somethings wrong with my 95 cavalier

[drumin2heavn]

Something is seriously wrong with my car. It is shimmying real bad and it pulls to the right real bad. It also makes a constant humming sound anytime i'm driving. Even if I'm only going like 5 mph. Tonight I was driving and I started to smell burnt rubber. This is the first time I've experienced this. I also notice uneven wear in the tread of the tires. I have replaced both wheel bearings and two motor mounts so I know it's not that. I'm at a loss and this car has to last me a long time because I just paid it off. Someone please help!

[FormulaLT1]

Welcome to AF. I would jack the front end up and check for any loose bolts or maybe a damage tie rod. If your getting that much play you should be able to spot it. Since you have mentioned you replaced both wheel bearing. I am going to guess its a damaged tie rod which normally don't cause noise but would cause pulling to one side. Good luck


John

[Tookie]

You might have a quick look at the plastic inside the tire wells, especially behind the wheels. Its quite possible some section(s) have come away from the well and is jammed in there somewhere. Also, make sure stuff connected to the brake assy is not out of place and engaging the inside of the tires. Are all your flaps in place correctly? Brake components misinstalled?
Be careful driving. This could be a serious warning of impending failure of some inportant components.

Tookie

[FormulaLT1]

Originally Posted by evictor

Sounds to me like you may have a warped rotor or a caliper that is not working properly. The humming even at 5mph would be cause by something turning. Not a Tie Rod. A caliper that is not working could also cause the shaking as well as the pull. Check the rear brakes as well the shoes might be sticking or a spring may be weak or broke. This is a good car. Treat it well and it will treat you well.

Very good call.That would cause all those symptoms. I don't know why I didn't think about that. That very well could be it.

[drumin2heavn]

I had a buddy of mine look at it and he believes it is the driveline or something like that. Seriously, it feels like my tire is about to fall off or something. It scares me half to death to drive it.

[noshun]

Originally Posted by drumin2heavn

I had a buddy of mine look at it and he believes it is the driveline or something like that. Seriously, it feels like my tire is about to fall off or something. It scares me half to death to drive it.

Did you check the outer cv joints when the bearings were replaced! They make be shot. But the burning rubber! Have you had the alingment on the car done anytime at all! You said the tires are wearing unevenly, is this on the inside edge? You may be getting scrubbing from a bad amount of toe from improper alinment. The tie rod end may have been disturbed while the bearings were being replaced!

[drumin2heavn]

the wearing of the tires is on the outside edge and only on the front left tire. could it possibly be the cv-halfshaft/drive shaft? i've been looking up symptoms and i forgot to mention that there's kind of a clicking sound when i turn the wheel to the right.

[noshun]

Originally Posted by drumin2heavn

the wearing of the tires is on the outside edge and only on the front left tire. could it possibly be the cv-halfshaft/drive shaft? i've been looking up symptoms and i forgot to mention that there's kind of a clicking sound when i turn the wheel to the right.

Raise the fron of the car and check the rubber boots on the driveshafts, if they are cracked or split then it's probably your problem. If not then rotate the wheel and turn it aswell to see if can hear the noise then and try to locate it's source. Busted boots don't mean it's not the CV joints.

[demay1966]

If it has been wrecked, reposition undercarriage. Check undercarriage bolts. Bent rim, rubbing on caliper. Check strut for rubbing.