Front end vibration at highway speeds

[88EXi]

Well I can not find any information that helps me with this problem. I have a bad vibration at highway speeds above 100 kpm or 55 mph. I have had 4 new tires and 4 more replaced again, 2 new drive axles and I and my mechanic can not find anything wrong with the front end. He thinks it might be a rim but he has balanced 8 tires on these rims. There is no play in the front end. I looked at the engine mounts and they seem to have some play. I checked the tranny and it has some play at the drive axle ends (it is the 3rd rebuilt I have had), both of which are appear to be "normal" for a Windstar, The vehicles has 170 000 kms.

HELP!!

Well today I took off the wheels again, inspected the drive axles, rotors and wheel bearings and couldn't find anything wrong. I even went to install another drive axle just in case but they were both good. I see that there is a slight wobble in the left tire when I had it up on jacks so I rotated the tires front to back on both sides. There is still a wobble in the left side but is more pronounced with the other tire and rim. SO... could these aluminum rims warp over time?

Any ideas would be helpful.

[dthorn292005]

Originally Posted by 88EXi

Well I can not find any information that helps me with this problem. I have a bad vibration at highway speeds above 100 kpm or 55 mph. I have had 4 new tires and 4 more replaced again, 2 new drive axles and I and my mechanic can not find anything wrong with the front end. He thinks it might be a rim but he has balanced 8 tires on these rims. There is no play in the front end. I looked at the engine mounts and they seem to have some play. I checked the tranny and it has some play at the drive axle ends (it is the 3rd rebuilt I have had), both of which are appear to be "normal" for a Windstar, The vehicles has 170 000 kms.

HELP!!

Well today I took off the wheels again, inspected the drive axles, rotors and wheel bearings and couldn't find anything wrong. I even went to install another drive axle just in case but they were both good. I see that there is a slight wobble in the left tire when I had it up on jacks so I rotated the tires front to back on both sides. There is still a wobble in the left side but is more pronounced with the other tire and rim. SO... could these aluminum rims warp over time?

Any ideas would be helpful.

Yes, aluminum wheels can warp over time. I have had them do this before on my old Camaro. Did you check for knots in your tires? Some cheap tires will do this even when they are new. The stabalizer bar can cause this as well. I wish you luck with your problem.

[LeSabre97mint]

88EXi

I'd jack up the front of the van put jackstands under. Start the van and put it in drive. If you have traction control turn it off. Watch the tires for out of round, the rims and drive axles rotating out of center which all will cause bouncing and thumping.

Regards,

Dan

[garync1]

The issue I am having is most tire stores can tell you if the rim is warped.. There balance machines will tell you..To be sure all your rims are not warped. I would not think so. rotating the tires from back to front should rule out that problem of solving the warped rim issue. If your rotors where warped I think the vibration would be noticed more at braking..