94 Camry - vibration at around 40, 45mph

[Pickngrin]

Brand new to this forum, and I searched for similar questions before posting. I've got a '94 Camry (4cyl.) with ~ 120K miles. I had a tune up a few months ago. The problem I'm experiencing: very noticeable vibration (feels like the car, not just the steering wheel) which seems to start at around 40 or 45mph, and seems to lessen or even out if I increase speed and compensate with the accelerator pedal. The first time I noticed this was months back during a long-distance trip and at that time it was VERY noticeable -- I didn't know what was happening and I was worried about making it home! I had to take my car to the mechanic after that but for a different problem (car wasn't starting!). He mentioned that the vibration could possible be due to misfiring, and that the tune-up may fix that too. Bottom line is that I still experience the vibration (though driving around town it's not as severe as during that long distance trip). I am noticing a noise when I turn the wheels -- not quite the CV joing clicking noise that I know of, although perhaps it is the CV joints (I've replaced them in the past).
To me, it looks like the rubber around the dogbone mount is worn out.
From the limited information given, does this sound like an issue of bad motor mounts, bent axle, or something else (or all of the above?). Is it dangerous to leave as is? I'd like to get it fixed, but the idea of dropping more $$ into another expensive job on this car doesn't sit well with me.
I'd like to have some idea of whether the mechanic is hosing me or not.

Any ideas?
Thanks!

[ballenm04]

ok well here are some things that I need to find out. well one thing... does it make a rattle when you hit a bump in the road i could be a small bump to a massive one, or does it rattle only when you turn. Is the rattle louder during the cold? if it does rattle whe hitting a bump and louder in the cold then your bushings on the top of your struts might need to be replaced. If you research this you will find that many people thought that it was their strust that did were causing the noise but they spent$$$$ on the struts to find that all they needed were the bushings and it is much cheaper. I will tell you that it is not and easy task and it is a dangerous task because you have to compress your springs but doing it yourself wil save you hundreds. Mine started to make the rattle around 120,000-130,000 mi and that is when most of the others go out. I hope that I was of help to you.

[fabb]

The first and easiest thing to do is to move the rear tires to the front and see if it makes a difference. Most ballance/tire issues show up at 40-55 MPH.
FABB

[Daniel M. Dreifus]

copied this from another forum a while back, sounds like motor mounts especially if the top dog bone is worn out - I suspect that places greater load on the other fluid filled motor mounts and causes them to fail - official name for the dog bone is "engine moving control rod" - I replaced mine at first sign of slight cracking in the rubber to save the other motor mounts, hopefully - so far, so good.
From the other forum:

Alex Marcuzzi wrote:
> I have a 1993 Camry and it vibrates starting at 50M.P.H. and then it
> gradually disappears when it reaches 60-65 M.P.H.. I have balanced the
> wheels, moved the tires from front to rear and did a wheel alignment.
> Anyone else have any ideas. Other then those speeds it runs pretty
> smooth.
>
> Alex

I have had the same problem for years and finally found the source---worn
motor mounts.
---------------------------
BTW don't know if anyone else would do this, but when I changed the stabilizer bar bushings, the dealer mechanic gave me some silicone grease to deter squeaking. Later discovered it is available in small tubes sold as "dielectric grease" so whenever I replace a rubber part, like the dog bone mount, I lightly coat the rubber with silicone grease as a preservative, hopefully minimize cracking from air pollution and condition the rubber from hardening and cracking.

[knolen78]

My car does the same thing. Not sure if this is the problem but it makes sense. You may already know, but there is a recall on Toyota Camry's that are manufactured from 7/26/94 to 7/9/1998. It has to do with the steering: wheel and handle bar. Defective Summary: The steering wheel set nut may not have been sufficiently tightened causing steering vibration and looseness. This can result in loss of vehicle control.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: - 99V307000
Hope this helps.

[Pickngrin]

Thanks to each of your for your input. Turns out the problem was a bad front driveshaft. The mechanic test drove it with me and afterwards showed me what he was talking about. One of my CV boots was cracked yet again, too. He replaced the driveshaft and my Camry drives smoothly once again..

[knolen78]

I Had the CV Axels replaced and my camry drives smooth again. thanks