06 LS shakes bad from 60-65

I have a 2006 HHR LS Auto with 162K. It feels like a rotational vibration that resonates from 60-65. The tires have been rotated and replaced(one was basically a slick) and there was very little affect on the shake. I took it to a buddy's with a lift and he found that the Drive Axles have a lot of up/down and forward/backward play. He said that the drive axle bushings needed replaced. I've looked all over online and can't find them. Are they dealer only parts or is it a terminology problem or is there something else that would cause it?? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I will call the dealership Monday if I don't find anything out here.

Dustin

front drive axles, normal terminology.

Those drive axles have play....

You replaced one tire? If only one tire was bad, I would be checking alignment and front end components.....

Were the other three spin balanced and checked for runout? was the vibration from the front or rear? Did it make a difference when rotating the tires, transferring the vibraton from front to rear, or rear to front?

A vibration at 60-65 is "classic" tire imbalance....if the other three tires were not checked for balance and run out/shifted belt, I would be doing that before thinking axles/bushings.....

Thanks for the replies.

Max Wedge - I know they are drive axles (I've replaced plenty for the cv joints going bad), but they have excessive play in the tranny. Are there drive axle bushings in the tranny or is there another name for them.

Tech II - I've rotated the tires and then replaced all 4 tires. There was no change, but it is getting steadily worse. The vibration is in the front and I already replaced the inner and outer tie rods, I did not get it aligned, but when it was on the lift we checked with a tape measure and it has 1/16" toe out.

Dustin

Don't jump into the axles too fast, run the car up to no more than 40, ft wheels off the ground, find a safe way to do this of course, look for wobble or see if you feel it in the car. Also look at tire wheel runout both laterally and vertically.

I forgot to post my fix. It was bad tires, they had vertical runout. Thanks for all the advise.