Not sure what to do about this. No problems until until I get to 50-55 MPH and then car and sterring wheel shake viloently. At first I thought it might be my front brakes since my wear indicator light went on around the time this started happening,but I Just changed all the brake pads and checked the rotors which seemed fine (no scoring). I don't think it's motor mounts, because she's fine at idle and low speeds. Any help would be great.

Bob

Check your driveshaft center bearing. Mine was shot and I had similar symptoms. It was obviously bad upon inspection...the rubber was falling apart. Replaced, and no vibration since.

Good Luck

__________________
1984 Astral Grey 300TDT - The French Fry
1979 Yellow 300SD - The Pomme - SOLD
1985 Light Ivory 300DT - Fritz
1987 Anthracite Grey 300SDL - ?

This is a tire balance or warped rotor issue:
* Front end = feeling it through the steering wheel.
* Narrow speed range where the shaking exists.


Note:
As a diesel vehicle, this thread would normally belong in "Diesel Discussion".


Have a great day.

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1985 300SD
1983 300D
2003 Volvo V70

https://www.boldegoist.com/

Is it a DIY job? Trying to save the $$$$.

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http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Browse/tf-Browse/s-10101/N-111+10201+600003627/c-10101


Tire balance at a store = under $40.00 USD.

Most tire places will check/balance tires for cheap, go try that first. My car used to shake a long time ago at 65-70mph, had the tires balanced, problem was gone. I also had a problem with a loose center carrier bearing bolt Which caused a big shudder when slowing down. Dealer fixed that for me....after 1.5 hours of snooping around the car looking for the problem. $172, but it solved the problem, and I was very happy.

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Hello all

A worn steering damper can also cause a quite violent shake in the front end within a narrow speed range.

But my first guess would be tires out of balance also.

Thank You.
RichC

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Would be my guess. I would have em checked out.

Thanks, my local shop will balance for $35.00 so I'm going there tomorrow. I'll let you know if that was the problem

Bob

Check for out-of-round tires too.

__________________
80 300D 340K Owned 30 yrs
83 300SD 440K Owned 9 yrs - Daily Driver 150mi/day
02 Z71 Suburban 117,000
15 Toyota Prius 2600 miles
00 Harley Sportster 24k
09 Yamaha R6
03 Ninja 250

I had the same thing with my 300sd when I bought it. Its a horrible punding in the front end. Since I have replaced the tie rods and wheel bearings up front. It is mostly gone, but every once in a while, I'll get it on certain road surfaces. I'f pretty sure its either slop in the ball joint, or in the control arm bushing. I've had the tires balanced, rotated and done several allignments, all at different places with no change.

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"spreading a trail of obnoxious where ever we go"
1981 300sd w/ 341,500 miles

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I would have it looked at before you drive any further.

I've read of others who had vibration at around 50 mph and it turned out to be the driveshaft. If in fact that's what it is, you DO NOT want it snapping while you're on the road. That could be very, very, very bad. And you did mention the steering wheel vibrating...

I'm hoping for your sake it is the tires being out of balance, but that can be bad, too. I once had a tire blow out on me on Route 195. It was so out-of-alignment that the tire rubbed against the frame of the car. Luckily I was able to pull over without any further disaster.

BTW, just before that happened (for a few days or maybe a bit more) it felt like I was driving over a rumble strip all the time.

Yeah, I was an idiot for not getting it taken care of. Learn from my idiocy!

__________________
Ralph

1985 300D Turbo, CA model
248,650 miles and counting...

When the local Mech got it on the lift he immediately noticed the radial belt tearing away from the inside of the left front tire. 7,000 miles ago, due to budget constraints, I put 4 new 40,000 mile Republic Metric Tires on the car. I think these tires are made by Kelly. Anyway, due to the weight of these 126 chasis, not every correctly sized tire is a good tire. In other words cheaper is definitely not better. New tires are on now and she's back to riding smoothly.

Bob

Hello Bob
Happy you caught this before catastrophic tire failure.

In my '80 SD, when I'm aproaching 80Kmh on the highway, my car begins to shake. I won't say violently, but it shakes.
the highway that I regularly drive on isn't in that great of shape.
as I go thru my speeds, the shaking occurs between 80Kmh, and 120Kmh then it starts to level out a bit.. I feel it in the steeringwheel, and in the rest of the car...

I KNOW I have bad shocks in the rear, could having no shock function in the rear, amplify the undulations in the road to such an extent that it feels like a constant vibration? and I know my rotors aren't warped, and my wheels are balanced perfectly....

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