Shake Problem

[Kuler2.0]

So I was driving home from work yesterday and noticed that I have a small shake in the front end of my 87 Camry DLX (I can't tell what side) when I hit about 80 MPH. It shouldn't be alignment because the car was aligned not that long ago. The only other things I can think of are my bad suspension (which I am trying to get fixed) or a wheel Berring possibly going out. Does anyone have any other ideas? Any input would be helpful to help me diagnose the problem. Thanks.
Jay

[ShawnM]

Worn front suspension components could sure cause it. Other things would be a bad tire, or a wheel out of ballance. Why did you have an alignment done if you know you have bad suspension parts? The alignment specifications are based on a car that is sitting at stock height and has no wear or play in the front end.

[IvanHoe]

try speed balancing your tires, I had the same issue from a shop that did a piss poor speed balancing....I brought the car to a different shop and had them re-do it and all is well!

[Kuler2.0]

The balancing is a good point. The reason the car was aligned on bad shocks was that I needed new tires ASAP (they were bulging from dry rot) and didn't have time to do the suspension first. It sounds like it is probably going to be one of those issues so I am going to do the suspension and see how it goes from there. Thanks for the input.
Jay

[RedSIBaron]

wait so you woulnt align your car if you had worn suspension components? i know he already said cuz he had just gotten tires, i know i remember when he bought tires...but seriously, dont give people advice like "dont align your car"...even if your suspension is beat a proper alignment makes almost as much difference for performance as your dampeners on the suspension...if a car is not properly aligned it can make the handling characteristics extremely unpredictable...not to mention the tirewear you can have with even a slightly off allignment...

also since no one has mentioned it, what im guessing kuler's problem is, since it gets a wobble and there is also a knocking sound when the suspension is under load, is that he has worn outter tie rod ends...it would also explain the slop in his steering...we shall see when we do his suspension work hopefully next week...

[TBayToyotaBoy]

This almost definitely is NOT your problem, but twice now I've had the front p/s caliper on my V6 seize and cause vibrations--but only intermittently. I think it was seizing slightly (maybe a small groove in the piston bore) and causing the rotor to heat-up only at highway speeds. This did not happen at city speeds. Once the entire steering knuckle was super-heated, it likely caused the brake fluid to expand considerably, causing the caliper to seize even more. Most unexpected vibration diagnosis I've ever had to fix.