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Ok guys i have a 2003 Dodge Stratus 2.4L sedan with an automatic transmission. When i am on the interstate traveling at 60-75 mph i am getting a terrible shake. It is coming from the front divers side. I have checked everything i know to check and replaced what i assumed the problem was. The first thing i did was take the car to have the tires balanced one of the tires was getting close to the wear point so i had some new tires put on and balanced. The vibration was still there on the way home. I then took the wheel off of the car to check the wheel bearing. It had some play so i changed the wheel bearing. I then took the car for a test drive still the vibration was there. I then jacked the car up again and put it in drive on the stand the monitor what was happening while someone in the car was getting it up to speed. I did this with both the wheels on and off. I did not see anything out of the ordinary but the vibration was there like crazy even with the wheel off and the rotor bolted on with the lug nuts. I figured maybe the CV joint was bad so i replaced that and the vibration is still there. The transmission fluid is fine and the transmission shifts fine. I do not know where else to look. I need help i am getting highly frustrated. I am not a novice mechanic. I do know things to look for but this is a first for me. Please reply if you have any ideas or suggestions.
Thank you for you time i know this is a lengthy post but i wanted everyone to know all of the facts and what i have already done to try and weed out some of the answers that i have already done.
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couple of things I would try:
One thing we like to do in the shop is to try to ‘move’ the suspected source of the vibration… get a tire rotation and see if the source of the vibration moves. If it does, then look for faults in the tire rim.
If no change, I would probably take a closer look at steering and suspension. Grab a buddy and perform a “dry park test“; look for play in various bushings, specifically ball joints and control arm bushings. Look for play in the rack & pinion inner and outer tie rod and tie rod ends.
Next, perform a “front-end shakedown;” get the car in the air and grab the biggest crowbar you can find. Then apply force on all the front end suspension components. Force the control arm bushing to move.. apply force to the ball joints. Put your hand on the rack and pinion and shake it around..
** Any play in any suspension component, bushing or ball joint is a fail and the component must be replaced. **
Helpful Links:
There are also other possible causes for vibration, driveshaft phasing, weighted flywheel, harmonic balancer and/or balance shaft and balanced brake drums could also cause vibrations, but these possibilities are less common and are usually tied to a specific event (major repair, engine repair, hitting a pot hole, collision, etc.)
Ratchet Face
Thank you for your reply. I had the car in the air with the tires off and the vibrations still occur. I will check suspension comments in the morning. I have always been told suspension comments do not cause vibration but will make it worse. I was always under the understanding that vibration had to occur in the rotating assembly, but i will check the tie rod ends and ball joints tomorrow. Any other help would be appreciated as i try to work through this.
Check motor and transmission mounts. Does the wheel shake
while driving or just a vibration?http://www.ericthecarguy.com/faq/determining-the-causes-of-vehicle-vibrations
[quote=”Ratchet Face” post=93585]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8rd53WuojE[/quote]
If thats the vibration Then turn it up and sing along. 🙂
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