Vibration problem

2kLX · Post by **2kLX** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:55 pm

2000 LX with 188,000 miles

I had a vibration - side to side (shimmy) in the steering wheel - at 70 mph and up

I replaced the following.
Lower control arms (inc balljoints and busings) - the bushings were bad - 2nd set.
Inner tie rods - prob didnt need it
Outer tie rods - def needed it - 2nd set
New wheels - recon
New tires - Yoko AS430's
Alignment - caster, camber and toe are all good.
New rotors - Raybestos
New loaded calipers - Raybestos
New RH upper and lower motor mounts

All the parts above are aftermarket - Spicer, etc...
After all that
Still have the shimmy - not as bad - but still there.
70 mph and up

Thoughts?
Never seen a strut cause it -
It is a side to side shimmy in the steering wheel
I am thinking about going after the front hubs and bearings.
I put front bearings in it about 4 years ago.
I am at a loss and I am a pretty accomplished mechanic/repairer

jT · Post by jT » Fri Oct 17, 2008 3:08 pm

get used to it.. its a 2000 neon. it will never go away!

2kLX · Post by **2kLX** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 3:12 pm

cant
I am too OCD
Drives me crazy

jake_tim · Post by **jake_tim** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 3:35 pm

ah, neons and their 72m.p.h shake.

After all that you replaced, there is really not much more to do. You have yourself the epitome of an economy car.

King Crab · Post by **King Crab** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:42 pm

You've probably already have thought of this, but what about the rack and pinion? My neighbor had a similar problem with his vehicle (not a Neon however) and it turned out that his rack and pinion was shot.

Good luck.

Neon4Life · Post by **Neon4Life** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:56 pm

just giving my opinion that i too had the same problem on my 04 neon back when i had my stock wheels like it would shake bad once u hit 70mph.. but after i got my 17" low profiles on there it stopped it doesnt make one shake not even at 120mph. ( lol )

2kLX · Post by **2kLX** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:49 pm

I thought about the rack....... one would think you would feel some looseness other than above 70....

LilSparkPlug · Post by **LilSparkPlug** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:55 pm

That would be my suggestion, the rack itself would be bad. Any visible leaks? Noise in the motor? Vibration in the floor boards? Have you checked the steering shaft itself? That's another causation of the symptom you are experiencing.

hansken_yo · Post by **hansken_yo** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:59 pm

<<< has a spare rack if yours is bad... Hopefully though that is not the case.

Swordfish2Cowboy · Post by **Swordfish2Cowboy** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 9:14 pm

Wow, 188,000. Nice. Here's to 188,000 more!

hybrid-Srt2001 · Post by **hybrid-Srt2001** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 4:00 am

make sure your tires are correctly balanced. Other than that, the shake is pretty much "a neon thing"

excon · Post by **excon** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 5:22 pm

rack and pinion is NOT cheap...

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 5:59 pm

If you replaced your LCAs with factory units, the vibration will not go away. Get some Energy Suspension or Prothane LCA bushings and enjoy your new smoother 72mph handling

ewetho · Post by **ewetho** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 12:12 am

Mine never had that issue. (04) but now has Poly all around.

Come to think of it none of the other Neons I have driven have had that issue either.

Normally you have to have your wheels and tires verified as being correctly balanced and road force verified.

First off dynamic balance should be done to 1/4 oz. Road Force should be less than 18 lbs (.018") and very little i any side to side shimmy.

If this is good then look into the rack possibly being bad. Like a worn Yoke Spring (this would depend on internal design of the rack).

01NeonSnooZer · Post by **01NeonSnooZer** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 4:53 pm

When you put inner tie rods on it, did you happen to notice if any fluid ran out of the boots when you pulled them off? If so then you will need a rack.

have the tires road force balanced and checked for warpage (there shouldn't be much more than factory deviation since you bought new rims). There shouldn't be any more than .015" warpage. Some aftermarket wheels shimmy no matter what you do. the cheaper they are, the worse it'll be.

My '01 doesn't do this when i have good tires on it. It does it right now but I need new tires.

asanti · Post by **asanti** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:14 pm

hybrid-Srt2001 wrote:make sure your tires are correctly balanced. Other than that, the shake is pretty much "a neon thing"

(not REALLY callin you stupid hybrid!

)I'd have to agree with that, especially putting all those newer components in. And +1 on getting Polyurethane bushings in there as well.

Later
Allex

Adionik · Post by **Adionik** » Thu Oct 23, 2008 7:32 pm

Danteneon wrote:If you replaced your LCAs with factory units, the vibration will not go away. Get some Energy Suspension or Prothane LCA bushings and enjoy your new smoother 72mph handling

The ride may be smoother on the highway but around town and idle is preeeeety shakey. Well, that might be due to my busted engine mounts but my car shakes a lot in general, and the LCA Prothane bushings did not help. Although they made the car tons more awesome in other ways.

2kLX · Post by **2kLX** » Sun Oct 26, 2008 10:21 am

The rack did not have any leakage - in fact the inner tie rods where pretty decent.

I just did a 500 mile round trip - the shake came and went - 80+ - smooth

I have had the new wheels and tires balanced twice - and yes they were off

I really feel that I have a bad LF tire
I have an oil change coming here at 190k - which is 400 miles from now

I will put an eye ball on everything
I dont think its the rack
I think its a tire issue -(damn it)