can bad shocks cause vibrations while driving? Options

[brianforster]

well i thought my tires needed balancing because there was kind of this pulsating (sometimes it didnt pulsate but sometimes it did) vibration coming from the rear, specifically the rear drivers side but sometimes the rear pasasenger side.

now im sure the shocks on my car are really old because i remember when swapping they didnt look too hot. i am going to replace them and put on some teins here soon, but im wondering other than shocks what else could cause this kind of vibration from the rear.

[jc47]

You'll usually only notice bad shocks when going over bumps. There may be some vibration, but it usually feels like the affected wheel is loose/about to fall off. You may also hear/feel clunk noise, etc. especially if mounts are also bad.

Pulsating almost always means your wheels are out of balance; it is also possible that you have one or more bad tires and/or bent rims. I'd take the wheels to get balanced. They should be able to tell you if the tires are bad or the rims are bent.

[brianforster]

i just had them balanced

[Kerr1]

i just had them balanced

also....if u have ever slid your car using the e-brake..it can put your car out of allignment which can cause a vibration that feels kinda like u have flat spots even if u dont.

[brianforster]

nope never done an e-brake turn

[hitcachi]

broken top mount maybe. Does it clunk also from the rear? The rear top strut mounts seem to crack often on these cars.

[cyb593]

take them back to where you got them balanced because i have walked off the lot of a toyota dealership with the balance off when they were supposed to balance them. just make sure they are balanced correctly.

[brianforster]

this is the second time i have had these tires balanced, the first time was at a really ****ty shop so i brought it back to my local shop that hasnt really steered me wrong.. so i doubt it is the tires.

i think im going to drop it off and have him diagnose it, they have free diagnostics.

[lagos]

might be the tie rods.

if it is, let me know, i got a of oem ones.

[CelicaGT04]

Well my car does not vibrate when driving but...

I do have an amazingly loud and annoying
clunk sound coming from the rear after lowering the car.

Im guessing it is the top mounts,
what would you guys figure?

EDIT-
Sorry if this thread goes off topic.
If it causes such problem i will open a new topic.

Hope you figure what is wrong with your car.

This post has been edited by CelicaGT04: Jan 4, 2007 - 3:09 PM

[mikew04]

Well my car does not vibrate when driving but...

I do have an amazingly loud and annoying
clunk sound coming from the rear after lowering the car.

Im guessing it is the top mounts,
what would you guys figure?

EDIT-
Sorry if this thread goes off topic.
If it causes such problem i will open a new topic.

Hope you figure what is wrong with your car.

It's probably the end links, I had the same clunking noise after installing springs.

Bought new top mounts; however when I went to replace them I stripped the endlink where the allen key goes into, but not until I was able to loosen it up a bit. Made the clunking noise twice as loud while I waited on replacements. I put on the all-trac ones from mr2oc (theres a few threads here talking about them) and the sound went away completely.

It could also be the sway bar bushings, and for 8 bucks or so you could try that out first.. but my bet would be the end links.

[LewFX]

if it sounds like popcorn making in the rear from going over bumpy roads its the sway end links...clunking is either a blown strut or shock or maybe the top mount

[Snodalo]

when i got my tires rotated, thats when the vibrations occured whenever id be going 60-80

[CelicaGT04]

Well my car does not vibrate when driving but...

I do have an amazingly loud and annoying
clunk sound coming from the rear after lowering the car.

Im guessing it is the top mounts,
what would you guys figure?

EDIT-
Sorry if this thread goes off topic.
If it causes such problem i will open a new topic.

Hope you figure what is wrong with your car.

It's probably the end links, I had the same clunking noise after installing springs.

Bought new top mounts; however when I went to replace them I stripped the endlink where the allen key goes into, but not until I was able to loosen it up a bit. Made the clunking noise twice as loud while I waited on replacements. I put on the all-trac ones from mr2oc (theres a few threads here talking about them) and the sound went away completely.

It could also be the sway bar bushings, and for 8 bucks or so you could try that out first.. but my bet would be the end links.

I will try the end links first as it seems like these are my problems.

if it sounds like popcorn making in the rear from going over bumpy roads its the sway end links...clunking is either a blown strut or shock or maybe the top mount

Yes, when i go on bumpy roads, it clanks profusely. I just replaced shocks, struts, and springs. So i will try the end links and let you guys know.

Thanks for all the help.

[jc47]

You should be able to feel play in the end links if they are making that much noise. You can also remove the links, tie the sway bar up and drive around the block to see if the noise goes away. This way you can tell if the links are bad without purchasing new.

[LewFX]

just tighten the links

[CelicaGT04]

You should be able to feel play in the end links if they are making that much noise. You can also remove the links, tie the sway bar up and drive around the block to see if the noise goes away. This way you can tell if the links are bad without purchasing new.

Sounds risky.

just tighten the links

I will tighten the end links when its not so groggy outside.
The weather is killing me here!