1996 Chrysler LHS Vibration

Where do you feel the vibration most, in the steering or seat?

Steering Wheel, I have replaced both front bearing hub assemblies and a tie rod end I discovered during the other work. It is still vibrating.

If it's in the steering, it has to be something in the front end. Let me think on this one.

I rotated my tires from the front to the rear and the vibration, although still there, is not as bad, and I'm feeling it more in the seat than steering wheel. The vibration is still worse when accelerating through a right hand curve? I have Goodyear rain tires on the car.

The fact that the vibration has changed from the steering to the seat tells me either you have a tire balance problem, bent rim, or a bad tire (belt shift, flat spots.).

Since the vibration is worse under acceleration turning right, then chances are it is (now) the left rear tire that is causing the problem. Think about it. When turning right, more weight is distributed to the left side of the car, so the vibration will be more pronounced.

I recommend checking that tire specifically, but it still could be either.

Let me know what you find.
Joe

I have replaced the rear tires and balanded the front. Having done this I drove the car 50 miles and all seemed well, untill I made the 90 degree right turn where I first noticed the problem. It continued to vibrate for the next 2 miles until I parked it. Both front axles were replaced 12 months ago, both front bearing hub assemblies were just replaced along with a tie rod end. The front tires were moved to the rear, the vibration seemed to go from the steering wheel to the seat. Both rear tires were replaced. The vibration was gone until I made a sweeping right turn under acceleration and it returned. One other thing to consider, when I moved the front tires to the rear and road tested it the vibration was gone until I made the same right turn. Any ideas on where to go next?

Okay, this is interesting. When you rotated the tires, you noticed the vibration moved from the steerin to the seat. That tells me it is one of the tires. When you have a vibration in the steering, it indicates the problem is in the front. A problem in the rear of the vehicle will cause the vibration to move to the seat / floor. Were the tires checked for a shifted belt? Bent rim?

Nothing was visable on or in the tires. If I had a bent rim wouldn't it vibrate all the time? Why does it drive fine until I take that 90 degree right curve at 40 MPH or above? The vibration went away when I rotated the tires, front to back, until I put additional weight on the left side by making a right turn. Same thing when new tires were installed. I haven't checked the struts, could this be caused by movement of the strut on the left side? By jacking up the car it takes the weight off the strut, which lets it return to it's correct position? Once the vibration starts again it doesn't go away until the car is lifted up and something else is tried?>

What you are saying is correct. However, everything as far as a speed related vibration sounds balance related and the fact that when you rotated the tires the vibration moved from the steering to the seat tells me that it has something to do with the tire that was us up front and moved to the back. As far as the struts, I don't think that is where the problem is.

Try this. Replace the tire you moved to the rear with your spare tire to see if that eliminates the vibration. Let me know if it changes things.

Joe

I finally have it solved, I think. I tried putting the spare tire on the left front, it didn't make a difference. I had replaced the left front axle assembly about one year ago, having done all this other work I felt it may be possible the CV joint had gone bad, so I should check them. When I removed the inner yoke from the transaxle output shaft it came apart very easily. Looking over the yoke and the output shaft I see the C-clip on the output shaft is compressed all the way into the groove. I remove the C-clip, bend it back into shape and reinstall it. I install the axle CV yoke sliding it on until the C-clip snaps into the internal groove in the yoke. I complete the assembly and take a test drive, the vibration is gone. My guess is the vibration was caused by the axle sliding far enough off the output shaft, when taking a right curve, it allowed the CV joint to spin out of balance. Once the axle shaft was out of position the vibration continued until I raised the car and tried something else, upon lowering the car back down the CV inner yoke would slide far enough back into position so the vibration went away, until I took the right hand curve again.

Great! I'm glad you found the problem. That was a tough one, so my hat is off to you.

If you have questions in the future, let us know.

Joe