'84 Rabbit shakes at 65 mph

[VW Jon]

I have between 5000 and 10000 miles since the tires were rotated. I do get an extremely slight wobble in the steering wheel at speeds below 10 mph, but it goes away at anything higher. I buy my tires used at the junkyard.

[bscutt]

I had one of my Pep Boys tires go "square" on me and cause a pretty bad wobble - thought the rim was bent. A set of new General tires fixed it all up.

[1984george]

Hey guys...I'm still having wobbling issues, seems to be worse now starting at around 55mph.

Recent attempts at a fix:

1. Alignment at a NAPA garage.
2. Put the LF tire on the back and the LR tire on the front. So the one that started to wear from not having an alignment is on the rear now...and I don't think it could contribute to the shaking. The tires on the front now look fine.

What else should I do? I freakin' love my Rabbit it's the funnest car I've ever owned, but I gotta get rid of those shakes. Any other suggestions?

[1984george]

btw, the napa garage mechanic said that everything under the front end looked good except for a frozen shock, which they fixed.

[bscutt]

Have you had your tires spin-balanced? If not, get them balanced and ask the technician to also do a careful visual inspection of the tire tread, sidewalls, and rims to see if he sees any out of round condition or bulges in the tread or sidewall area. Something is either out of balance or out of round to cause the problem you describe. If it's not in the wheels, you could have a slightly bent hub or axleshaft. You can do the visual inspections yourself if you jack up the car, put it on jackstands, and rotate each wheel while comparing it to a close flat surface like the ground. You should be able to see if you have anything out of round that way. Bear in mind it doesn't take much to cause a problem at highway speeds since the faster you go, the more any bulge is likely to grow.

You're not likely to solve this problem without spending some money on it and the spin-balance with visual inspection is likely to be the least painful way to go.

[Quantum-man]

Have you had your tires spin-balanced? If not, get them balanced and ask the technician to also do a careful visual inspection of the tire tread, sidewalls, and rims to see if he sees any out of round condition or bulges in the tread or sidewall area. Something is either out of balance or out of round to cause the problem you describe. If it's not in the wheels, you could have a slightly bent hub or axleshaft. You can do the visual inspections yourself if you jack up the car, put it on jackstands, and rotate each wheel while comparing it to a close flat surface like the ground. You should be able to see if you have anything out of round that way. Bear in mind it doesn't take much to cause a problem at highway speeds since the faster you go, the more any bulge is likely to grow.

You're not likely to solve this problem without spending some money on it and the spin-balance with visual inspection is likely to be the least painful way to go.

Just jack the car up, prop it and start it up Put it in 5th gear and check tyres for rotation using a stick....

[82vdub]

I agree with Quantum man. Jack the car up, secure it with jack stands and have someone run the can while you take a look. Bad motor mounts can cause things to shake as well. You'll have plenty to look at.

[1984george]

Thanks guys. No harm in continuing to drive it until I take it in to get fixed though? I guess we don't know that for sure since we don't know what the problem is for sure.

[82vdub]

Thanks guys. No harm in continuing to drive it until I take it in to get fixed though? I guess we don't know that for sure since we don't know what the problem is for sure.

Nobody can really give an accurate opinion on this from simply reading and commenting about it. It's something that someone would have to be there to render a somewhat educated opinion of the situation.

[Quantum-man]

Thanks guys. No harm in continuing to drive it until I take it in to get fixed though? I guess we don't know that for sure since we don't know what the problem is for sure.

No harm beyond shaking something else loose that wasn't, or even cracking your exhaust.
If you have axle stands raise the front up, and check the wheel spin. If you are nervous, get someone else to help by sittingin car to rev it and turn it off if anything should happen. Whern checking do it at arms length, and to one side of vehicle...
I'm trying to save you oodles of unneccessary wanga disposal.

[1984george]

Thanks, your screen name would be even cooler as "provolke". I'll check it out when this snow/rain crap is all done.

[rabbit_man]

I'd use the factory jack and lift one tire, spin it in 2nd gear and then do the other side. Rub it with a stick too.

Set the parking brake first!!!!!

If you haven't spin balanced the wheels yet then don't even bother with anything else 'til that's done........I've had really bad shakes caused by out of balance tires.

[hagar]

vanbcguy : I had the same problem on my first Rabbit ($ 300) Big Nut came loose close to home. Just tightening nut may be a problem , if seal pops..

Now I double nut all mine.

hagar.