Hi, I look around in here from time to time but I've never had to ask a question. Its been a good car.

Anyway, I've picked up a vibration from the front end at about 65 - 75mph. I don't notice it as much outside that range, but it still might be there.

I had the tires balanced, so I don't think its that.

It doesn't really change as I turn one way or another (at those speeds, lane changes...) so I doubt it is wheel bearings.

What are the odds that it is a half shaft? Would I even be able to tell which one it could be? Is this a precursor to a failing halfshaft?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks

 

Alright, an update.

I crawled under there last night, and found that there is grease coming out from under the end of the inner cv joint boot on the drivers side. Also, the outside of the cv socket can move around a bit. I suspect this is where the vibration is coming from.

Side note of interest: I did not know there was a carrier bearing on the drivers side axle. I thought it was interesting.

The carrier bearing itself seems fine. It doesn't appear to move at all. What appears to be the loose part is where the cv shaft fits in to the inner driveshaft.

I will replace the cv half shaft. What are the odds that the socket on the inner driveshaft is wallered out? Is that shaft replaceable as well?

Thanks

 

I noticed the same thing - looseness between the driver's CV splines and the intermediate shaft sprocket. I don't think its where your vibration is coming from, though. You can find replacements in the junkyard but the fit is the same - still loose.

Usually high speed vibrations are wheel or tire related. It may not be tire balance - your tires may be out-of-round, or you may have a bent rim. It seems pretty common for tires to go out-of-round as they age, especially if they sit for any length of time.

Also you may want to have the balance done by another shop. Maybe I just got unlucky, but the Tire Kingdom I use here apparently has two different balance machines, and they were using the wrong machine to balance my tires. The end result was tires that were way out of balance.

 

Darn. I was hoping it was something simple like a CV shaft... I'm glad its not the intermediate shaft though. Those look like they are harder to find.

These tires aren't that old, and the car is a daily driver so they haven't been sitting.

The only other thing I have noticed is that sometimes there is almost no vibration, and sometimes it is stronger.

I guess I will take the tires to another shop and get them balanced again. (Looks like snow this weekend, so maybe next week.)

Thanks