I've got a 1997 Legacy Wagon with 120K(automatic). The car runs smooth up until around 65, at which point it has a pretty good vibration. I've rotated the tires and nothing seemed to change. Checked pressure, fine. Also, if I shift into neutral at 65-70, the vibration is still there. Not sure where to go from here. Any ideas?

 

jeff

rearmost drive shaft U joint or wheel berring

welcome to the board.

 

vibrations can be tricky. can you locate it? any noise with it?

drums in the rear or rotors all around?

any change with braking?

sometimes a brake can hang up and overheat the rotor, causing a warp. brake might smell like its burning.

handheld IR temp gun can help troubleshoot this or just feel the rotor.

still could be a tire. missing weight?

any movement with it?

recent posts have been about suspension oddities in the rear.

At 89RU: No real noise with it. Front brakes just done; rears done about 2 years ago. Vehicle doesn't pull in either direction. It could be a tire balance issue. My wife has curbed them a few times....

 

At IVANS IMPORTs: Forgot about the U joints--but would wheel bearings be so specific about a speed and the ones I've replaced in other vehicles alway had a "drone" to them.

 

Thanks guys.

jeff

Have the wheels balanced. Most common cause of vibration at speed is out of balance tires.

Have the wheels balanced. Most common cause of vibration at speed is out of balance tires.

+1 My experience as well.

+1 my experience as well.

+2

 

ujoints i've seen generally go away or lessen vibration in nuetral though i'm sure anything is possible.

the ujiont will have a ping when going into gear from a stop or trnsitioning from forward to backward if the berring thge sound will change when the weight of car is shifted side to side at speed.

Have the wheels balanced. Most common cause of vibration at speed is out of balance tires.

 

Thanks all for the ideas! Going to balance the tires and see if that takes care of it.

jeff

Have the wheels balanced. Most common cause of vibration at speed is out of balance tires.

 

 

This.. I know as my tires are almost fully worn my right rear causes a vibration and now I've got the front starting.. it gets stronger if you put more weight on that tire i.e. merging into left lane, next week I've gotta get the tires on plus I can take those wheel weights off and powder coat the wheels since the silver is showing with all those rock chips.