65 corvette front end vibration

ro.co2 · 09-10-03, 10:47 AM

My 65 has had a front end vibration in it since I got it. After haveing several shops check it out everyone beleaved it to be the wheels. I had bridgestone insignia s/L 215/70R-15 mounted on 67 turbine wheels. The vibration was really bad at 60mph. So I just had cragar s/s 15x6 rims installed with new bridgestone insignias 205/70R-15 for clearance reasons because of the spacers used. It still had a vibration. After checking the new wheels the shop found a rim on the front that was bad so they ordered a new rim and put it to the rear until the new one arrives. It still vibrates at 60. By the way this is a vibration that can definitly be felt through the steering wheel. Any ideas would be great .Thanks Roland.

vettefinderjim · 09-10-03, 06:49 PM

The fact that it happens at 60 usually indicates tire balance. 58 to be exact is where the harmonics happen the worse and also at 83mph. See if the vibration occurs also at the higher speed.

Another big cause of vibration is an unbalanced clutch assembly. I have even seen it when some clutch material has broken off the disk, and definately has 'bad vibes' because of it.

Try 3rd gear at the same speed and see if the vibration is MPH vs. RPM caused.

ro.co2 · 09-10-03, 07:06 PM

Thanks for the reply. The old tires and the new ones have been balanced many times by differant places with pretty much the same result. I will say though that it is better than it was when I first got the car. It was so bad then that when I got to 60 Id just back off the accelerator. Now its just irritateing. By the way Ive got an automatic so keep those Ideas coming.

vettefinderjim · 09-10-03, 08:15 PM

I have seen many out of round tires.........

I just saw a broken flex plate on a new Tahoe. That is the automatic trans fly wheel. This unit was boken in three places. Talk about vibration!!

Take the inspection cover off the bottom of the trans where it meets the engine and look up inside with a light and see if any bolts are missing or anyobvious damage to the "flywhel, flexplate" is evident.

ChuckG · 09-11-03, 06:59 AM

I'd also check the front wheel bearings, the front brake rotors, the ball joints, tie rod ends, and the A Frame bushings. Chuck