I recently rebuilt the whole front end, yes the WHOLE front end. I went to get alignment done the next morning and the car drove like a charm afterwards.

Then a week later, the front end started wobbling/shuddering at cca 35mph. Kinda like a duck swaying left and right while it walks. It's not tire vibration, it's some weird wobble. I thought, excessive toe. Oh, and at higher speeds (70+), I get whole front end vibration, of course.

First alignment check revealed loose shock-to-spindle bolts. Oops!
Second alignment check (after tightening the bolts with a 2ft 1/2" breaker bar) showed the toe to be just slightly in (like 0.2* on each side). Corrected.

But I still have this wobble at 35 mph. And the vibration at 70+mph persists as well. Of course, at 90 mph, I feel like I'll be tossed out of the car.

The caster after the alignment is 3.5* while I read here that the specs say 5* at least. I am kinda skeptical, I don't believe this could be my problem.

Of course I checked all other bolts and nuts and nothing is loose. Checked wheel bearings and they are nice and tight.

I'm grasping at straws ... but ... could our upper shock mounts possibly cause this?

Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks
Lou

 

alignment SHOULD never cause a vibration, the only way that it could is if caster was way, way off. Think of it like a shopping cart that the front tires wobble on when you push it, same general principle. Yes, check your upper strut mounting points, that could definetely cause an issue, if the alignment was done properly though, they would hve found anything loose, readings will not stay "put" if there is something loose.

 

just making sure...Did you grease all the balljoints?

 

At that low of a speed, I would make sure the wheels and tires spin true. A good shop with a good tech should be able to drive it and tell you what it is.

 

Sounds like tyres or maybe even a rim [less likely] usually the sort of thing when its got a bulge on it, or its out of round.
Assuming of course it can even come from the back, thats if its not coming through the steering wheel.

 

Well, the shop does not have exactly great techs, it's Firestone.
The manager is an a** and I'm afraid I'm gonna have to go back because the insufficient caster is making my car follow the road to well, usually into the ditch. Especially with my wider tires.

And I checked the tires and rims at home, nothing suspicious, wheel bearings are perfectly tight too, nothing loose in the suspension or steering, all joints are greased, I'm simply stumped.

I'll take it to my tire shop to get the balance checked but I'm not holding my breath. We'll see.

I'll keep you posted.
Thanks for all the replies.
Lou

 

i worked at a fireston store for 2 years and usually that is caused by a crooked rim or a seperated tire which would be like a bubble on your tire or a high spot.