AREA
PART
POSSIBLE
PROBLEM
Body
Loose Body
Mounts
Body
Rusted Body
Mounts/Brackets
Check #4 First
TracyPerf©98
Brakes
Rotors
Out of Round,
Wobbling, Cracked Fins
Brakes
Calipers
Loose Caliper
Bolts
Clutch
Pilot Bushing
Loose, Worn
TracyPerf©98
Clutch
Flywheel
Out of Balance
Clutch
Flywheel
Out of
Balance, Surfaced too much, Loose, No Dowel Pin
Clutch
Clutch
Pressure Plate
Plate Off
Center, Out of Balance, Bent Housing
Clutch
Clutch Disk
Out of Round,
Dropped, Out of Balance
Clutch
Bellhousings
Cracked or
Hole not Concentric to Crankshaft
Clutch
Bellhousings
Wrong Size
Hole for Trans Collar
Engine
Water Pump
Shaft
Bent, Loose
Bearing
TracyPerf©98
Engine
Fan Clutch
Loose, Bad
Engine
Fan Blade
Bent, Out of
Balance
Engine
Balancer
Loose, Spun on
Rubber, Bad Keys
Engine
Motor Mounts
Cracked
Engine
Tune-up
Misfiring
Engine
Carb
Misfiring
TracyPerf©98
Engine
Crankshaft
Rear Flange
Bent, Loose
Flywheel Bolts, Worn Dowel Pin
Frame
Cracked Bent
or Rusted Frame or Crossmembers
Frame
Cracked Front
Frame Supports, Extensions
Frame
Loose Bumper
Brackets, Bumpers, Impact Bars
Rear Axle
Spindles
Loose or
Improperly Shimmed Bearings, Bent Spindle, Bent Studs
Rear Axle
Flanges
Bent Flange or
Loose Bolts
TracyPerf©98
Rear Axle
Flanges, Half
Shafts
Wrong
Combination, Wrong Alignment
Rear Axle
Half Shafts
Bent, Out of
Balance, Loose U-Joint Holes
Rear Axle
U-Joints
Not Seated
Properly, Off Center, Wrong Caps, Clips Missing
Rear Axle
Axle Yokes
Bent, Not
Seated U-Joints, Not Machined Correctly, Loose Bolts
Rear Axle
Pinion Flange
Bent, Machined
Wrong, Loose Bolts
Rear Axle
Pinion Snubber
Bushings
Loose or Worn
Out Cushions or Loose Bolt
Rear Axle
Pinion Snubber
Bracket
Slotted
Bracket Holes or Loose Bolts
Steering
Wheel Bearings
Loose or Bad
Bearings
TracyPerf©98
Steering
Steering
Gearbox
Loose
Internally or Loose from Frame
Steering
Frame at
Gearbox
Check for
Cracks
Steering
Steering
Column
Loose, Bent
Steering
Steering Rag
Joint
Loose, Worn
Out
Steering
Tie Rod Ends
Loose or
Indexed Wrong
Steering
Idler Arm
Loose at
Bearing or Frame
Steering
Pitman Arm
Loose or
Oblong Hole
TracyPerf©98
Steering
Power Steering
Valve
Loose Ball,
Not Properly Screwed onto Relay Rod
Steering
Manual
Steering Relay Rod
Bent Rod or
Loose Ball Stud
Steering
Relay Rod
Bent Rod or
Loose Tie Rods or Oblong Holes
Suspension
Front Spindles
Bent Spindles
or Loose Bolts on Steering Arms, Oblong Holes
Suspension
A-Frames,
Shafts, Bushings
Bent A-Frames
or Shafts, Loose Bushings, Missing Bolts
Suspension
Ball Joints
Loose, Not
Lubricated, Not Riveted or Bolted Properly
Suspension
Shocks
Worn, Loose,
Leaking, Bolt or Grommets Missing
TracyPerf©98
Transmission
Trans Input
Shaft
Bent
TracyPerf©98
Transmission
Trans Output
Shaft
Bent
Transmission
Trans
Tailhousing Bushing
Worn
Transmission
Trans Mounts
Cracked
Transmission
Trans Yoke
Worn
Transmission
Driveshaft
Bent, Out of
Balance, Balance Weight Missing
Wheels/Tires
Hubcaps
Heavy Wire
Style Hubcaps May Effect Balance
Wheels/Tires
Wheels
Bent, Loose
Lug Nuts, Wheel Adapters
Wheels/Tires
Tires
Bad, Out of
Round, Out of Balance, Broken Cords
Test Drive
Check at what
speed vibration comes in
TracyPerf©98
Test Drive
Check whether
it is MPH of RPM related
Test Drive
Check whether
it goes away with clutch disengaged
Test Drive
Get up to
speed where vibration is the greatest, Then:
Diagnosis
Disengage
Clutch, Does Vibration Go Away?
TracyPerf©98
Diagnosis
With Clutch
Disengaged, Rev Motor Up & Down
Diagnosis
Does the
Vibration Relate to Engine or Road Speed
Diagnosis
With Car
Sitting Still, Rev Up Engine to Check for Vibration
Diagnosis
Short Out
Cylinders to See if Vibration is Related to One Cylinder
Diagnosis
Disconnect All
Belts to Eliminate Front Engine Accessories
Diagnosis
Install a
Different Set of Wheels and Tires to Eliminate Them
Diagnosis
Run the
Vehicle on the Hoist with Jack Stands at Rear to Load Suspension Properly
Diagnosis
Spin Balance
Wheels on Vehicle
Diagnosis
Hoist Testing
will Eliminate Front Suspension, Steering, and Road Vibration Problems
Diagnosis
Using a
Stethoscope or Wooden Dowel on Components will Amplify Noises and Vibrations
TracyPerf©98
Notes:
Clutch &
Flywheel Problems Tend to Be Felt at around 1800 and 3600 RPM
Notes:
Tire Balance
Problems Tend to Get Worse With Speed
TracyPerf©98
Notes:
Front End
Problems Can Come and Go With Different Speeds. They Plane Out Sometimes
Notes:
Front End
Problems Tend to be Felt in the Steering Column
Notes:
Clutch,
Flywheel, and Trans Problems Tend to be Felt in the Shifter
Notes:
Rear End
Problems Tend to be Felt in the Seat Bottom
TracyPerf©98
Notes:
Body, Frame
and Bumper Problems Tend to be Felt in Body Vibrations
Notes:
Vibrations
Tend to Come From Items With Great Mass at a Great Distance from Centerline
Example:
You Can Get a
Vibration from a Tire, But You Wouldn't Get One From a Spindle Nut
TracyPerf©98
