Unknown Shaking/Vibration

blue thunder · #1 01-16-2007, 01:48 AM

I thought I had experienced most every symptom in my car in over seven years but this is different. The past few days about half way to work the car starts to literally shake pretty bad. I can feel it all thru the steering wheel. This starts at speeds above fifty and closer to sixty. It feels like its in the drivetrain somewhere but don't know for sure. I drove home tonight and did not exceed fifty and it never happened. I have new tires for around two months balanced correctly and a good alignment. BTW this doesn't happen with the brakes on. I have slotted and drilled and never get that anymore. I'm worried my front differential could be going. I got a code 11 and 37 and need to address this as well. Any ideas/suggestions greatly appreciated.

Mike

Manarius · #2 01-16-2007, 07:15 AM

I thought it might be the U-Joint on the driveshaft, but the fact that you said it goes away with the brakes on makes it harder to diagnose.

blue thunder · #3 01-16-2007, 08:03 AM

Thanks Manarius for the quick reply. No I meant that the braking was not causing the shaking to begin with (warped rotors). Once it starts it won't go away until I stop the car completely. The guy I work with in the machine shop has worked on cars his whole life and also said u-joint if my car even had one on the drivetrain. Would you happen to know the cost to repair this issue? I'm going to see if I can find the part on 1st subaru parts. Thanks again.

Mike

dannmarr · #4 01-16-2007, 08:21 AM

Have the wheel balance checked again.

Manarius · #5 01-16-2007, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannmarr

Have the wheel balance checked again.

I second this as well. Before you check the drive shaft, check the balance of the wheels.

If that doesn't pan out, there's two options that I can think of (although there's some disagreement about this):

1. Some people say that the U-Joints on driveshafts (ie the main one that goes from transmission to rear diff) are not replaceable, but I know of a driveshaft shop around here that can replace them for like $100. So, assuming that the U-Joints on the driveshaft are replaceable, find a drive shaft shop and you're golden.

2. If the U-Joints are not replaceable, then you'll either need a new or used drive shaft. This cost could be pretty substantial depending on where you get the parts (OEM or not) and how much a mechanic wants to charge to replace it. Unfortunately, I don't know how much that could be (in terms of straight money...I know it'll be more than $300)

dannmarr · #6 01-16-2007, 10:14 AM

If it is the u-joint;
1)replace with a universal one.
2)have a shop make up a new one with a new yoke.

Nebs · #7 01-16-2007, 01:54 PM

My car started doing the same thing today, the only thing is there wasn't even a hint of shaking last time I drove it and I was hitting speeds well above 80. Do you think there might be something that happend due to the cold? I havn't driven my car in over a month and I thought it might be related to that.

dannmarr · #8 01-16-2007, 02:02 PM

If it shakes at high speeds, it should be the balance. Have the balance done at a performance shop that does high speed balance rather than a local shop.

Earthworm · #9 05-30-2007, 07:42 PM

Was this issue ever resolved?

Was the PS fluid low?

JaySVX · #10 05-30-2007, 07:50 PM

I've found several issues that could cause shaking you might want to check out:

1) tire balance
2) different tires
3) uneven wear
4) a loose lugnut(almost a disaster :P)
5) alignment
6) wheel bearing
7) flat spots on tires(from sitting for extended periods there's an increased probability)
8) different air pressure in tires(had one at 22lbs and one at 54lbs, apparently the guage went bad on my compressor)

If all those check out, not sure what to tell you, but it should get you started.

blue thunder · #11 05-31-2007, 12:27 AM

I just got a new driveshaft in today. I backed up onto some ramps I have and determined it to be to much of a project in the confined space I have. A subaru mechanic suggested I replace this so in the next day or so I will reply if this stops the vibration. Thanks for the concern.

Mike

calisvx · #12 05-31-2007, 07:07 PM

hmmm i have the same problem i just got new tires and my tranny was rebuilt so i know the messed with the drive shaft one thing i noticed is that its getting worse and my bearings were changed within the year no noise coming from wheels just feel a vibration weird

Crysis · #13 06-03-2007, 07:32 AM

did the problem get fixed?