Vibration @50mph

[jcmhead]

I'm not sure where to post this but, I have '02 Pt which I enjoy very much - - I have a vibration in the front end somewhere. I had the tires rotated last week end left from Katrina!! At 50 the radar detector is ready to fall off of the window!! It was doing this before the rotation but it's still there and I remember a post about bad axle shafts!! My pt has 38,000 miles on her and she seams really solid!! I also have Bridgestone Potenza tires with 14,000 miles on them. Tread still looks great!! Any help would be great!!! there is no shimmy in the wheel. just the bouncing. I also took it out of gear a few times - - it still does it!!

[SuGamer]

Check the balancing of the tires. If a weight fell off, it would cause a vibration in the wheel, usually noticeable at certain speeds. If not, then check the bushings and control arms. Next, with the car up (wheels just hanging) and car off, push and pull the tire sideways to check the tierods then push and pull the top and bottom to check the ball joints. Do this for each tire. If everything comes out right, then it most likely is one of your axles is bent, even if it's unnoticeable.

[tpscruiser]

To check the ball joints, you have the weight on the PT on the ground and if you can move or wiggle the "stump" of the grease fitting on the bottom of the ball joint, it needs to be replaced.

[ATLPTGT]

I'm sure that you have checked. But just in case check the tire pressure
my wife complained of the same problem one day. I checked the pressure snd they had about half of the recomended pressure. Since the load rating of our tires is so high the side walls wont look low but they will be. Good Luck and keep us informed.

[comPuTer]

quote:Originally posted by SuGamer

Check the balancing of the tires. If a weight fell off, it would cause a vibration in the wheel, usually noticeable at certain speeds. If not, then check the bushings and control arms. Next, with the car up (wheels just hanging) and car off, push and pull the tire sideways to check the tierods then push and pull the top and bottom to check the ball joints. Do this for each tire. If everything comes out right, then it most likely is one of your axles is bent, even if it's unnoticeable.

I agree with SuGamer's advice. Start with the balancing. I would suggest getting the wheels "statically balanced" rather than using the standard rim-mounted wheel weights. The static weights use adhesive and are mounted inside the wheels, which keeps your wheels looking nicer (no weights are visible). I've had mine using these for more than a year and I really like it. The price for balancing should be the same.

[quicksilverdon]

Balancing is most likely culprit. If you still had the Good-for-a-Year tires, I'd suspect them as well. Go for a balance and see, then follow the other steps.
Unless you regularly drive along railroad tracks or do braille driving, at 38,000 miles you shouldn't have major problems.