What does your car sound/feel like on the highway?

[PhoenixRPR]

No seriously, how does your car sound/feel on the highway? I'm very concerned about how my car sounds/feels at highway speeds. I have a 92 Eclipse GSX and I've never driven another 1G besides mine. I have no idea how it's suppose to sound/feel on the highway. Here's why I am concerned, trying to be as detailed as I can. My car is stock by the way. 99% of the parts I've replaced thus far have been with new stock parts. On the highway, I'm getting a LOT of road noise. The dealer told me that some of my road noise is coming from the size of my tires. I have Yokohama S306 215/65/R15. That was done by the previous owner of the car. What are the correct sizes tire/wheel the car comes with stock? I thought it was 16" wheels but I don't know the stock tire size. Another thing is I want to make sure I don't need new balljoints, so to determine that I want to know if you guys feel those metal/plastic lane bumps on the highway and if so, how noticeable are they? Thanks for sticking with me this far. Another point is the shifter in 5th gear. My shifter doesn't move 1/2" like it wants to pop out into neutral like vfaq describes, but between 75-80 MPH, it chatters unbelievably loud. I have to grab it and hold it in a certain position to get it to shut up, and it's only from 75-80 MPH. Thoughts on that one? Ok, how much should I be able to hear the stock exhaust and the engine at about 3500 RPMS on the highway? Anything you guys can throw your two cents into will be greatly appreciated and helpful to the DSM community. Thanks again.

 

[PhoenixRPR]

Stock tires = 205/55/R16

 

[PhoenixRPR]

Thoughts?

 

[PhoenixRPR]

Please, at least give me some input on one of the several topics in this thread, thanks.

 

[krosTSI]

does your exaust leak or have any holes in the pipe?

maybe your synchro in your shifter might be given!

look to see if the boots on the front axle are torn or shi!tty, if they are have a pro replace those. those protect the moving joints and if there dirty and dusty and not well lubricated then get some new ones.

my moms car had the same problem, they were ripped. we replaced them and put the necassay oil in them and there hella smooth now.
-Ky

 

[PhoenixRPR]

Originally posted by krosTSI
does your exaust leak or have any holes in the pipe?

maybe your synchro in your shifter might be given!

look to see if the boots on the front axle are torn or shi!tty, if they are have a pro replace those. those protect the moving joints and if there dirty and dusty and not well lubricated then get some new ones.

my moms car had the same problem, they were ripped. we replaced them and put the necassay oil in them and there hella smooth now.
-Ky

I'll check you the boots you're talking about. Can you guys gimme some more info on this synchro in my shifter? How to know when that's going bad, symptoms? I really wanna know why my shifter is grinding so much in the upper RPM range, but not when I'm shifting.

 

[PhoenixRPR]

bump, need more feedback

 

[ntjoe]

My 1G has a fair amount of road noise. I would be more concerned with vibration and if it was pulling. As far as the shifter, there is a VFAQ on what you talked about when the shift jumps out of gear. I would probably check that also. Its possible that if that bolt inside the end of the tranny is loss it might cause that also. I'm not certain, but it could be something to check to help eliminate possibilities.

Good Luck....

 

[PhoenixRPR]

Well, I'm gonna give the vfaq a shot, but I really don't think it's going to fix this problem. That vfaq is designed for a car that has problems in 5th gear, trying to jump out of gear. My shifter just rattles/grinds a bunch between 75-80MPH and it will shut up if I hold it in a certain position. But the problem with the grind is occurring in all gears, all within the mid-upper RPM range, 3-4K. I have a newly rebuilt tranny, so it's not any syncro problem. The balance shafts were rephased and the timing was redone, but the problem remains. Thoughts? I have good motor mounts as well.

 

[laserblue]

-New rear wheel bearings quieted down my car a few years back. The car was especially noisy at highway speeds. Then last year more noises, so the front transaxles were replaced.
-As far as the tranny goes - it's getting cranky and tired and worn. I hate to say this but... it's going to get worse!! Eventually you may not be able to keep it in a gear, or even get it into a gear [It happened to me.]. . . Sorry for that news. I may be wrong [hopefully for you] but don't be surprised if more tranny troubles surface.
-Remember, your car is a decade old. Shit wears out!

These are MY sad stories and may not be related to your problems. I do not want to lead you in the wrong direction. I'm not a drive-train/front end/suspension expert!! **Good luck!**

 

[PhoenixRPR]

Thanks. I'll add teh wheel bearings and transaxles to the list of things to look into, but as far as the tranny goes, like i said, mine was recently rebuilt in it's entirety, so it's not that.

 

[blackvr4]

Feel around your tyres for feathering if you suspect they are niosy
this means rough one way and smooth the other as it sugests .
wheel bearing check is a little harder jack all 4 off ground with stands !
run in gear and with mechanics stethascope(srewdriver)go around and listen to the none moving part of the stub axles by placing your ear to the driver handle its the best tool youl ever use .
Any growl at all is suspect bearing but compare a few and you will get a feel for it .Works well with centre bearings on tailshaft as well.

 

[PhoenixRPR]

The tires are only about 6,000 miles old. The reason I mentioned the tires as a source of road noise was because the dealer reminded me they were not the stock size tires, they're 15s, not 16s, and that would lead to excessive road noise. I'll check the bearings as you've described though.