98 Lumina Wobble.

I hate asking another question but a search both here and on google turned up nothing.

So I realized I get this wobble from time to time going between 30-35. I saw a thread a few post down about a violent shake and it being a tranny problem but this is more of a wobble.

I inspected my tires and made sure the pressure was all right. I see no visable buldges and my treads are more or less equally worn.

It feels like its coming from the rear (imagine one of the tires being oval vs round). At least thats what the sensation is like. Its not super major but it can be somewhat uncomfortable because here in Tampa its stop and go traffic. It didnt go away when the guys at the tireshop did a rotation. They also usually check the tires so this leads me to believe its not that.

Any ideas?

Since you seem to have ruled out a tire or wheel by rotating, you may just have a bad strut that lets the rear on that side occilate under certain road conditions...have you ever been able to realize a pattern, like it does it on certain stretches of road, etc?

Shocks or struts that have lost some fluid will allow certain frequecies of motion to continue undamped, and can make that corner of the vehicle feel like it's pumping up and down rapidly...see that a lot in motorcycles too when the shocks go bad or the fork oil is worn out...

You could have a slightly bent stub axle too...with the rear tires off the ground, spin a tire and watch the clearance between the brake drum and backing plate in one spot...it should remain constant as the wheel turns...with a bent stub it'll wobble slightly...I'd expect this to be more constant though...

Two slightly out of round tires or wheels can conspire to produce an intermittant wobble when they phase together...but usually will be felt above 50 mph, and just as you come to a stop....but again if it remained in the rear after rotation, this isn't it...

Since you seem to have ruled out a tire or wheel by rotating, you may just have a bad strut that lets the rear on that side occilate under certain road conditions...have you ever been able to realize a pattern, like it does it on certain stretches of road, etc?

It does do it on certain stretches of road. I know its not the road itself. But now that you bring it up Its worth making known.

When I drive on the highway it does not happen at all.


I feel confident working on my own car (already done a few things). Is swapping the strut something a novice could do and is there a way to confirm its the strut itself.


I really appreciate the help guys! Thanks a ton.

Put 100 lbs or sp of weight close to the rear of the trunk and drive it where it happens...

If it changes it, the struts may well be the problem. If not, something else is happening.

The rear struts are really silly difficult on these...you need a spring compressor and several other special tools...