98 V70r Shake/shimmy - I'm at a loss

Bren · Post by **Bren** » 16 May 2016, 14:32

Here's the deal:

4 brand new tires, wheels balanced, both tie rod ends replaced, 4-wheel alignment done.

The damn thing is still shaky at 80km/h +

it starts at the lower speeds as almost an 'up and down' shake...I can feel it very slightly below 80, but on the highway, the whole car is kinda shakey, no left/right shake through the steering wheel, just the 'up/down' shake which can be felt everywhere...through the steering wheel, plus i can look over at the passenger seat and see the shake happening.

Driving at low speeds I can hear a constant metallic sound as it rolls...but the wheel bearings have absolutely no play.

Only visual things I can see is that I have a torn CV boot...likely been that way through the winter. Could that be it?

ktuuri · Post by **ktuuri** » 16 May 2016, 15:54

balanced wheels, but maybe a rim has a bend, check all wheels, but look really good at the rear wheels.

Post by **sleddriver** » 16 May 2016, 15:57

I'm currently dealing with a similar issue, so I'll be tuning in. I feel the vibration in the seat, so it's coming from the rear.

Post by **kahl** » 16 May 2016, 16:10

I had a shimmy/vibration that was solved by new axles. How many miles are on your struts? There is also the control arm bushings and ball joints.

Post by **MadeInJapan** » 16 May 2016, 18:26

Could be bad ball joint/control arm(s)...that could cause that. Look and see if any of the bushings look cracked...pry up at the ball joint to see if there's movement. Bad axles will do that too but that's more of a headache (you won't know until you replace them) so check the easy stuff first. Is it doing it more noticeably on one side over the other? It very well could be the torn boot too...does it go click click click on tight turns on the torn side? If so, then yeah, that's probably it and it's so worn that it vibrates through the entire shaft. Seems that when they changed the tie rods out they would have noticed this stuff...front end shops love to take your $$ and would have made sure to let you know of an opportunity for them to make more- of course, unless you did your own. That said, if you have a bent wheel, this could happen too...even if it's on the rear...depending on how bad one is bent.

Post by **scot850** » 16 May 2016, 19:35

Man this MVS sometimes drives me nuts. Since the last upgrade I have written several replies that seem to disappear without trace!?

Anyhoo,.....

1) Have the wheels checked for ovality and straightness (As has been suggested).
2) Check the parking brake cables are free to move.
3) Check the parking brake shoes have not delaminated, and clean/grease the mechanism
4) When were the rotors last replaced? I had a brand new set of Zimmermans that were bad from new. Once machined they were fine.
5) Check that all the calipers are free and move ok.
6) When were the flexi-hoses last replaced in the brakes?
7) Check the front mounting bush on the VC housing

Check the bearing at the front of the VC housing
9) Check the Prop-shaft center support bearing and rubber housing
10) check the Prop-shaft front bearing

If as you say you are not feeling a shudder through the steering wheel then it is more un-likely to be at the front. If you feel it through the seat of your pants it is most likely at the back.

Was the issue there before the tires were swapped? If it wasn't then the process of changing the tires has possibly done something. Check the obvious, like the wheels are seated correctly and torqued correctly. Remove the wheels and check the hubs have no rust build up and clean them off where the rims fit, and also check the backs of the rims for build up on the seating face.

Swap the rims on one side at a time from front to rear and try driving it between each side being changed. Did the shake move from the front to back? If not it is not the wheels and tires.

Neil.

colnagotifosi · Post by **colnagotifosi** » 17 May 2016, 06:40

On my '06 V70R it turned out to be broken belts in virtually brand new Dunlop Direzza DZ101 tires (both fronts).

I thought it was my axle or transfer case or something else and also I thought it was on the right front as it was pulling hard that way too in addition to thump-thump-thump that was speed related. It was the left front tire, belt broken around circumference so outer part of tire was distended and pushing the car to the right. I only figured it out when I put the entire car on 4 jackstands, started it, put it in 1st gear to see if the AWD was working and then I saw the tire totally out of shape.

Very expensive mistake. They were my summer tires and wheels, I put them back on in spring quickly for a drive 250 miles away each way in the spring and did it at typical VR highway high speed. Problem started when almost home. Turns out the tires were at 26 lbs after the winter and I neglected to top them up before the trip. I'm not impressed with the tires failing, even with mid-20 pressures but it was my error.

I'm back to Michelin Pilot Sport AS/3 as the ultimate all-around tire for this car when you might have to drive it for a few months of cold temps and even some limited snow. Pure winter tires rule but PSAS are a great compromise and they won't break belts.

Post by **rguzz** » 17 May 2016, 10:10

Comprehensive replies above. Just went through this. Top of my list, tires, tires and tire related. Timing suggests that as your symptoms presented after new tires. They need to be on a balancer and someone needs to see if they hop, up and down and more rarely, sideways. 3 of my Continental tires were bad! out of round and new. Most of the other stuff can be also determined to be good-bad by simple inspection, prying, etc. Have a skilled facility put it on a lift and run through the entire list (scott850's) pay them an hours labor and you will likely have your answer. I wouldn't make it overly complicated to start. You have by your description a critical speed shimmy, essentially. A good shop will find the cause without breaking the bank.