2ks

Just bought a 01 RX300 with 112k miles, great looking car for 9yrs old and runs smooth except I have a vibration that is not steady "comes in waves" at any speed above 70 mph. It doesn't matter if cruise is set or just holding pedal steady. Car has new tires and rims don't look like they have been curb checked. Thought rotor warp but that should do it all the time and especially when braking which is not the case. I will start with cheapest stuff first, tires balanced correctly?? My thinking is this, balancing, bent wheel, bad wheel bearing, or front end needs aligned. Any suggestions? Anyone else have this issue? This is not a hard shake in the steering wheel but seems to worsen the longer you drive it, want to fix it as soon as possible.

salimshah

Dynamic balancing is most likely needed.

You can swap front to back and see if the vibration changes.

Salim

rfakinbile

Wheel balancing is the first to do and should solve the problem.

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

Vibration is not usually an alignment issue, but if balancing doesn't solve it and the wheels/tires are true (get them road-force balanced and ask them for the radial and lateral runout measurements), it could be worn steering/suspension bushings.

2ks

Thanks for all the help everybody, I will get the balancing done on friday, will post if it fixes the problem.

2ks

Balancing complied with, Tech said pax front wheel was out of balance. They didn't rotate for some reason, figured that was a given, but vibration still there above 70 mph. They said that an alignment usually wont cause this type of problem, I should drop it off so they can spend some time driving it, and checking it out. This after a 2hr wait before they did the balancing that took 20 mins. Will try again another day. Any suggestions about what else to look at?? Could a CV axle cause this problem (i would think that would be a steady vib)??

2ks

I will rotate tires today or tommorow and see if issue is still there.

salimshah

It is harmonics that set in based on imbalance of a rotating object, so it can due to cv joints or shafts etc but it would tend to peak at a certain rotational speed (not constant).

The front to back swap is a controlled experiment.

There can be issues with a loose front end which for you may not be rigid enough to dampen small harmonics.

Salim

2ks

Front to back tire swap didn't change anything. Will see a suspension specialist to see if they can figure it out.

2ks

What is road force balancing? Can this be done by a tire and alignment place or is this specialized?

mroxas

I think I have similar issue but mine was solve by tire rotation.

Got a brand new tires mount and balance Aug 2009.
Did the tire rotation Dec 2009 (after 5K miles). I have run about additional 5.5K miles, and this June I could feel (sometimes) the steering wheel vibrate at speed >65mph . I meant "sometimes" as it comes and go away. It vibrates but I have no problem of keeping my RX on the lane. I read this posting, and reminds me my tire rotation was due (I like to do it every 5K). I did the rotation last Sunday, run it 100 miles (65mph - 80mph) Sunday, and another 150 miles Monday. So far steering wheel vibration is gone.

Tire Rotation. Front wheel goes to rear. Rear wheel goes in front (cross). Lug nut torque 76 ft.lbf.

genijet

Get the tires balanced by a pro. Carl

code58

I had that problem on my wife's '02 Camry (just bought a new '11 last weekend so the '02 will become our grandson's) with a very good set of Yokohama's. They balanced 3 times over the next 12k mi (and really worked hard at it the last 2 times) and I tolerated it for 18k+ mi and said get them off and give me something else. I don't care if you throw them away, I can't stand 'em any more. (the tires had a high tread wear rating and only showed about 20% worn) They put on a set of Michelin Primacy's and all was smooth as silk. The vibration wasn't extreme but was annoying and was always cyclical. Something about the tires wasn't built right. They were extremely good about adjustment (though I didn't even ask for adj.) and only charged me for the 20% that was worn. I would only ever buy tires from America's Tire (Discount Tire) because they have always treated me so well. Ready to buy my 3rd set of wheels from them and I don't know how many sets of tires. And no, I have no connection or financial interest in A.T./D.T.

P.S. I jacked the car up at home and had my wife run it up to about 70 MPH slowly (on jack stands) and you could watch the cyclical nature of the vibration (at any speed above about 40 MPH) I don't think ANYONE can balance a tire with that problem.

ByTor

Your calipers are not fully releasing. In other words, sticking ever so lightly to the rotors, causing the shake. Went through all you have, and that was the $500 fix.
Drives great now.

code58

Clearly sticking calipers slide pins or pistons/seals CAN cause that type of vibration, but just as clearly is not the ONLY cause. I'm a firm believer in running a car up in place with the wheels elevated. It won't simulate ALL of what goes on at freeway speeds, but sure beats trying to figure out what's going on from the drivers seat at 70 MPH.