weird vibration

[boostedinthe843]

the driver side rear tire has a vibration coming from it, could this be an axle going out, also it seems like the car feels as if it swings back and forth right to left like having no traction . what could this mean? how do i tell if i have a bad axle? the vibration noise just sounds like i am running like mud terrain tires on the highway if anyone if firmiliar with that. mad scientists let me know what you think!

 

[ClevelandDSM]

Does the vibration come and go with speed?

Does it make a " clicking " noise when you have the wheel turned to full lock in either direction?

Do you have 4 of the Exact same tires on the car?

Can you feel a left to right , or up and down motion in the wheel with it jacked up?

Jack the car up and spin the wheel and look at it at an angle and gently rub your hand on it to search for flat spots.

When jacked up and spinning the tire by hand does it make a growling noise or smell like burning?

 

[boostedinthe843]

no clicking noise like a cv shaft. and yeah it comes with speed soon as i reach right around 35 mph i start hearing it. im runnin all the same size tires, no loose lugs/studs.

 

[toofast82]

rear wheel bearing? Mine was doing the same thing. wobbly wheel, vibrations.

 

[boostedinthe843]

yeah thats what i kinda think it is, its really unnerving driving it and its my only form of transportation. guess i wont really know till i pull the wheel tonight

 

[toofast82]

jack it up with wheel on and pull on it at 12-6 and then 3-9. You should see some movement. if its 12-6 your bearing probably trashed and also look for trailing arm play at 3-9

 

[boostedinthe843]

what would arm play mean? something bad im guessing

 

[toofast82]

theres a trailing arm bushing, as well as a rubber sleeve(bushing) that some people weld washers to make it solid.

 

[boostedinthe843]

would you recomend doing this?

 

[toofast82]

Youd most likely have to buy the energysuspension rear bushing kit to get it which has all the control arm bushings. It obviously wouldnt hurt and it should add some response.

 

[ClevelandDSM]

I would personally just put the factory replacement bushings back in if they are blown out.

 

[toofast82]

its pretty difficult to find a factory trailing arm bushing for 1g. Satan will seel you the whole arm. the ES kit is like $50. But I would only replace it if its bad. I will be doing the washer mod though in the spring as well as a camber kit (have a little too much toe)

 

[ACM]

jack it up with wheel on and pull on it at 12-6 and then 3-9. You should see some movement. if its 12-6 your bearing probably trashed and also look for trailing arm play at 3-9

That's not necessarily the case - there are ball joints in both those planes. A good way to tell whether it is ball joint or wheel bearing play is to use the end of one finger to bridge the gap between the brake rotor and the rotor dust shield. Assuming there is play evident, then if play is felt by the finger when rocking the wheel, that play is coming from the wheel bearing, as the rotor is bolted to the hub and the dust shield to the upright; if the finger does not detect any play, then it is coming from one of the ball joints.