intermittent right front vibration

azureblue · Post by **azureblue** » 07 Dec 2019, 08:16

I hate problems that come and go, but I have one that I believe is in the right front:
It is a vibration and a thrumming noise that seems to come from the right front drive shaft. I have new tires on the front, and they wheels were balanced on installation - at least I paid for it. It sounds a bit like a bearing going, but it doesn't happen all the time, and I can't figure out what would make it happen. I have found that it will sometimes happen from a dead start, and will not stop until the car has been stopped for a while, like longer than a stop light cycle. There is no clicking at full lock. And the car will go for days with a very faint thrumming sound - like a bearing going or a tire out of balance just a little.

My first thought is the right drive shaft, or something that goes along with it. But I am not prone to just ripping in and replacing until i know what the problem is.

Finally if I have to replace the right front axle, is the brand name cordone version, OK to use?

Much thanks

Post by **oragex** » 07 Dec 2019, 11:50

We can always test by hand most parts, before replacing them. Even if visually the rubber boots are not cracked, there can be more or less play in the CV joints which can cause steering vibration. You also have a carrier bearing on the right axle, this is quite long lasting but again, who knows if the axle was already replaced with an inexpensive one. May test it while on the car www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJQkFPYjh5E

How many miles ? Wheel bearings are pretty robust on these, but a previous owner may have already replaced one and used a cheap part. The way to test them - before replacement, is to remove everything - brake disc and drive shaft and turn the bearing by hand (no need to remove it from the wheel hub)

May also look at the right lower engine mount, near the crank pulley, these do go bad.

azureblue · Post by **azureblue** » 07 Dec 2019, 15:19

hitting 190K. Just getting broken in

I drove it for a couple of hours on the highway and noticed the vibration got a little worse the longer I drove and a little worse uphill or under acceleration. I'm beginning to wonder if i just need to have the wheel balance redone.

So you think the halfshaft is not the culprit?

Post by **oragex** » 07 Dec 2019, 15:34

It might well be, at 190k that's about the life span on many parts (except engine and transmission). But it's good to very all parts before going to replace them. Also look at the control arms, especially the small bushing, with the wheel at full turn you'll see if there's any cracks to it (Lemforder would be a good replacement for this one)

azureblue · Post by **azureblue** » 07 Dec 2019, 15:53

could be that, too. Time to lift the car and shake some stuff.... Thanks

Post by **chrism** » 08 Dec 2019, 05:14

If the shaking increases with added throttle load that’s an indication of a bad CV joint.

azureblue · Post by **azureblue** » 08 Dec 2019, 17:23

I didn't have time to lift the car today but while it was on the ground, I reached in there and twisted, pulled and shook the Axle, and there was no play and no noises. Maybe the wheel should be off the ground?

Hopefully tomorrow I can pull the pan and check everything, including steering. I am beginning to think the CV joint is at the point of going bad.

Post by **chrism** » 08 Dec 2019, 20:08

The problem with jacking the car up to check for play in the CV joints is that when the wheel is hanging down the CV joints are now cocked at a different angle than when the car has weight on wheels like when driving it. Now if you can figure out a way to safely lift the wheel off the ground from underneath the lower control arm.......

Post by **abscate** » 09 Dec 2019, 04:30

It’s hard to feel both bad CVs and wheel bearings ( sealed hub type like Volvo) by manual inspection

By the time you can feel it, they are really loud and toast, in my experience.

azureblue · Post by **azureblue** » 11 Dec 2019, 08:22

I finally got a chance to lift the left front wheel off the ground. Life intrudes sometimes. There is definitely rotational play which produces a clicking sound. Hard to tell if it is the CV or the wheel bearing. Grabbing the tire and shaking it from side to side gave a small metallic clicking sound from the driver's side of the car, maybe an 1/8" of play but no sound from the right axle or wheel bearing. There is no vertical play. Strut bushings are solid and there is no play in the strut itself. There is no CV noise at full lock right or left.

I made a video of both tests.

As I said previously, I shook the right axle and couldn't find any play or create a noise.
Ideas?