Hello everyone,

I have a 2001 SS with 130,000 miles on it. I sold the car about 2 years ago and it was in pristine condition. I really took care of this car because I wanted to keep it forever. Recently, I got it back.

It lived on a dirt road in the desert, I know it wasn't babied as I do with, but it wasn't abused. The roads here are hard on vehicles because cars aren't designed for the terrain.

I have a vibration that starts at about 45 until about 60 when it diminishes. It is still there, but barley. My first thought was tires. I had them rebalanced and rotated and the vibration is still there.


I did the jack-up-the-car-and-jiggle-the-tire test. The right front is solid and the left has a noticeable movement. I can hear and feel something cluncking. Based on my research I believe it might be a ball joint, a tie rod end, or a wheel bearing.

The vibration I feel is very noticeable. The whole car shakes until it passes 60, then it's there a little bit. I recently had the transmission rebuilt by AAMCO, maybe 4 months ago. The car doesn't vibrate if the engine and trans aren't under power. I take my foot of the gas and coast down a hill, the vibration stops.

I feel I am looking at two separate problems. 1) the ball joint, tie rod, or wheel bearing and 2)something in the power train.

Could the vibration be caused by something being off in the transmission? A shift point or rpm sensor? Maybe shifting too early or too late? Could it be the motor itself?

I've always been able to take it to a professional mechanic because I'm not even a back yard mechanic, but I want to learn, plus I'm broke, so I have to fix it myself now.

If you guys can think of something I might not be thinking about, I would appreciate your help.

Thanks
Donie

 

if you can get another person to come over jack up the front of the car left side since thats side that you felt slop in somthing, have them move the tire the way you did, crawl under and see if you can pin point what it is

 

Hey Donie,

I am having a similar problem as you @ about 45-60. Even at 80-100 km/hr. I've had this problem since last year when I first bought it. I have literally changed every front end drivetrain component except for the drivers side wheel hub. Now my problem happened today after installing a pair of ZZperformance stage 1 C.V axles. The problem seems worst than when my stock axles were in there. My mechanic told me it might be that the grease inside is packed and needs time to move around but so far I put 100km on the car and it still vibrates as you mentioned with foot on the gas. Anyways. It could be several issues. I dont think steering components like ball joints or tie rods would be causing your vibration. If I were to guess I would have to say either your C.V axles or your Wheel Hub assemblies, and as you mentioned your tires were balanced (properly, I hope) and rotated. All the best and I hope your problem gets fixed soon.

 

That sounds like a bad cv axle to me especially if it stops when there is no load being applied. That's an old mechanics trick for diagnosing u-joints in rear wheel drives. Or try down shifting to see if that makes it change.