high speeds = vibrating...help!
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high speeds = vibrating...help!
ok, here's the scoop. When I first got my Z, I noticed that at high speeds, lets say...75+, the car would vibrate. I didn't really think anything of it, because the Z is pretty old and all. Well, lately, the vibrations have been getting worse. The car does it at speeds of 60 now, 60 being the least amount of vibration. I'm starting to get worried, because I don't want to be driving the car and have something blow up or fall out of it. I've thought of things that it could be, and here's what I thought of: I need to get new u-joints for the rear end and driveshaft, I need new tie rod ends for my rack and pinion suspension, and that's about all I can think of. If someone can give me an idea, I'd totally appreciate it.
I have a present for you...
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,699
From: dayton, nevada usa
If you put it up on 2 jack stands positioned on the rear cross beam located just in front of the rear wheels, securely with the front wheels blocked, you will be able to creep around under the car with the engine running in high gear. Run the speedometer up to the speed before you get under the car to be sure it's safe.
Have someone run the engine while you look for the posible problem. Could be a loose drive shaft or axels or loose wheel. You can check this before you run the car by getting under there and checking everthing first. If that doesn't solve it, let it down and jack up the front. Caution, getting under the car and pushing and pulling on things is extremely dangerous. I like to put a spare tire under the car just in case. Good luck, let us all know how you make out.
Have someone run the engine while you look for the posible problem. Could be a loose drive shaft or axels or loose wheel. You can check this before you run the car by getting under there and checking everthing first. If that doesn't solve it, let it down and jack up the front. Caution, getting under the car and pushing and pulling on things is extremely dangerous. I like to put a spare tire under the car just in case. Good luck, let us all know how you make out.
Registered User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 87
From: GTA, Toronto, Ontario
also, check your tires for balance, if theres any of those little magnetic weights on them make sure they havn't slipped around. But yeah it sounds like your drive shaft may not be so balanced anymore either.
good luck
good luck
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 269
From: Tongie, Kansas
ummm isn't getting under the car while its running in gear more dangerous then getting under it and pulling on stuff??
HEHE...just had to put that in there to start with!
Airpilot,
Can you tell whether the vibration is in the steering or do you feel it more with your tush or in the shifter? That will tell you where you need to start looking. I'll wait for an answer before throwing out what it could be. But worn tie rod ends won't cause a vibration.
HEHE...just had to put that in there to start with!
Airpilot,
Can you tell whether the vibration is in the steering or do you feel it more with your tush or in the shifter? That will tell you where you need to start looking. I'll wait for an answer before throwing out what it could be. But worn tie rod ends won't cause a vibration.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 269
From: Tongie, Kansas
Put the car up on jack stands and leave it in gear. Slide under it and try pushing up and down on the drive shaft at the u-joints also try turning the drive shaft and watch for play in the u-joints. Do the same thing with the half shafts from the rear end. It sounds to me like a bad u-joint or out of balance driveshaft.
Guest
Posts: n/a
oh, yeah, that makes sense, thanks Gary. I talked to one of my fellow employees at work today, I explained the problem, and he asked me about my front end. I know the ball joints (or whatever they are called) need to be replaced, and I told him that. He says it may be that is causing the problem, because he had the same problem with his truck. I do need to get all of that stuff replaced, so I think I'll do it all at the same time. Thanks for your help, and if you have any more ideas, go ahead and post!
The Evil Twin
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,297
From: Seattle, WA
Bad ball joints will cause vibration only when the road conditions cause it at those speeds. (a smooth highway will lessen the vibrations immediatly) A constant vibration through the chassis of the car at 60+ and getting worse at higher speeds is almost always an out of balance driveshaft. I had that same thing happen on a 280Z I owned.
On my ZX, it is the steering wheel and gets worse with certain amounts of brake pressure. Obviously warped rotors or unblanced wheels. I had the rotors turned and wheels balanced and the vibration was less but still present. I plan to replace the rotors with new ones.
On my ZX, it is the steering wheel and gets worse with certain amounts of brake pressure. Obviously warped rotors or unblanced wheels. I had the rotors turned and wheels balanced and the vibration was less but still present. I plan to replace the rotors with new ones.
Guest
Posts: n/a
ok, here's an update. I just jacked the car up off the ground, and took a look at the rear end. My left side u-joint (the one on the tire) needs to be replaced. I also noticed that I was missing something else, and here's the story. When my father and I replaced the clutch, he kept rushing me because he was getting tired of working on the car. I bolted in the driveshaft, but apparently I forgot to put all four bolts into the driveshaft. I think this may be what was causing the vibration. I need to go get a new bolt and u-joint now, but I'm hoping that's all.
Guest
Posts: n/a
well, after a good hour of work, I got everything back in the car. I replaced the u-joint with a pretty heavy duty one from AutoZone, it was $12, but worth every penny. I had to unbolt the rod (I have no idea what it's called, maybe an axle) from where it connects to the wheel, and then from the differential on the drivers side. After that, I had to fight with it to get it down, but my dad helped me. My dad and I then pounded the u-joints out, and put the new one in. By the time I had everything done, it was dark. (I started around 3, but had to wait for my dad to get home so that he could help me) I then crawled under the car and bolted everything up...needless to say I lost 3 or so bolts and had to rummage in the garage to find new ones. Earlier that day I also went to the hardware store and got a new nut and bolt for the driveshaft. I bolted everything down tight, then cleaned up, and took the car for a drive. As soon as I pulled away from my house, I noticed the rear end was no longer sloppy, and that it drove alot smoother. I drove about 15 miles on the city, and then 10 on the freeway, and my car performed excellent in both conditions. I hit speeds of 90 on the freeway (didn't want to get caught by Elk Grove PD, they love to give tickets), and the only thing that vibrated was the stick, but I believe that is from the engine, and it wasn't enough to feel in the car. Overall, it's so much better.
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