Frustrated Front End-Yikes

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dff97mkiii

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I have a pull to the right and a front end vibration that I have been unable to get rid of-need help(diagnosis). This has been a on-going problem since I purchased the 1997 MKIII. I started by replacing the rims and tires and alignment-this provided some relief. Thereafter, I have replaced: strut rod bushings(factory from Max), Voglandt 1" drop coils and Tokiko blue struts, inner and outer tie rod ends, upper and lower control arms(TRW), front brake pads and turned rotors. It is not a wheel balance problem in that it starts to vibrate and does not clear up at a higher speed. Tires are new and rotation does nothing. There is no play anywhere, including the rack. Please give me some help, I have bought only the best in parts and haven't found the solution. Any good input would be appreciated. Thanks!!!!
 
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"It is not a wheel balance problem in that it does start and clear up at a higher speed. "

For the record, that usually is such problem. But not yours it sounds like. Unbalanced wheels can smooth out at certain speeds.

Replace the hub?

Try swapping rotors around? Seems to be the only old part still there. I am not a fan of turning, new ones are so cheap.
 
In my experience most rotors dont have enough to be machined after 40-50k of usage, and some place will machine below discard specifications.

Did you replace the strut mounts with new struts? Where and when do you "feel" this vibration..steady speeds on flat surface, braking, Do you FEEL it in the seat,floor, steering wheel?

Please explain the "pull" further. Is it a constant pull as like with a bad alignment, or a pull while applying the brakes.
 
dff97mkiii said:
I have a pull to the right and a front end vibration that I have been unable to get rid of-need help(diagnosis). This has been a on-going problem since I purchased the 1997 MKIII. I started by replacing the rims and tires and alignment-this provided some relief. Thereafter, I have replaced: strut rod bushings(factory from Max), Voglandt 1" drop coils and Tokiko blue struts, inner and outer tie rod ends, upper and lower control arms(TRW), front brake pads and turned rotors. It is not a wheel balance problem in that it starts to vibrate and does not clear up at a higher speed. Tires are new and rotation does nothing. There is no play anywhere, including the rack. Please give me some help, I have bought only the best in parts and haven't found the solution. Any good input would be appreciated. Thanks!!!!
Click to expand...
Did you do another alignment after doing the inner and outers and control arms etc? You mention you did one before but not after again...
 
RESPONSE to feedback

The car vibrates on all surfaces after 45 MPH. I can feel it in the steering wheel and floor. I did a alignment wheel balance and nitrogen in tires from reputable alignment shop last week. Still pulls right and vibrates. The pull is not upon braking. Strut mounts were replaced. Thank again for the input-I have a good chunk of $$$ tied up in the front end-just want resolution to this "Bleep"!
 
Stuck caliper on the right side, and or junk rotor like sap said, and or bad hub bearing like unity said.

Something stinks on the front right.

Double check correct install of your new strut rod bushings.
 
Driveshaft vibration, and either your alignment is still off, or you've got binding, check brake hose, caliper, caliper guide hardware

If you've got a bad hose, replace both, binding caliper,rebuild both. Caliper guide pins should be lubed with !!!!brake component lubricant only!!!!
 
I never heard of a driveshaft causing a pull. But I guess there could easily be two issues.
 
yikes

Driveshaft? Clean carfax and have had LM tech and alignment tech look at frame-all is good. I neglected to mention that the speed sensitive steering is not speed sensitive, it is stiff(as in highway speeds) all the time. I guess I will take a look into new rotors and check out the calipers/hubs this weekend. I will let you know-and thanks all.
 
you said you had a vibration, apparently some didnt read that part, thats why i said driveshaft. you said you feel it in the steering wheel and the floor, so i said driveshaft. and seriously unity? do you honestly think i said driveshaft in refference to a pull??????????????? i was born at night, but it wasnt last night.
if your steering is stiff you either have a bad rack or your evo sensor on the power steering pump is bad. the pull can be bad strut rod bushings, a stuck caliper, or even a bad upper control arm, when the bushings on the upper control arms go bad it causes the upper control arm to have latteral movement when applying the brakes, this will cause a pull also.
 
Sorry. I had this WEIRD assumption that since he felt it in the steering wheel and floor that it would be front end related. I really had no clue that drive-shaft vibration would cause the steering wheel to shake. News to me!
 
i am not saying thats what it is jesus christ i am just throwing out a suggestion, he has a vibration, he never once said he checked the drive shaft, so i suggested it, since he has been all over the front end i figured why not check the drive shaft, i didnt say since you have a vibration in the steering wheel and the floor its automatically the driveshaft, i was simply refering to the " vibration " reguardless of where it is felt.
ypu know, i do not know everything and dont claim to, but i have a damn good track record of my suggestions being the problem, all i do is suggest, but i'm getting so sick of trying to help out on here with all the smart ass's, swolen head duche bags and the people who only read bits and pieces, so many of my suggestions have helped people but i am not gonna suggest :q:q:q:q anymore you guys can all figure out things on your own or try 100 other suggestions until you finally find the problem, i came here in 06 to lend a hand and help people out and lately i feel like what i say is read over or ignored. i was trying to ease my way back on here slowly but i'm second guessing posting here. i think i should just leave for good.
 
I also suggested drive shaft,
Trying to diag car problems over the Internet is nearly impossible. We can basically give you a check list of things that cause any said problem, but without a technician physically having the car..you're about as well off just texting your doctor for your next physical

Good luck with that stomach pain, you've either got to fart, or you're about to die of a burst colon
 
To give some insight to the idea that all is good with car as the CarFax came out clear of any accident theory. CarFax only records incidents that a police report and or insurance claim was filed. If a person drove off the road and bent up his front end and did not file a report and decided to get it fixed in his driveway or local shop, no record will be found.

So the suggestion of a possible front end accident that could of caused a suspension or uni-body tweaking is a good point. Carfax being clean is not.

The driveshaft idea by BAD97LSC and Sap is a good one to look at as a driveshaft vibration could be felt on the floorboard and throughout car and in turn, the vibration felt may have nothing to do with the front end pull and you really have 2 issues going on instead of one. And would definitely be increased with speed.

The front end pull could be from many various issues and none are for certain from a computer.

I have a question, will the pull to the right happen if you take your hands off the wheel while driving straight on smooth pavement at speed with no brakes being applied? Or does it only happen when you apply brakes?
 
I have a question, will the pull to the right happen if you take your hands off the wheel while driving straight on smooth pavement at speed with no brakes being applied? Or does it only happen when you apply brakes?[/QUOTE]

I already asked this question in my first post :p
 
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