2000 Blazer LS Vibration Problem

twin_turbo_t88 · 03-04-2006, 06:12 PM

First, I just want to say that I have read many threads on this issue with the Blazer but everyone's situation is different so please, any advice would help...

Ok, Like many other people here, I have a problem with vibration. It has never occured during braking so I do not think it is a warped rotor... I generally happens at 67-90 MPH on the highway but strangly, after 90 MPH it goes away, but it seems to be the most severe at around 80 MPH.

I purchased the vehicle in Sept 2004 with around 56,000 miles on it from a Chevy Dealer who reassured me that it has had a 100+ point inspection but did not give me any sort of written guarentee that there had actually been any sort of inspection performed (I should have insisted that the dealer provide me with written results of the inspection...)

My first vibration problem with the vehicle happened a week after I bought the car and after 62 MPH, it felt like the rear-axle was about to fall off! I inspected the vehicle and found that left-rear wheel was missing it's wheel weight so a simple balancing fixed that issue.

October 2004, I hated the top-heavy feeling when turning so I had the car lowered with a 2/3" kit... After the installation, the mechanics called me and said my front hubs were shot and they could not properly align the vehicle without new hubs... I foolishly paid for this shop to replace my front hubs, costing roughly $1,800. I will admit, I am an idiot for paying this shop to do the work and will never EVER go to them again for anything! I can't believe how stupid I was for trusting their opinion and not taking (towing, pushing ETC) my car to another shop. STUPID STUPID STUPID...

December 2004, Replaced all 4 tires, balanced and went on driving... No vibration problems...

Summer 2005- At about 70k miles, mild vibration started to occur at highway speeds... No noise, just a little vibration.

Fall 2005, vibration getting slightly more noticible... Felt like upgrading the look of my ride so I purchased 18" wheels with high-performance tires (Yokohama ES100). Figured that this would help with traction and eliminate the wheels from the possibile list of likely suspects... Nope, same vibes at same highway speeds...

Feb 2006, started noticing that the front-left tire was developing wear on the inside edge which to me was symptomatic of the alignment going bad. Had the front-end realigned along with a tire rotation and re-balanced the wheels once again... Same vibration...

Mar 2006, Noticed that my front-left tire is wearing on the inside edge is wearing once again and the vibration has not changed it's "location", it seems to come from the same place at the same speeds 67-90 MPH. One note- when the vibration occurs, I can feel it in the steering wheel which I believe means the problem is in the front of the vehicle. Also, when the vibration happens, I can see the front RIGHT-HAND side of the car shaking- which is strange because my front-left tire is wearing...

I was originally going to through new U-joints at the problem but now i'm getting more convinced that the problem is one (or both) front wheel bearings going bad again. I now have 86k miles on the vehicle so it's been about 30k miles since the hubs were last replaced or serviced...

What I plan to do in the immediate future-
Replace U-Joints (I already bought the parts, might as well replace them).
Have a brake job done at a reputable shop, have the front wheel bearings inspected (while i'm watching) during the brake job...

I hope it's not the damn bearings ($$$)...

herkyhawki · 03-04-2006, 07:02 PM

It sounds like bad u-joints.
To test front bearings, go in empty parking lot and make low speed turns full left and full right. Noise while turning right indicates trouble on left side and vise-versa.

AJT1961 · 03-05-2006, 02:25 AM

Keep us posted if you do find the cause. I had the same thing on my 2000 LS 4wd (106,000 miles) from about 60 to 75 mph after which it would begin to disappear. It was making me crazy, but fortunately I rarely have to drive on highway lately. The U-joints, tire balance were fine, and nothing was making any noise. Still have the original wheel bearings and other drive train components. Also noticed odd tire wear, sort of like a twisted cupping of the tread on both front tires.. The shake seemed to coming from the front right and felt as if that tire's balance was way off. I do know that I badly need lower ball joints which I plan on replacing in a few weeks when it gets warmer, but I don't know if that is the cause of my shake. It did seem to start right after I lubed the front end.

BlazerLT · 03-05-2006, 03:10 AM

You need an alignment bud.

muddog321 · 03-05-2006, 10:31 AM

There are TSBs out there that state Chevy cannot fix the vibration in some of the 4wd 2nd genartion Blazers (98 up) and specifically I believe 2000 up are the worst. So, who out here has technical info on these cause this topic is all over all the forums and no one has a real answer that actually totally soves it - because the real answer maybe as Chevy states - they can't!
So determine if in the front/rear/all over then give some real data.

billibong · 03-05-2006, 11:21 AM

Have you looked into inner and outer tie rod ends? How about ball joints? These are known problems on the Blazers, and could be causing your tire wear problems. They could also lend in the vibrations issues, I believe.
It is worth checking into the problems. If you are at all handy, and have some basic tools around the garage, you may be able to make these repairs yourself. All of the above have how tos in the forum, you just need to run a search. You may need some special tools, but you can usually get loaner tools from whatever parts store you get the parts from.
Let us know what you find out.

twin_turbo_t88 · 03-05-2006, 04:04 PM

Thanks for your inputs guys, Tomorrow or Tuesday i'm going to get the U-Joints replaced and i'll post again with the results... I can't get a picture of my ride to post on this reply so if you want to see my Blazer, check out the link below. Thanks!

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/nelson...e2.jpg&.src=ph

jaxondes · 03-11-2006, 06:48 PM

I too am having the same problems with my 02 Blazer LS... Happens whether or not I'm in 4wd, 2wd or Autotrac. When I'm driving down the road in 2wd is my front driveshaft turning full speed?

The truck has 50K miles on it, and I brought it in for an alignment, they said it was fine, and also rebalanced the tires, but its still doing it.

I just bought the vehicle and it was like this when I got it, I'm an auto dealer and bought it wholesale, and didn't have a chance to test drive.

old_master · 03-11-2006, 08:01 PM

[quote=jaxondes]I too am having the same problems with my 02 Blazer LS... Happens whether or not I'm in 4wd, 2wd or Autotrac. When I'm driving down the road in 2wd is my front driveshaft turning full speed?

The transfer case supplies power to the front driveshaft any time the vehicle is running, and in gear. The front axles turn when the vehicle is moving however, they turn independently from the differential. When you engage 4WD the axles are mechanically connected to the differential and they become "live".

BlazerLT · 03-11-2006, 10:59 PM

Does it vibrate more at certain speeds?

Are the tires balanced?

muddog321 · 03-12-2006, 05:01 AM

Did you ever determine front (steering wheel shake) or rear (seat of the pants)? I searched on my 01 with 60k and after doing all the front things had mostly seat of the pants. After lookin at the rear axle bearings and axles (all have some play, always more on pass side cause I have posi rear) and I compared to 2 other Blazers not shaking, the drive shaft was balanced with new U-joints, tires force balanced - still there!! Was the rear disc/brake drum - the disc ran true but the drum portion was more oval so at 60mph it would cause that vibration and you felt and saw the shifter shake. New rear discs solved MOST of the shake - but still alittle there - the Bilstin gas shocks transmit alot of road feel up - control is great but the old guy at the alignment shop said they had many complaints and switched to reflex shocks and they helped some. At 75-80 the 4wds always have alittle shake but its not too bad now - think I'll get a turbo Cayenne when my Lottery ticket hits!

jaxondes · 03-12-2006, 08:17 PM

The vibration in mine is noticeable in the steering wheel, but you can feel it in the floorboards and everything. You can even kinda hear the resonance. Tires are freshly balanced.

BlazinMlew · 03-12-2006, 11:47 PM

Yep My 2000 has the same issue although it is intermitant. Comes and goes from day to day. Also has the tendancy to get real bad for about a mile or so and then just goes away. I have just learned to live with it until I can have enough money to rebuild the entire front end.

LS19962DRBLAZER4X4 · 03-13-2006, 09:30 AM

It also can be your tires out of balance. Check your tires. I had vibrations
at 60000 miles and found out that my tires where out of balanced so I had
them balanced and rotated and the vibration was gone. Also remember your upper and lower ball joints should be inspected every year. GM
will not replace these because they are not under a recall policy.

BlazerLT · 03-13-2006, 05:41 PM

Yip, first thing that always should be done is get the tires balanced.

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