Help!! Front end shake

[elliott1612]

I have a 1991 Spider with 66K miles. The front end developed a shake that starts at 50MPH and gets worse until 65MPH then gets better at 70MPH and above but still shakes.
When it developed I took it to local tire dealer thinking it was tires. He put on new tires (Firestone all season radials), replaced one tire rod end (said all others were tight) and aligned. The shake was still there, but better. I thought with all that done that I got bad tires so I took it back and they put on Bridgestone all season radials. Same problem, so I know I cannot get 8 bad tires in a row. Any suggestions??

[andy303]

I assume your tire dealer knows how to balance alloy wheels and could recognize a bent rim, although that could be a very bad assumption sometimes. When were the wheel bearings last checked/greased? FWIW a symptom of loose wheel bearings can be longish brake pedal travel, as the movement of the hub/disc forces the caliper pistons further up their bores.. Any problems like that?

[ghnl]

I agree - it is unlikely you got two sets of bad tires.

Is it possible you have a bent or damaged wheel? Faulty wheel bearings? (Front &/or rear). Jack up one wheel at a time and try to wiggle it - push/pull the top & bottom and the sides feeling for more than a wee bit of play. Spin the wheel/tire by hand watching for wobble. To check for 'run out' it helps to position a pointer near the edge of the rim so you can watch for variance as the wheel turns. Use stick (a paint stirrer works well) held against a fixed part of the car with the other end near the rim. As the wheel rotates watch the space between the pointer & the wheel. The space should remain the same. If it gets bigger/smaller as the wheel rotates then the wheel might be bent.

[elliott1612]

Thanks for the suggestions. The shake developed over time and the rims could only have gotten bent if I hit something, which I did not. Seems both of you are zeroing in on bearings, which I will check.

[Tifosi]

It might not hurt to swap the front wheels for the back and see if the shake goes to the back with them.

If it doesn't, then that brings it closer to the bearings diagnosis.

[ghnl]

If you rule out wheels/tires/bearings, get the car up on a lift or ramps/jack stands and inspect the drive shaft. Our Spiders have a rubber donut at the rear of the transmission (#2 below). If that cracks or loses a chunk of rubber it can can driveline vibrations. Maybe you are feeling that as something in the front end?

While you are under the car, inspect the driveshaft bearing (#9) and the U-joints (#22 & #32), too.

[geh458]

Nobody has suggested the possibility of bad shock absorbers. Worn shocks would cause a tire/wheel to osculate uncontrollably depending on the road surface and speed at which you are driving.

[elliott1612]

I appreciate all the posts. Already replaced the flex coupling and center carrier bearing not long ago. Looks like we are down to shocks or bearings, and with the age of the car, regardless of miles, it is a good idea to replace those components.

Thanks and keep cruising.
Sam

[elliott1612]

One more thing, I know about International Auto Parts, but has anyone used Rayce parts out of Florida? Their prices on some items are very reasonable.

Thanks,
Sam