Driving Vibration

[Onge Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Onge]

I have a 90 series manual which has travelled 185000k. When I am driving at around 80kph in 4th or 5th gear under load I get a vibration through the car (mianly in the front), this also happens at 100kph. Just recently I have repalced front and rear shocks and front springs only with raised 2" iron man suspension. After I did this it seems the vibration is a little worse.
I had all wheels balanced, front wheels aligned and my mechanic has changed the rear uni, inspected the front two, changed the front drive shafts\cv joints and the vibration is still there.
Does anyone have any idea what this maybe and can help in solving this problem???

[gphcald Member Find all posts View Profile Close gphcald]

Re: Driving Vibration

Try the tyre balance and wear

Rgds

Gerry

[Onge Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Onge]

Re: Driving Vibration

Had new tyres fitted and all wheels balanced twice by different tyre/balancing companies. Thanks Gerry.

Rgds,
Onge

[Davros Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davros]

Re: Driving Vibration

My first though would have been a universal joint, but you said that has been covered.

Do you still have the original clutch, or has it been replaced recently?

[Onge Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Onge]

Re: Driving Vibration

The clutch was replaced before I bought the car 6 years ago. I'm not sure what clutch is in there, it feels hevier than standard and has a little juddering when releasing which I think maybe hot spots on the flywheel.

[Davros Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Davros]

Re: Driving Vibration

Ok then,.... well that counts out a theory I had.
Here is a grab from the lcool forum:

It may feel like the wheels are out of balance and an on-vehicle wheel balance may not cure it.

A common source for this problem is overgreasing the front and/or rear prop shaft slip yokes. These are grease from the grease nipple on the drive shaft itself (as opposed to the universal joint grease niples). Many shops unfamilliar with the greaseing procedure over grease them. This results in the slip yoke filling with grease which impedes their movement in and out as the suspension rises and falls. The vibrations often occur at speeds of over 80 kph (50 mph).

The slip yokes require only a squirt or two of grease every 5,000 km.

Overgreasing may also contribute to accelerated universal joint and diff pinion bearing wear.

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

Re: Driving Vibration

What engine do you have and what rpm are you doing at 100km/h?

If you have the 3.4 V6, it does have an annoying harmonic that kicks in at 2500-3000rpm.

Cheers,
Declan.

[Onge Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Onge]

Re: Driving Vibration

Declan, I do have the 3.4 V6, the vibration does start around 2500-3000 rpm but only in 4th or 5th gear while accelerating, it doesn't happen in lower gears at this rpm range or above. In saying this I can't see if its a harmonic problem otherwise the vibration would be there in the lower gears and also while free reving, would it?


Davros, This problem did creap up after a period of a few months not after a routine service, so how would over greasing affect this vibration if it started well after a service and I don't think the prop shaft slip yokes were checked/regreased for a long time. After the vibration started I then checked all these items an greased accordinally, the vibration did not get any better or worse.


##########, I will go through and check the clutch system as you metioned, hopefully it will fix some of the shutter. With the tie rod ends and rack there appears to be more movement in the right hand wheel than the left from side to side when off the ground. I do believe the bushes in the rack need replaceing and this is one of the next jobs i will do. From past vehicles that have had worn steering bushes I don't think this is the problem of the vibration, it doesn't feel like its in the steering. If I am sitting at 80k's and let off the accelerator the vibration almost disapears.

[A1 Mech Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close A1 Mech]

You've prob fixed this issue by now but I'll post for people using the search function. My 02 GXL 5VZ had the identical symptoms after fitting 25mm strut spacers to my 50mm bilstein/king struts. I lowered the diff an it went away so the culprit in my case was the cv angle.

[marknatasha89 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close marknatasha89]

I had a significant vibration in my 1999 3.4 v6 manual RV6 too. The vibration was most apparent between 95 - 100km in 4th or 5th gear, and slightly less in neutral (ie still at 95 - 100km/h). I had my wheels balanced already, but this didn't seem to make any difference.

So took it to Toyota, and they had the wheels balanced at the Beaurepairs next door and adjustments were needed, plus my prop shaft was apparently dry. They had to remove the prop shaft to grease it sufficiently.

This helped the vibes, but not completely. So I took it back, and they AGAIN had the wheels balanced for a 3rd time within 1000km. Sure enough, another minor adjustment (ie weights) was needed, and since then I have been smooth sailing. A big thumbs up to Downtown Toyota at Morningside, Brisbane!