

get front end checked out</TD></TR></TABLE>

yeah, but there isn't more wind resistance with the top off at 50 than there is with the top on at 100, where he said there is no vibration.

 

try sound deadening matting or even use ducktape for the hard to reach places, worked for my ride

 

have you changed anything on the exterior of the car that would change its aerodynamics? Like different side mirrors, non-oem spoiler, anything like that?

 

well as much as it doesn't make sense it happens. Nothing has changed since i bought the vehicle 2 years ago, externally that is. Front end has all brand new poly bushings. Im going to get it looked at for balance and alignment this week, any way to check the axles for inbalance?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Pure Sol &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Front end has all brand new poly bushings. Im going to get it looked at for balance and alignment this week, any way to check the axles for inbalance?</TD></TR></TABLE>

do you mean polyurethane suspension bushings or motor mount bushings? I have both in my car, but when I added the suspension bushings, I did notice a lot more road vibration/noise. Its pretty much the same whether the top is on or off though.

 

yeah both motor and suspension bushings. This isn't just road/noise vibration. Its not nearly a vibration as a shake. Im leaning towards a balance issue in the axle or wheel/tire. Ill keep posted.

 

it couldbe the bushings....