Puzzled over front wheel "bounce" (1995 Riv)

albertj wrote:

This could be an issue if your car was in a wreck or hit a big pothole before you got it.

No wrecks. Just 12 years of abuse from me. I was merely offering up a different solution. I had already gone through all the usual suspects. The vibration got better with everything I replaced, but didn't really disappear until the wheels were replaced.

Abaddon wrote:

albertj wrote:

This could be an issue if your car was in a wreck or hit a big pothole before you got it.

No wrecks. Just 12 years of abuse from me. I was merely offering up a different solution. I had already gone through all the usual suspects. The vibration got better with everything I replaced, but didn't really disappear until the wheels were replaced.

I did say before you got it.

When I got my Riv I had to replace one of the alloys, supposedly it was out of round. I still have it, it's not on the car it's stored.

Albertj

UPDATE: After all the stuff I've done (new tires, balance/rebalance, wheel hubs and bearings, struts, lower control arm bushings and ball joints) I took the car out today and got a "vibration" in the front end at around 52 MPH. It lessened if I increased the speed. Now what it is doing is vibrating when I let off on the gas at around 50 or so and goes away when I reapply gas. I am totally stumped now other than thinking I should replace the front half shafts and CV joints. The car has about 195,000 miles on it and I am assuming the front end except for what I have replaced is original. Any further thoughts from any of you? Do I look at the rack and pinion next? OH, and the entire steering column was rebuilt last year to eliminate that Riviera "wobble". The shake even occurs when cruise control is engaged.

Welcome to the club Harvey....we all have that goddamn shimmy

designer1962 wrote:

UPDATE: After all the stuff I've done (new tires, balance/rebalance, wheel hubs and bearings, struts, lower control arm bushings and ball joints) I took the car out today and got a "vibration" in the front end at around 52 MPH. It lessened if I increased the speed. Now what it is doing is vibrating when I let off on the gas at around 50 or so and goes away when I reapply gas. I am totally stumped now other than thinking I should replace the front half shafts and CV joints. The car has about 195,000 miles on it and I am assuming the front end except for what I have replaced is original. Any further thoughts from any of you? Do I look at the rack and pinion next? OH, and the entire steering column was rebuilt last year to eliminate that Riviera "wobble". The shake even occurs when cruise control is engaged.

Try rotating your tires, just to see. My '98 never had a wobble. Also have the tires rebalanced and ask them to see if the tires spin true. Some have "lumpy" treads. In my tire shop I've cured "uncurable" wobbles by literally grinding down high spots on the tread. Not all tires are made perfectly round, and some are notable worse than others.

The only other rotating part up there that you haven't replaced which could be affected by accel/decel is the CV joints/shafts.

(also, please add the year/make of your car to your signature and enable your signature. It helps us all keep things straight)

Thanks for the suggestions. CVjoints and half shafta are next on the agenda.

I'd be happy to add to my signature, but have no idea how.

HC

Just go to "Profile" at the top, then Signature (just under the top row, on the right side). Fill in some basic info and Save. Then go to Preferences (right next to Signature) and set "Always enable my signature" to Yes (and Save)

Well, the mystery continues.

I had the left and right halfshafts and CV joints replaced and the result is that I still get a vibration in the front end that is not as severe, but still present. While doing the halfshafts, discovered the outer tie rod ends were in bad shape, so that is the next attempt at getting rid of the "bounce" (don't know what else to call it)

Recapping, My 1995 Riv developed wheel bounce at highway speed. Replaced all tires, balanced them and then rebalanced them. Replaced both struts. Replaced hubs and bearings on both sides. Rebuilt lower control arms (new bushings) and new ball joints. finally replaced half shafts and CV joints. About to replace outer tie rod ends.

The front developed a vibration of some sort that seems to occur when letting off the gas after accelerating, but will also occur at around 45 to 50 mph for no apparent reason. As I have said I have replaced just about everything I thought could cause it with only some improvement. One mechanic suggested it might be a motor mount rather than suspension. Any thoughts? Anyone.

Latest thing is the steering wheel now is not straight when car is driving straight. That started when the cvs joints were replaced. Is this something that is an easy fix?

"Baffled in Baltimore"

Your steering wheel isn't straight because the repair shop probably disconnected the lower control arms or the struts and never re-aligned the car.....

also check if any of your brakes are dragging.