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Vehicle Vibration

Vehicle Vibration Diagnosis Checklist

 

AREA

PART

POSSIBLE PROBLEM

Body

Loose Body Mounts

 

Body

Rusted Body Mounts/Brackets

Check #4 First   TracyPerf©98

 

Brakes

Rotors

Out of Round, Wobbling, Cracked Fins

Brakes

Calipers

Loose Caliper Bolts

 

Clutch

Pilot Bushing

Loose, Worn   TracyPerf©98

Clutch

Flywheel

Out of Balance

Clutch

Flywheel

Out of Balance, Surfaced too much, Loose, No Dowel Pin

Clutch

Clutch Pressure Plate

Plate Off Center, Out of Balance, Bent Housing

Clutch

Clutch Disk

Out of Round, Dropped, Out of Balance

Clutch

Bellhousings

Cracked or Hole not Concentric to Crankshaft

Clutch

Bellhousings

Wrong Size Hole for Trans Collar

 

Engine

Water Pump Shaft

Bent, Loose Bearing  TracyPerf©98

Engine

Fan Clutch

Loose, Bad

Engine

Fan Blade

Bent, Out of Balance

Engine

Balancer

Loose, Spun on Rubber, Bad Keys

Engine

Motor Mounts

Cracked

Engine

Tune-up

Misfiring

Engine

Carb

Misfiring   TracyPerf©98

Engine

Crankshaft Rear Flange

Bent, Loose Flywheel Bolts, Worn Dowel Pin

 

Frame

Cracked Bent or Rusted Frame or Crossmembers

 

Frame

Cracked Front Frame Supports, Extensions

 

Frame

Loose Bumper Brackets, Bumpers, Impact Bars

 
 

Rear Axle

Spindles

Loose or Improperly Shimmed Bearings, Bent Spindle, Bent Studs

Rear Axle

Flanges

Bent Flange or Loose Bolts  TracyPerf©98

Rear Axle

Flanges, Half Shafts

Wrong Combination, Wrong Alignment

Rear Axle

Half Shafts

Bent, Out of Balance, Loose U-Joint Holes

Rear Axle

U-Joints

Not Seated Properly, Off Center, Wrong Caps, Clips Missing

Rear Axle

Axle Yokes

Bent, Not Seated U-Joints, Not Machined Correctly, Loose Bolts

Rear Axle

Pinion Flange

Bent, Machined Wrong, Loose Bolts

Rear Axle

Pinion Snubber Bushings

Loose or Worn Out Cushions or Loose Bolt

Rear Axle

Pinion Snubber Bracket

Slotted Bracket Holes or Loose Bolts

 

Steering

Wheel Bearings

Loose or Bad Bearings  TracyPerf©98

Steering

Steering Gearbox

Loose Internally or Loose from Frame

Steering

Frame at Gearbox

Check for Cracks

Steering

Steering Column

Loose, Bent

Steering

Steering Rag Joint

Loose, Worn Out

Steering

Tie Rod Ends

Loose or Indexed Wrong

Steering

Idler Arm

Loose at Bearing or Frame

Steering

Pitman Arm

Loose or Oblong Hole  TracyPerf©98

Steering

Power Steering Valve

Loose Ball, Not Properly Screwed onto Relay Rod

Steering

Manual Steering Relay Rod

Bent Rod or Loose Ball Stud

Steering

Relay Rod

Bent Rod or Loose Tie Rods or Oblong Holes

 

Suspension

Front Spindles

Bent Spindles or Loose Bolts on Steering Arms, Oblong Holes

Suspension

A-Frames, Shafts, Bushings

Bent A-Frames or Shafts, Loose Bushings, Missing Bolts

Suspension

Ball Joints

Loose, Not Lubricated, Not Riveted or Bolted Properly

Suspension

Shocks

Worn, Loose, Leaking, Bolt or Grommets Missing  TracyPerf©98

 

Transmission

Trans Input Shaft

Bent  TracyPerf©98

Transmission

Trans Output Shaft

Bent

Transmission

Trans Tailhousing Bushing

Worn

Transmission

Trans Mounts

Cracked

Transmission

Trans Yoke

Worn

Transmission

Driveshaft

Bent, Out of Balance, Balance Weight Missing

 

Wheels/Tires

Hubcaps

Heavy Wire Style Hubcaps May Effect Balance

Wheels/Tires

Wheels

Bent, Loose Lug Nuts, Wheel Adapters

Wheels/Tires

Tires

Bad, Out of Round, Out of Balance, Broken Cords

 

Test Drive

Check at what speed vibration comes in  TracyPerf©98

 

Test Drive

Check whether it is MPH of RPM related

 

Test Drive

Check whether it goes away with clutch disengaged

 

Test Drive

Get up to speed where vibration is the greatest, Then:

 
 

Diagnosis

Disengage Clutch, Does Vibration Go Away?  TracyPerf©98

 

Diagnosis

With Clutch Disengaged, Rev Motor Up & Down

 

Diagnosis

Does the Vibration Relate to Engine or Road Speed

 

Diagnosis

With Car Sitting Still, Rev Up Engine to Check for Vibration

 

Diagnosis

Short Out Cylinders to See if Vibration is Related to One Cylinder

 

Diagnosis

Disconnect All Belts to Eliminate Front Engine Accessories

 

Diagnosis

Install a Different Set of Wheels and Tires to Eliminate Them

 

Diagnosis

Run the Vehicle on the Hoist with Jack Stands at Rear to Load Suspension Properly

 

Diagnosis

Spin Balance Wheels on Vehicle

 

Diagnosis

Hoist Testing will Eliminate Front Suspension, Steering, and Road Vibration Problems

 

Diagnosis

Using a Stethoscope or Wooden Dowel on Components will Amplify Noises and Vibrations  TracyPerf©98

 
 
 

Notes:

Clutch & Flywheel Problems Tend to Be Felt at around 1800 and 3600 RPM

 
 

Notes:

Tire Balance Problems Tend to Get Worse With Speed  TracyPerf©98

 
 

Notes:

Front End Problems Can Come and Go With Different Speeds. They Plane Out Sometimes

 
 

Notes:

Front End Problems Tend to be Felt in the Steering Column

 
 

Notes:

Clutch, Flywheel, and Trans Problems Tend to be Felt in the Shifter

 
 

Notes:

Rear End Problems Tend to be Felt in the Seat Bottom  TracyPerf©98

 
 

Notes:

Body, Frame and Bumper Problems Tend to be Felt in Body Vibrations

 
 

Notes:

Vibrations Tend to Come From Items With Great Mass at a Great Distance from Centerline

 
 

Example:

You Can Get a Vibration from a Tire, But You Wouldn't Get One From a Spindle Nut  TracyPerf©98

 

This information is for experienced Licensed Mechanics!

This information is courtesy of Tracy Performance.   Additional information and comments are welcomed!

 

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