97 olds 88 shake/vibration
#1
Senior Member
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Thread Starter
97 olds 88 shake/vibration
Hello forum,
I purchased a 97 Olds 88 a few months ago.
super nice, one owner, Florida car, had 41798 miles on it.
Owner could no longer drive
New tires, Michelins were installed and drove it home.
I notice it feels like one of the tires are not balanced and it is shaking the car at speeds 60-65 and up
I then have tires rebalanced.... and still getting what feels like balance shake
take it to a road force balance shop, and sure enough, one tire had 18 lbs of road force, they demount tire and turn it on the rim, rebalance, now ok
drive home and still have harsh vibration above 60-65 and up
replaced all struts and did alignment, both front axle shafts (two times), rotors
problem gone? NO
car runs and shifts perfectly, just this harsh shaking
had yet another road force balance at another place, inspected tires, wheels, hubs....all perfect
dozens of no results shops later, I still have the shakes
seems nobody can pin point what or where the shake is coming from
tire places say the tires are not out of round or wobbles of any kind
alignment guys inspected everything, can't find anything
they all drive it, feel the vibration and shrug their shoulders and puzzled
I took a jack and raised tire from ground, inspected ball joints, using pry bar under tire, did find pass side rear have play up and down...in ball joint and replaced
all others were fine
hubs are quiet when rolling, and no resistance
all a-arm bushings look fine,,
with jack under front arm, tire off ground, started up car, in drive, let wheel spin, tc off I do notice a shake on drivers side, removed wheel, checked again
I put all the lug nuts back on to hold rotor, and spin again
the car vibrates like the shake when driving 65 and up
I notice that the AXLE shaft is vibrating, and has a slight wobble to it, the outer cv joint near tire vibrates extreme enough to make the rubber boot hit the bottom of the strut, yes, the wheel is turning fast... prob above 100
could this be my shaker?
One of the mechanics had already replaced my axles, a month later, another says that it looks like I have a bad axle on drivers side, explained, it is only a month old, showed me the wobble so I replace it again.. this one wobbles too
The car had never been wrecked, runs and shifts perfectly just this damn shake while driving 65 and up
I do hear "POPPING" noise from rear of car once in a while, I am assuming its from the rear brakes (drums), they are new too..
anyone have an idea where my shake is coming from?
Video is at
Car now has 51k miles...
I purchased a 97 Olds 88 a few months ago.
super nice, one owner, Florida car, had 41798 miles on it.
Owner could no longer drive
New tires, Michelins were installed and drove it home.
I notice it feels like one of the tires are not balanced and it is shaking the car at speeds 60-65 and up
I then have tires rebalanced.... and still getting what feels like balance shake
take it to a road force balance shop, and sure enough, one tire had 18 lbs of road force, they demount tire and turn it on the rim, rebalance, now ok
drive home and still have harsh vibration above 60-65 and up
replaced all struts and did alignment, both front axle shafts (two times), rotors
problem gone? NO
car runs and shifts perfectly, just this harsh shaking
had yet another road force balance at another place, inspected tires, wheels, hubs....all perfect
dozens of no results shops later, I still have the shakes
seems nobody can pin point what or where the shake is coming from
tire places say the tires are not out of round or wobbles of any kind
alignment guys inspected everything, can't find anything
they all drive it, feel the vibration and shrug their shoulders and puzzled
I took a jack and raised tire from ground, inspected ball joints, using pry bar under tire, did find pass side rear have play up and down...in ball joint and replaced
all others were fine
hubs are quiet when rolling, and no resistance
all a-arm bushings look fine,,
with jack under front arm, tire off ground, started up car, in drive, let wheel spin, tc off I do notice a shake on drivers side, removed wheel, checked again
I put all the lug nuts back on to hold rotor, and spin again
the car vibrates like the shake when driving 65 and up
I notice that the AXLE shaft is vibrating, and has a slight wobble to it, the outer cv joint near tire vibrates extreme enough to make the rubber boot hit the bottom of the strut, yes, the wheel is turning fast... prob above 100
could this be my shaker?
One of the mechanics had already replaced my axles, a month later, another says that it looks like I have a bad axle on drivers side, explained, it is only a month old, showed me the wobble so I replace it again.. this one wobbles too
The car had never been wrecked, runs and shifts perfectly just this damn shake while driving 65 and up
I do hear "POPPING" noise from rear of car once in a while, I am assuming its from the rear brakes (drums), they are new too..
anyone have an idea where my shake is coming from?
Video is at
Car now has 51k miles...
#2
Retired
Yea, the shake really looks like its coming from that outboard shaft. Are you able to put that 34mm socket back on and re-torque that nut again?
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#4
Senior Member
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Thread Starter
97 olds 88
I had thought of that too, and last week ..I took the impact and actually loosened the axle nut and retightened, thinking it may need reseated.. but no luck ,... the shake did not go away.. I checked out the hub more closely, no noise, or play in the hub.
#5
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
Thread Starter
97 olds 88 shake/vibration
this is the only area that has been narrowed down to shaking
unsure what is going on...
what is the size of the star bit that fits the 3 hub studs??
#6
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
Thread Starter
T55
I was thinking the same, some kind of factory defect in the hub, since it'* the third axle and still same shake, even tho the hub turns quietly and no play
this is the only area that has been narrowed down to shaking
unsure what is going on...
what is the size of the star bit that fits the 3 hub studs??
this is the only area that has been narrowed down to shaking
unsure what is going on...
what is the size of the star bit that fits the 3 hub studs??
I found it, T55
#8
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
Thread Starter
97 olds 88 shake/vibration
Has anyone had the problem?
Hello forum,
I purchased a 97 Olds 88 a few months ago.
super nice, one owner, Florida car, had 41798 miles on it.
Owner could no longer drive
New tires, Michelins were installed and drove it home.
I notice it feels like one of the tires are not balanced and it is shaking the car at speeds 60-65 and up
I then have tires rebalanced.... and still getting what feels like balance shake
take it to a road force balance shop, and sure enough, one tire had 18 lbs of road force, they demount tire and turn it on the rim, rebalance, now ok
drive home and still have harsh vibration above 60-65 and up
replaced all struts and did alignment, both front axle shafts (two times), rotors
problem gone? NO
car runs and shifts perfectly, just this harsh shaking
had yet another road force balance at another place, inspected tires, wheels, hubs....all perfect
dozens of no results shops later, I still have the shakes
seems nobody can pin point what or where the shake is coming from
tire places say the tires are not out of round or wobbles of any kind
alignment guys inspected everything, can't find anything
they all drive it, feel the vibration and shrug their shoulders and puzzled
I took a jack and raised tire from ground, inspected ball joints, using pry bar under tire, did find pass side rear have play up and down...in ball joint and replaced
all others were fine
hubs are quiet when rolling, and no resistance
all a-arm bushings look fine,,
with jack under front arm, tire off ground, started up car, in drive, let wheel spin, tc off I do notice a shake on drivers side, removed wheel, checked again
I put all the lug nuts back on to hold rotor, and spin again
the car vibrates like the shake when driving 65 and up
I notice that the AXLE shaft is vibrating, and has a slight wobble to it, the outer cv joint near tire vibrates extreme enough to make the rubber boot hit the bottom of the strut, yes, the wheel is turning fast... prob above 100
could this be my shaker?
One of the mechanics had already replaced my axles, a month later, another says that it looks like I have a bad axle on drivers side, explained, it is only a month old, showed me the wobble so I replace it again.. this one wobbles too
The car had never been wrecked, runs and shifts perfectly just this damn shake while driving 65 and up
I do hear "POPPING" noise from rear of car once in a while, I am assuming its from the rear brakes (drums), they are new too..
anyone have an idea where my shake is coming from?
Video is at
Mah00012-1 - YouTube
Mah00013-1 - YouTube
Car now has 51k miles...
I purchased a 97 Olds 88 a few months ago.
super nice, one owner, Florida car, had 41798 miles on it.
Owner could no longer drive
New tires, Michelins were installed and drove it home.
I notice it feels like one of the tires are not balanced and it is shaking the car at speeds 60-65 and up
I then have tires rebalanced.... and still getting what feels like balance shake
take it to a road force balance shop, and sure enough, one tire had 18 lbs of road force, they demount tire and turn it on the rim, rebalance, now ok
drive home and still have harsh vibration above 60-65 and up
replaced all struts and did alignment, both front axle shafts (two times), rotors
problem gone? NO
car runs and shifts perfectly, just this harsh shaking
had yet another road force balance at another place, inspected tires, wheels, hubs....all perfect
dozens of no results shops later, I still have the shakes
seems nobody can pin point what or where the shake is coming from
tire places say the tires are not out of round or wobbles of any kind
alignment guys inspected everything, can't find anything
they all drive it, feel the vibration and shrug their shoulders and puzzled
I took a jack and raised tire from ground, inspected ball joints, using pry bar under tire, did find pass side rear have play up and down...in ball joint and replaced
all others were fine
hubs are quiet when rolling, and no resistance
all a-arm bushings look fine,,
with jack under front arm, tire off ground, started up car, in drive, let wheel spin, tc off I do notice a shake on drivers side, removed wheel, checked again
I put all the lug nuts back on to hold rotor, and spin again
the car vibrates like the shake when driving 65 and up
I notice that the AXLE shaft is vibrating, and has a slight wobble to it, the outer cv joint near tire vibrates extreme enough to make the rubber boot hit the bottom of the strut, yes, the wheel is turning fast... prob above 100
could this be my shaker?
One of the mechanics had already replaced my axles, a month later, another says that it looks like I have a bad axle on drivers side, explained, it is only a month old, showed me the wobble so I replace it again.. this one wobbles too
The car had never been wrecked, runs and shifts perfectly just this damn shake while driving 65 and up
I do hear "POPPING" noise from rear of car once in a while, I am assuming its from the rear brakes (drums), they are new too..
anyone have an idea where my shake is coming from?
Video is at
Mah00012-1 - YouTube
Mah00013-1 - YouTube
Car now has 51k miles...
#9
Senior Member
Posts like a Turbo
Thread Starter
97 olds 88 shake/vibration
Car is rust free, has been in Sarasota Fl the last 16 years.. since new
I did order the 3 bolts just in case, but as you see in the videos, even the bolts look new, transmission side cover looks as if it never seen rain!
so hopefully the bolts will just turn out when I try
I did order the 3 bolts just in case, but as you see in the videos, even the bolts look new, transmission side cover looks as if it never seen rain!
so hopefully the bolts will just turn out when I try