Acceleration vibrations, FIXED! - CV drive axles. Options

[samir0189]

Quite recently I've have this vibration, where the entire car shakes once I'm doing greater than 50+mph in gears 3-5(duh), ONLY during acceleration. Its really weird. I intend to get my wheel balances checked soon, although I have my doubts as this being the shaking stops if i coast/brake at the same speeds. There are no issues with turning etc, as I try not to at 70mph.

Also the problem sometimes disappears for short periods of time, and just that, the vibrating stops! Very odd.

I have had my motor mounts changed recently, for the record. Any suggestions?

This post has been edited by samir0189: Nov 26, 2008 - 7:39 PM

[Add45]

i have the same problem except mines around 60mph

[samir0189]

i have the same problem except mines around 60mph

Mines is anything greater than 50, i tested it today, up to 85-90 it still persisted. Its extremely aggravating, cause its just at highway speeds, and just when you need that little extra oomph to pass someone its like an earthquake in the car.

I'd also like to add there is no loss of engine power, just the annoying vibrating.

[RickJamesBish]

I was gonna say, something to do with the motor for sure. Unless some other part of the car takes a lot of stress during acceleration?

[samir0189]

I was gonna say, something to do with the motor for sure. Unless some other part of the car takes a lot of stress during acceleration?

I dunno, thats what I'm hoping someone can answer, if perhaps its an axle or some other suspension part i'm unfamiliar with.

I had once thought it was the motor, i had thought for a while it may have been "bad fuel" but after a few thousand miles i started to realize all the gas can't be bad. lol.

[Add45]

my car idles terribly as well

[RickJamesBish]

But if it was an axle, you'd be having this problem at any speed, just with less intensity. Your issue directly correlates to acceleration.

[samir0189]

my car idles terribly as well

My car doesn't idle weird, I idle at 750. Maybe your issue is different? Or maybe you have the same issue plus an idling issue. I dunno really...

But if it was an axle, you'd be having this problem at any speed, just with less intensity. Your issue directly correlates to acceleration.

I guess you're right.

[95celgt]

yea, have this too, i first changed the motor mount, no dice, i installed a brand new driverside axle, no dice, i have a brand new passengerside axle waiting to go in, if this doesn't fix it it might be a tranny issue.

[CaliJeff]

yea, have this too, i first changed the motor mount, no dice, i installed a brand new driverside axle, no dice, i have a brand new passengerside axle waiting to go in, if this doesn't fix it it might be a tranny issue.

i'm pretty sure its a tranny issue. You might have a broken bearing in there, and as you accelerate, you spin it fast making the gears spin around with a kink.

[RickJamesBish]

I forgot about the tranny, and he's probably right...you'd probably feel stronger wheel/front shake if it was the engine, but a shaking tranny would be a centralized vibration.

[Remy]

If your car shakes going 50+ most likely you just need to balance your wheels.

[samir0189]

Yeah I really need to get the wheels rebalanced to make sure the just didn't mess it up or something last time. I initially thought it was wheel balancing but the thing that got me was that it was only when i accelerated. hopefully its not the tranny, thats ftl. Thanks for all your input guys.

[nutmeg]

I had a problem like this for almost two years, but mine started around 40 m.p.h. and it was loud too. It drove me nuts! (aw man, what an awful pun..) I took it everywhere, replaced my wheel bearings, had my axles rebuilt, rotated, balanced, and replaced tires: all with no luck! Recently I had my transmission and differential replaced and now the noise and the vibration is gone. My friend who did the work said one of the bearings where the axle goes into the differential was all crazy kinds of worn out. But come to think of it, the vibration did get worse with acceleration and was way fainter while coasting. Just a suggestion, I hope you get it worked out!

[CaliJeff]

Once again, like nutmeg said and I said, i think its the tranny. Many shops where I am located will inspect and diagnose the problem for free. Check out your area and see what deal you can get. Don't procrastinate with this issue. Once your bearing explodes, it could weld itself onto there and then you will have to buy another tranny which is even pricier. Get it looked at this weekend.

[GotToyota]

Get them balanced and go from there. That is the first thing I would suspect.

[samir0189]

I had the wheels balanced today. the problem still remains, although the issue has been reduced to 50-75mph. anything over 75 and its smooth like it should be. I watched them balance the wheels to be sure, and everything "zeroed" out correctly. I'm kinda hoping its not the transmission, however i'll look into finding a place that does that sort of thing.

It may be a bit of a long shot, but, a few weeks ago, perhaps around the time this issue has started, I went over a railroad track that wasn't very smooth at all at a kinda high speed, it was my first time down that road, so i didnt know. Do you think it could maybe be a busted strut? Ive had some kind of an oil leak recently too, are those oil filled?

[GotToyota]

Have you considered that it could be the motor mounts?

[Batman722]

I have had my motor mounts changed recently, for the record. Any suggestions?

Have you considered that it could be the motor mounts?

does it vibrate/shake more or less if you turn to the left or right ?

do you hear any noises when you start from a complete stop ? any click, pop, anything ?

[Bitter]

test for motor mounts:
jack engine up slightly with a block of wood placed between engine and trans

if engine gets smoother its mounts, if not its engine.