Bad vibration

[jheser6363]

I have a 1990 toyota wagon 5 speed manual 192,000 miles runs great. It developed a vibration in front end tires were wore out replaced and balanced still same vibration. All original drive train front end has been aligned. Can't feel it in steering wheel starts shaking around 55 mph gets worse the faster you go but sometimes it doen't shake and seems to be getting worst. Could it be the differential or bad drive axle.

[90 GP]

Did you try jacking up front end and checking for play by grabbing wheel at top and bottom and side to side. Could be worn out front end parts (tie rods, ball joints etc.)

[ToyotaBrendan]

If its vibrating and feels like the steering wheel is not, it could be your rear wheels, for some odd reason these little cars are very sensitive to balance, took one shop 3 times to balance mine and still was bad, then i went elsewhere and first time smooth as glass. Some of these tire shops don't know how to properly balance a tire and just make it worse, on these little wheels weights must only be put on the INSIDE of the wheels, doing both makes it worse for these small ones. These shop techs are used to newer cars with bigger, wider wheels, where you must balance both sides. Also most shops never have there balance machines calibrated.

[jheser6363]

Originally Posted by ToyotaBrendan

If its vibrating and feels like the steering wheel is not, it could be your rear wheels, for some odd reason these little cars are very sensitive to balance, took one shop 3 times to balance mine and still was bad, then i went elsewhere and first time smooth as glass. Some of these tire shops don't know how to properly balance a tire and just make it worse, on these little wheels weights must only be put on the INSIDE of the wheels, doing both makes it worse for these small ones. These shop techs are used to newer cars with bigger, wider wheels, where you must balance both sides. Also most shops never have there balance machines calibrated.

I dont think it is in the back because when you drive it around town and go around a curve fast the steering wheel sort of feels like a four wheel drive truck you can feel the front wheels shack back and forth and feel it in the steering wheel

[retiredat44]

mine had a problem with vibration, the inner (right side) tie rod was worn out...
since my health went bad I paid pepboys to replace the tie rod (both inner and outer ends) and re-align the front end. I also had them install a rebuilt half shaft on the right side also, because the boots were bad. The raped me for about $450.00. the parts were cheap the labor killed me.

You can get a special tool loaned for tie rod ends from Autozone. and the parts don't cos tmuch, different quality are different prices.. as usual, they screw you badly on labor.

IMHO

1989 Corolla SR-5 manual trans with carb.

[jheser6363]

You are talking about an inner tie rod is that the one under the boot on the steering sector

[ayang951]

check your inner and outer tie rods, ball joints etc... and if your going to do either of those, you might as well replace the wheel bearings as well, they play a crucial role in that as well... then get it re-align

[dbcox]

Did u figure it out? I have sorta the same thing. i am replacing both cv axles, the boots have been busted for over 35k miles no noise tho, i am also replacing the front wheel bearings inner and outer seals. I am waiting to take it to get my bearings and stub axle pressed back together. All my tie rod ends looked good, ball joints good. I thought maybe a strut the way it bounced but it would pull and snatch the steering wheel to the left like the brakes were being hit. My little bullet has 289k miles on it. Im gonna do all 4 struts next, not sure if they have ever been done either

[Flashmn]

It can really be a lot of things, even rear end problems can be felt in the front... might wanna check the front A-arm rear bushings.