Honda vibration

[vinu_neuro]

I've been dealing with a vibration for sometime now in my Prelude. Vibration starts at 65mph and stays if above that speed. Intermittent in intensity. Nothing below that speed. Swapped the wheels front/back and that didn't change anything so I've ruled out a wheel balance issue. Everything is tight in the suspension including wheel bearings.

Just now I put the car on jackstands with the wheels off and in 5th gear, it's still there. Nothing if I rev the engine in neutral. So does that basically just leave CV joints? What's weird is while on the jackstands I can feel the vibration slightly at even 30mph and by 55mph it's fairly obvious, but while driving everything's fine at those speeds. No clicking or popping while turning like you normally get with back CV joints.

 

[fiddler2068]

Looks like you got the same problem as me. Same thing almost. vibration at 50+ and gets worse then no vibration at 70+.

I balanced the tire per dealer. vibration. I rotate tires, same vibration from same spot, right rear. rotate tires again, same vibration. no clicking or popping or any other noise just vib at 50-65.

only thing left is the cv since the vibration is rotation and speed dependent.

fiddler

 

[vinu_neuro]

Nah, mine starts somewhat around 65mph. Same intensity at 70mph. At 75mph it's shaking the whole front-end, same at 80mph. I don't take it past that.

 

[Boomer]

Check for an out of round tire. Happened on my wife's Saturn. Tires were rebalnced (dynamic) and put back on but the shaking was still there. When on a lift, you could see the out of round (just barely) with the car in gear. Replaced the tire...all is well.

 

[vinu_neuro]

Originally Posted By: Boomer
Check for an out of round tire. Happened on my wife's Saturn. Tires were rebalnced (dynamic) and put back on but the shaking was still there. When on a lift, you could see the out of round (just barely) with the car in gear. Replaced the tire...all is well.


I tested on the jackstands with the wheels removed, and also road tested swapping the wheels/tires front/back. That's not it.

 

[71Chevyguy]

I am having a similar problem with my Saturn Ion. Replaced the control arm since they are known to have bad bushings. Everything else seems tight, not sure what is going on. Mine is worst at 40-45 and it is not the wheels or tires either. I am wondering if it is not a motor mount or possibly the CV axle myself. Getting kinda frustrated with just swapping parts. Wish you luck in finding yours. May try struts next since it kinda needs them anyway.

 

[mechtech2]

I still am not convinced it is not the tires or wheels.
Balance in only one factor. Out of round, or internal faults of the tires are others. And rims can be bent.
Also, brakes can cause this.
Bad C/V joints usually have other symptoms also.

 

[mechanicx]

Your issue sound like a balance issue since it increases with increasing speed. Maybe you have a rotor out of balance and you could try repositioning it or removing it or swapping it with a new rotor to see if the vibration goes away.

 

[ltslimjim]

^This, I'd try to get the rotors machined or looked 'very' slowly and carefully at least.

 

[urchin]

I also have this problem on my 1994 Accord.

I do know that if the wheels are over torqued when reinstalled it WILL deform the brake rotors in a short period of time and cause this issue, I am in the process of checking to see how tight the "dealer" put the wheel studs back in....I'm thinking impact gun!!!!

 

[CharBaby]

I have had this issue on HONDA's and I could never cure it although I DID NOT replace the drive shafts and this is where I think where the problem lies(maybe FWD bearings too but, I doubt it). It the shafts are not perfect, you'll get driving viberations at different speeds. Those owners whom have had this issue will each experience a little different vibe at different speeds but will be similar as with other Honda owners.

I have replaced so many other parts including other susspension parts but not the shafts. Some of Honda's cars also experience a serious steering wheel viberation at idle w/ automatic transmissions. Usually motor mount and steering dampers are the culprits. It can drive the owner crazy and the vibes can become violent as the weather gets colder.

This is where it's either time to spend the money and fix the thing or get rid of the Honda as you may end up chasing your tail.

 

[Durango]

Just guessing but I'd check your motor mounts for cracks or rubber cushion has rotted away.

Durango

 

[Tosh]

Q. Front end vibration on a Honda?
A. Brake rotors.

 

[CharBaby]

Originally Posted By: Durango
Just guessing but I'd check your motor mounts for cracks or rubber cushion has rotted away.

Durango
Originally Posted By: Tosh
Q. Front end vibration on a Honda?
A. Brake rotors.


But the vibration is while the OP(vinu_neuro) is driving and not braking or sitting & idling. Sitting and idling could be the motor mounts(or transmission mount) and the warped brake rotors would only be felt during braking. Vinu_neuro is experiencing this vibration during cruising at different speeds.

Vinu, you have your work cut out for you when it comes to finding the culprit. Beleive me, I have tried. Is there any way that you can try a completely different set(4) wheels/tires??? There is a slight possibility(very slight though)that the wheels have become fatigued but...

While the car is on jack stand(as before) but, engine not running, can you check the runout of the shafts with a dial indicator while someone turns the wheels??? Or check them to be balanced/true???

Also, how are the rest of the front end parts(tierods, balljoints, upper control arms)...Although, even worn parts would only be a small part of your viberation issue!!!

 

[Durango]

How about bearings??? That could cause a bad vibration.

 

[CharBaby]

Originally Posted By: Durango
How about bearings??? That could cause a bad vibration.


Indeed! I did mention this in my first reply. Wheels front bearings could add to this vib but, I have had front wheel bearing/hub bearings that were bad in tons of vehicles and you could hear it before you could feel it. But, it's still a shot so, I ageee! I have had them bad in brand new cars and had them replaced under the warranty.

And this could be the fwb's but with my experienc with Honda's, it's hard to find the "Real Culprit"!

I love(d) Honda vehicles and they have personaly been the most reliable cars that I have ever owned to date(most miles/fewest problems) but...If there is an issue with any make of car that you can't find the problem, a Honda can be that vehicle!

 

[vinu_neuro]

I'm going to remove the rotors and go up to speed on the jackstands again. If I still have the vibration can I absolutely say it's only the axles or bearings? ..though I can't feel any play in the bearings at all and there's no noise. Bushings won't cause issues while on the jackstands right?

 

[flwxman]

I had this same issue with my Accord. The cure was new front and rear motor mounts. The motor was hitting a harmonic frequency between 55-65 mph under load and vibrating back and forth, and actually caused one of the half shafts to fail as well. Just my 2 cents.

 

[CharBaby]

IMHO, (and I have owned and loved many Honda vehicles). But, when you have a vibration with a Honda, Good Luck finding it!

Honda vehicles that I have owned, experienced more vibration problems that neither myself nor mechanics could find although Honda's may also be the most reliable vehicles that I have owned to date, just quirky!

I had one Honda that not only had a vibration while driving on the highway, that we could never cure from new but, an idle vibration(auto transmission in gear) when at a complete stop that shook the steering wheel violently. Pushing the gear lever into neutral "N", the idle vibe stopped completly and was smooth as silk. And when it was cold outside, it was worst.

I loved most of my Honda vehicles for their engineering, overall smoothness and the general feeling of "Overbuiltness" that Honda's gave me over the duration of ownership. But, I have stopped buying Honda's for their quirkyness and lack of interior quietness and susspension slamming over small ruts that I won't put up with any longer.

Yeah, Honda's handle well and the drivetrains were nice and smooth into the upper revs but, it ain't all about THAT! There are other cars in Honda's class of vehicles that do it better or as well for the everyday driver and wife, while doing it quieter and without all the vibes.

There are alot of good things too that I can say about Honda vehicles but, that's another topic!

 

[CharBaby]

Maybe vibration "problems" is too strong of a term. "Issues" may be a better term. Because even though I experienced vibrations in several Honda vehicles in the past, the vibrations themselves never caused any problems, just annoyances !&*^%(*

And I have had vibrations in Honda's(not all Honda's) for several hundred thousand miles and drove them into their teens and just put up with it as I had little problems with Honda's ever. It's just annoying!

Most of the Honda vehicles that I drove in the past were true Honda's...Reliable, smooth and a pleasure to drive. And even the ones with vibrations were as reliable as one expcets from Honda.