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08 350 AWD Vibration when accelerating, like flat spot
I have a 2008 GS350 AWD with 135k. My daughter drives the car now and drove the car for probably 20k miles with out of balance wheels likely most of the time. I had them balanced and things were better for a while. Now the problem is becoming a concern. When accelerating the left front feels like driving with an extreme flats spot on the tire. Really comes on at about 40MPH. I am thinking something with her driving out of balance for so long that some bushing has to be worn. Car has had the axels replaced about two years ago ( after market , not sure what brand). I am going to pull the front tire, what should I be looking at and for?
It got warm enough for me to go and pull the wheel off. Everything looked ok upon my first inspection and the there was no play in the wheel bearing. I took pics of everything with my phone. The ball joint looks like it is the problem, to me anyway. The control are bushings are ok but since the car is 16 years old I think I will just replace the entire control arm. Now the question is do I have to go oem or is there an aftermarket brand that is recommended?
Had the car in the shop for a Trans Drain and fill, I asked them to check the suspension and motor mounts. The tech said everything was good and that it was likely a tire issue. The car got new tires a couple months ago and it helped. I recently bought a 2017 GS350 that came with some new Continental touring tires, so I had those swapped over to the 08, and put the Pirellis on the 2017, (handles much better). Did this at discount tire and the Pirellis road like butter so a tire problem was ruled out. The Continentals, that were fine on the 2017, produced the same symptoms when accelerating. I am puzzled. I decided to pour a bottle of redline fuel cleaner in the tank. I wonder if the car is not firing properly on acceleration and if that would cause the vibration. I had a bad coil pack on a honda once and it produced a lot of vibration, but that was a complete misfire situation. I need to find a good scan tool and see if anything comes up.
I hope not. It shifts pretty smoothly, and only does it on medium to hard acceleration. But I will check and see if it happens in between 4 and 5. I can put it in manual mode and see what happens in each gear. It also vibrates at idle at a stop with my foot on the brake. The car was at the dealer for something and I asked the mechanic about it and he just shrugged it off and said it was due to age. I was not the one picking up the car or I would have questioned that.
That makes sense. When I was first out of college, I bought a used BMW535 in Arizona, that car had some kind of drive shaft balancer made out of rubber. In Az the heat kills that stuff. Had the vibration,replace the balancer, motor mounts etc and that fixed it.
That makes sense. When I was first out of college, I bought a used BMW535 in Arizona, that car had some kind of drive shaft balancer made out of rubber. In Az the heat kills that stuff. Had the vibration,replace the balancer, motor mounts etc and that fixed it.
I had a couple old 2002s, a 320i, a 535i back in the day. Those BMW guibo joints were crap and a pain all the time. Don’t think that’s an issue here - not similar construction/design.
Did you check the lower control arm brackets behind the LCAs? They can cause issues. Cheap and easy to replace; can get “F” type aftermarket off Amazon for like $30.
Also, I have not encountered it myself, but it is said engine and trans mounts in these are prone to faster wear than normal. Have you checked those?
Yes on the engine mounts, I was not specific about checking the trans mount. I am going north to escape the Nashville summer heat, be back in Sept and will have everything you mentioned checked out. Let you know what I find then.
08 350 AWD Vibration when accelerating, like flat spot
