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slight vibration at and above 65 mph

2004 c5 corvette with automatic transmission. problem is a slight vibration at or above 65 mph. the vibration seems to pulse rather than being a steady vibration. it's there all the time doesn't go away. doesn't matter if the car is hot or cold. unable to pin down the location of this vibration but it feels like its coming from everywhere. wish I could be specific but it is a slight vibration. bought the car late last year (2nd owner). had this vibration when I bought it. since then have replaced wheels and tires, 4 wheel alignment, road force balancing, new shocks, taken car to chevrolet dealer who says everything looks fine nothing obviously wrong and the mechanic says the vibration (he noticed it to, just like myself) was normal and nothing could be done about it. his explanation which I really didn't understand involved something to do with the tires and frame having different frequencies and hertzs???? the vibration seems to be speed related and not rpm related.
I live in Minnesota, so if anyone can answer this question and knows a shop they can recommend that would also be really appreciated!

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Nov 14, 2021
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Slight vibration above 60 mph
by: Bud

I have a 2002 A4 that I recently noticed with the same problem. Just had the wheels balanced. All were good. If anyone has been able to get this corrected please post the solution.
Feb 22, 2021
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Intermittent Vibration issues NEW
by: Anonymous

As of July 8th, 2019, GM began using a new type of Mobil 1 automatic transmission fluid for the troublesome transmissions. Customers that complain of shuddering and harsh shifting characteristics in the 8-speed GM transmissions are recommended for a trans fluid flush. As of August 7th, GM dealers should also be flushing all potentially affected new vehicles on the lot.

This may or may not apply to your year
Nov 20, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Torque tube
by: Chris Corvette Braniac

So since you have eliminated everything else please take a look at the torque tube or prop shaft. This is a balanced assembly and spins anytime the engine is running. It has bearings and rubber isolators that are known to deteriorate over time. Maybe you have a bad propshaft bearing. You can look at the torque converter and try to loosen and rotate the position on the fleplate. GM has a process for this. This centers the torque converter. Another area is the front on the propshaft where it attaches to the engine. The shaft goes into a splined adapter on the back of the engine. The manual also has a process for centering fore and aft. As a last resort you could try to exchange the entire propshaft assembly. This is very expensive due to the labor and parts involved.
Nov 20, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		slight vibration at and above 65 mph
by: Christopher Rasmussen

No solution. 2 Chevy dealerships and a Vette Performance shop, they are all puzzled. Everything has been checked. New wheels and tires, alignment, new shocks and brakes, right rear 1/2 shaft replaced, everything else checked and nothing found broke, bent, cracked, missing, unaligned. Engine runs fine, transmission shifts great. According to Auto Check car has never been wrecked
and no evidence found to refute that. Finally John at the performance shop said just drive it till something breaks.
Nov 20, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Any Update on Issue?
by: Craig


Hi, I have a 2002 and it is doing the exact same thing. A pulsing vibration where it is smooth, vibration, smooth, vibration. It is also above 60mph and I also have an automatic transmission. Did you find any resolution?
May 18, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		vibration at 60mph and above
by: Christopher Rasmussen

This is further info on my vibration problem. The vibration if it is occuring before 60mph or so I can't feel it happening but can feel the vibration starting around 60mph and up. It does not change in anyway regardless of speed. The vibration does not get stronger. There is no noise accompanying the vibration. The vibration is a PULSING VIBRATION. You feel it and then you don't then you feel it and then you don't and so on. It is a slight annoying vibration. It occurs in a straight line or going around a curve. It STILL occurs if you are in neutral. Also the vibration is still there and does not change in anyway if you are in neutral and gun the engine.
It is my understanding that this type of vibration is occuring on other C5 Corvettes but with one main difference. My vibration comes and goes and while their's is a steady vibration usualy caused by the wheels or tires or a combination.
Help!
May 17, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		vibration at & above 65 mph
by: Christopher Rasmussen

Still have this vibration! Vette has been to Chevy dealer and a Vette performance shop. Both have examined and test driven the car and admit there is a vibration but are not really sure what the cause is. The tech at the performance shop before the test drive felt the problem was the wheels and or the tires. This tech has been repairing vette's for 40 years and races them. The shop repair manual says there are 5 possible causes: wheel bearing hub, rotors, studs, wheels or tires. Everything else has been eliminated because when traveling above 65mph and shifting into neutral (its an auto trans) the vibration is STILL THERE. So the car has been examined and test driven, had this problem since I bought it late last year and stumps even a tech with years of repair and racing experience. The 5 possible causes according to the GM repair manual don't seem to be the problem. It's not the wheel bearing hub or the studs or the rotors they are fine and the wheels and tires have been replaced, so does anybody have any other suggestions?
I'm in the process of replacing the rotors & pads and new OEM wheels to replace the aftermarket wheels just installed. I don't think this will solve the problem but it's the last thing to try before just waiting for something to break. The car is a fine, fun vehicle and I still feel that for a car with 33400 actual miles and the options on it and only one previous owner, I got a great deal. Except of course for the annoying vibration.
May 08, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		65 mph vibration
by: Christopher

The vibration is still there even in neutral. Under acceleration too.
Apr 30, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Stopping vibrations at speed
by: Joel

Hi Christopher,
Worn wheel bearings can cause problems one of which could be a vibration. There pretty easy to check.
Just jack up the wheel or wheels in question put one hand on the top of the tire and one on the bottom and see if you can rock it, pulling with one hand while pushing with the other the move hands to 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock and try again. If the bearing is loose enough to allow wiggle then you need to adjust or replace the wheel bearing. If anything else has play, like the rack or ball joints then you have ware at those points and will need to replace as needed.
Apr 30, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		vibration
by: Christopher Rasmussen

It's an automatic transmission with approximately 32,500 miles. Rotors have not been replaced by me and look fine, believe they are original. Never thought of trying in neutral or doing heavy acceleration. Will try both of those ideas this Wednesday. Vett has the usual standard options and installed options are: Memory Pkg, Preferred Equipment Group, HUD, Pwr Telescopic Column, Translucent Roof Panel and MSR Control (which has been disabled with the vibration occuring before and after disabling MSR Control).
Apr 30, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Bad Vibrations
by: Chris Corvette Brainiac

Chris,

Thank you for your question. First I would like to get some more background information of your vehicle options and miles. Specifically is it an automatic or manual transmission?

The reason I ask is for several reasons, one of which relates to vehicle, engine speed relationship and engine load.

Does it vibrate under heavy acceleration and what speed?

If you coast in neutral does it still vibrate?

Have the brake rotors ever been replaced, if so what brand?

Please answer these questions and it will help me formulate a plan of attack for you.
Apr 30, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		vibration at 65 mph and above
by: Christopher Rasmussen

Read Joel's comment and appreciate his comment but need to ask in his opinion whether the wheel bearings could also be a cause? I've read somewhere that another c5 owner had a vibration supposedly like mine and he replaced the front wheel bearings and the vibration stopped.
Thanks
Apr 30, 2018
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Stopping vibrations at speed
by: Joel

Your problem sounds like a problem in a universal joint in the drive shaft or in one of the rear axles. There's also the possibility that the driveshaft or rear axles are bent slightly or out of balance. If the previous owner spun the rear end of the car around and hit a curb then one of the rear axles could have a damaged universal joint or a bend, if the car has worn out (loose) universals on the driveshaft, that will also cause vibrations. If the car came down hard on something that contacted the driveshaft it could have a small dent putting it out of balance. Since you have changed the wheels and tires and because you only feel the vibration at speed you can rule out the engine. I've never experienced an automatic transmission to cause this and that's why I would start with the drive shaft and then the rear axles.
Good luck my friend.

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