1998 Tahoe Road Vibration

[Dogtired]

I have developed a vibration that occurs at various speeds. It is worse at 65-75mph. It seems like a tire problem (the seats rattle, its so bad) but I have just replaced tires and the shake/vibration is still there. Vehicle has 82,000 and is in excellent conditon. Never used off road. Anyone had this problem?

[GMMerlin]

Find a tire dealer that has a balancer that checks road force variation.
This loads the tire and wheel assembly and finds high and low spots and differences in sidewall stiffness that lead to vibrations that cannot be fixed by the standard balance procedure.

[97TahoeMan]

Dogtired-I to have the same problem !! I have had it balanced and put new michelin mtx on it also but no luck yet -the ride got better but the shake and vibration comes in at 68mph and higher!! it is ot so much of a shake as it just feels like the truck gets a nervous shake to it!!
Any help will be appreciated!!

[Dogtired]

I did have the tires re-balanced after about 1000 miles on a regular computer balancer (I have not located the type of balancer referred to by GM Merlin). It is better but still there. It feels as if something is loose/shaking/rattling..I dunno..

[ajspork]

I have a 1997 Tahoe and I get the same vibration starting at about 65mph and stops a little after 70mph. I have recently purchased new tires and had the alignment done. The vibration is still there. If anyone has any idea how to deal with this please let me know.

[GMMerlin]

Originally Posted by ajspork

I have a 1997 Tahoe and I get the same vibration starting at about 65mph and stops a little after 70mph. I have recently purchased new tires and had the alignment done. The vibration is still there. If anyone has any idea how to deal with this please let me know.

I'll repeat myself..
Find a tire dealer that has a balancer that checks road force variation.
This loads the tire and wheel assembly and finds high and low spots and differences in sidewall stiffness that lead to vibrations that cannot be fixed by the standard balance procedure.

[bigjul45]

I had the same problem with my 97 tahoe if this problem persist don't waste any time get the U-joint checked and the rear differential as well that road vibration problem has costed me about $2300.00 I had to get a new rear differential it is worth it because it cost just as much to rebuild

[1997TahoeMan]

Originally Posted by GMMerlin

I'll repeat myself..
Find a tire dealer that has a balancer that checks road force variation.
This loads the tire and wheel assembly and finds high and low spots and differences in sidewall stiffness that lead to vibrations that cannot be fixed by the standard balance procedure.

GMMerlin,I have done the road force vibraton balancing w/VERY little difference. They broke down each tire at least 3 times and got it to the best possible place for a smooth ride, but it has done very little for it .I went to the beach this weekend and brought my boat home and man what a ride . when you go over 70mph it will shake the drink out of its can while it is sitting in the cupholder.(NO JOKE!!) It was so much more noticable w/the boat behind it. My ? to you is why is it that this truck is smooth as silk up until about 64mph,and then the shake or may I say more like a severe vibration takes over. I have been told that it is probably in the torque converter? That when it gets up to higher speeds it is becoming unbalanced and starts the shaking process ,is this possible?
Thanks for your help!!

[GMMerlin]

Originally Posted by 1997TahoeMan

GMMerlin,I have done the road force vibraton balancing w/VERY little difference. They broke down each tire at least 3 times and got it to the best possible place for a smooth ride, but it has done very little for it .I went to the beach this weekend and brought my boat home and man what a ride . when you go over 70mph it will shake the drink out of its can while it is sitting in the cupholder.(NO JOKE!!) It was so much more noticable w/the boat behind it. My ? to you is why is it that this truck is smooth as silk up until about 64mph,and then the shake or may I say more like a severe vibration takes over. I have been told that it is probably in the torque converter? That when it gets up to higher speeds it is becoming unbalanced and starts the shaking process ,is this possible?
Thanks for your help!!

Well in all honesty, I don't know the answer why.
My suggestion would be to drive the truck with an electronic vibration analizer hooked up to find out what the vibration frequency would be to determine if it was a 1st,2nd,3rd line vibration then determine what part of the rotating mass is rotating at that RPM to cause the vibration.

[1997TahoeMan]

Thanks Merlin,but I think I have about spent my last $ on this truck-it is an absolute perfect truck -other than this freaking shake ,but I beleive it may be time to trade!!

[jonathan_suan]

Have you tried tapping the brakes during the vibration to unlock the torque converter - you should also see RPMs increase slightly.

If the vibration stops when the brakes are tapped, it may indicate a problem with the torque converter (or the systems that control it).

[1997TahoeMan]

Johnathon-I did try that but the torque converter did not unlock -could that be the problem the only way it would unlock was to make the passing gear kick in

[jonathan_suan]

Did the vibration go away when the passing gear kicked in?

I'm not a transmission expert, but maybe someone who is could answer your question. In the mean time, try a google search for "torque converter shudder" or chatter - the solutions offered range from changing the transmission fluid, to changing plug wires, to rebuilding the transmission.

[Sierracc]

Hi -

We had a 98 Suburban this past summer that also vibrated at higher highway speeds. We went through everything to try to get it fixed. New tires, wheels, new drive line, rebuilt the rear-end etc. It never did get fixed and the dealer ended up taking it back. It had custom wheels on it.

We recently purchased a 99 Tahoe that DID NOT vibrate!!! We put custom wheels on it and it started doing just what the Suburban did. We had the tires re-balance at least 4-5 times, tried a different set of tires and wheels - it still vibrated. Had them put the stock wheels back on it and it doesn't vibrate anymore.

Some things I learned:

1) When putting wheels on a Chevy - be sure you are only getting HUB Centric wheels. These are made to fit on the Chevy hubs and are not universal.

2) Be sure you have taken the metal clips off when you have the custom wheels put on.

We are having another set of wheels put on tomorrow. I expect it will still vibrate. I did learn there is a place in our town that does tire balancing with the tires/wheels on your vehicle. It's an old timer way that is suppose to be a little better because it balances them to your vehicle, but I haven't tried it yet. Wish us luck!

[1997TahoeMan]

Sierracc -WE have tried almost everything w/no luck.I am all but convinced it is in the torque converter.If anyone has tried to change their torque converter out let me know how that worked out for you. And how much $$ it will cost me?