I have just developed a strange vibration when cruising at from 65-70 mph. It is not evident before 65, or after 70 mph. It is very annoying to me right now. My question is "should I try the following tasks to try to eliminate it?" :

1) Rebalance Wheels
2) Do Alignment
3) Lube chassis fitments and sway bar bushings
4) All of the above

It is not real bad...just kinda annoying in that speed range. Any suggestions?

Steve S.
97 2.8QM

...it's turned out to be a wheel-balance problem.

Andy Hedin

You may want to disregard my advice since I graduated with a 2.4 gpa. Shhhhhhh!! The resonance most likely won't be cured by number 2 or 3. Rebalance your wheels or try a different set of wheels. If that doesn't work check for roundness of the tires. You could have gotten a slight bald spot from the time you lost control and honked your horn at one of your autox's. Then if that's ok, you should check your suspension components to make sure there's no play.

Drew

I will go to bat with you and say your theory makes good sense and is well thought out. Have an A+ in audinomics.

:o)

Darren

`00 somewhere in the fatherland

You know, I think I've got the same problem. I feel the vibration about 70-75 mph.

At first, it seemed to be a warped rotor since I noticed it while braking. Now, it's more noticeable at speed. So, I'm hoping it's the RF wheel that's out of balance instead. Would be a lot cheaper to fix anyway. :-)

Jim

A couple of things could cause vibration at a particular speed, most obvious one is balancing of the wheel

Other could be torquing of the lug nots not even

A loose tie rod, ball joint or other suspension components will also cause the resonance, but they are normally triggered again by a imbalanced wheel.

So before you take out the wheels and send them off to America's Tire or something, here's something to check out:

1) reTorque the wheels using a torque wrench. Loosen then tighten all bolts evenly by doing minute turns each lug nut until they are properly torqued. Do not tighten one lug at a time while the others are overly loose (just as in a Cylinder head) cuz that will cause warpage.

2) Do you have wheel locks? If so, are the lock lugs heavier or lighter than the rest of the lugs? Reason being, wheels are balance with the lugs off. Adding uneven lug nuts will cause imbalanced. To counter this, what I do is position the lock against or with the tire valve cover, or lug cover bolt, or anything you feel is heavier on one side. If your lugs are heavier than the lock, put the lock in the hole closest the tire valve or something, then use heavier metal valve covers. If it is the otherway, then vice versa.

3) Or maybe one of those hammered in weights just flew out. It's time for America's Tire or Wheel works or something.

4) Also, I like shops who use stick on weights and place them in line with the hub, not out in the rim. Reason being, is if there is a weight on the outside of the rim, it will balance out the rotational imbalance in one direction, but not the other, and wear and tear will happen on the suspension components.

It only takes a few ounces to balance a wheel, so anything that looks off visually probably is. Good Luck

Still not a good excuse for an S4 though J just kidding

i had the same problems. if the wheel balancing does not work. it will most likely be worn out tie rod ends. they are really easy to spot. look into your front wheel hubs, just above the tyres you owuld see a rubber bushing. if thats broke, its the likely problem. and thank goodness they don't cost an arm or a leg to change.

cheers,
derrick

as the shocks get older, and loose damping characterisitics, they may no longer damp in-
herent vehicle resonances.

found this on previous cars, after balancing, etc.

1996 a4 2.8 qm 12v

1 more week in the shop, door panels are back ordered.