1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass Shudder / Shake

TOFNBAD

MEMBER
1971 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
112,000 MILES

1971 Olds Cutlass. The car develops a shake or shudder at around 2500 rpm (about 65 mph). It only last till around 3000 rpm then goes away. I shakes pretty good, but it is in a cycle. Like something going around. It will give a good shudder/shake then go away and come back until I either slow down or speed up. The front suspension is new as is the rear. I have replaced the wheel bearings also.

Monday, February 18th, 2008 AT 10:14 PM

3 Replies

PEAR69

MECHANIC
1,482 POSTS

Is it in the motor, transmission, or the suspension? Does the steering wheel shake or the drive line?

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Monday, February 18th, 2008 AT 11:17 PM

TOFNBAD

MEMBER
2 POSTS

The whole car shakes including the steering wheel. While you have your hands on the steering wheel it will make your arms shake

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Tuesday, February 19th, 2008 AT 10:20 PM

PEAR69

MECHANIC
1,482 POSTS

Ok, if the front suspension is new (by new you mean tie rod ends, ball joints, steering linkage, and pitman arm and idler arm, right?) Then it could be your drive shaft u-joints. It also could be an unbalanced tire or a broken steel belt inside of the tire. Also, did you have an alignment done after you replaced the front suspension parts? A bad alignment could do this also.
A car of this age with 112000 miles on it is rare. 112000 miles is also pretty low considering it is as old as me 37 years. Did this car sit around for a while? Regardless of the answer, you should very carefully look at every inch of the frame under the car. Most frames of that era have rotted out, especially around the rear axle causing the rear differential to shift a little. I hope this is NOT the case with your 1971 Oldsmobile. Let me know what you find and keep that car on the road!

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Wednesday, February 20th, 2008 AT 12:18 AM