Wheel shake after 55mph ...SOLVED!!!!

[srgtlord]

So after I purchased a set of cheapo walmart tires for my 85 golf I noticed my car shook terribly after 50mph.  After attempting to have the wheels balanced 3 times I came to the conclusion it must have been the tires.... So yesterday I purchased a set of cooper tires from sears. Now my car shakes after 55mph....   My car has new struts/mounts/springs, new balljoints, new left tie-rod inner and outer, new right tie-rod end (The inner was fine). The control arm bushings look fine and the steering rack is fine. The Axles/ CV joints look fine, no rips and the transmission had no detectable play when I resealed it 3 years ago.....  What could possibly cause this annoying issue?


edit: If you do not feel like reading the entire thread the wobble issue turned out to be a combination of things. I had the car aligned at Sears about 6 months ago. Then I had Walmart put el cheapo tires on the car. I took the cars to sears to have them rebalance the tires because there was a terrible wobble.  Wobble was better but still there. Then after 5 months thinking it was the walmart tires I purchased a set of tires from Sears and the wobble was still there. I replaced both axles and the wobble was significantly less. Third and finally I brought the car back to Sears to have them re-balance the front wheels. Turns out they didnt do the alignment right 4 months ago and had to do the alignment 2 more times before they got it right....

[Dakotakid]

Axles can contribute.
As far as control arm bushings: probably not so much on this balance problem. But, there is nothing like new control arm bushings once you get them on. It really rejuvenates that new car feel. And on an 85.....they are soft.

[RabbitJockey]

wheel bearing? bad hub?

[CRSMP5]

  i wanna be short bus retard vs mind reading psyic'....

What wheels, tire size so on?

Is vibration in butt or steering wheel?

Rotating front to rear move it?

Swapping side to side change it?

Bent wheel, non properly hubcentric, aluminum corrodes, steel rusts... After time it can make gaps...

Ohhhh i know... Torqued with torque wrench?? Air gun it on do bad things

Also sears employees are crappy like wallyworld.... None require knowledge or skill... Just min wage get dirty... So they can care less if right or half assed

[srgtlord]

The car has the stock 13 inch steel rims. No rust to be found on the rims as this vehicle spent its life in Virginia.  I cannot remember the exact tire size but I "think" its 175/70/13. The Vibration is directly through the steering wheel. As for the torque, I sat there and watched the guy use a torque wrench on the lug nuts.

Is there any way axles go bad without any visable signs? One of my axles is a remanufactured napa and the other is a factory vw axle with unknown miles.

[ORCoaster]

As I read your first post I thought axle nut not tight.  Jack it up and grab the top of the tire and the side.  Push and pull on the side and then with the other hand do the top.  Do you feel it rock in anyway?  Could be the axle nut just needs to go to the next hole in the lock position.  It might also mean your front bearings are shot. 

Reman axles are not the same quality as originals I am of the opinion.  Seems like they have better tolerances on the new ones.  I opt for the lifetime warranty ones rather than the one year.  Extra bucks have paid well in the past. 

While you have it up on a jackstand get a hand on the axle and push and pull it towards the hub.  Does it move in and out?  Can you feel the CV joint wiggling if you press or pull 90 degrees to the axle itself rather than in line with it? 

[srgtlord]

Well the problem was fixed mostly by replacing the re-manufactured axle that only had 40,000 miles on it. There is still a very light shake but I can deal with that vs. what it was like before the axle replacement

[srgtlord]

Well it  seems like the shake is back.... I do however think the front passenger wheel bearing is starting to fail, But I doubt thats the issue as Ive had front wheel bearings fail on Mk2's before and they exhibited no shaking at all. No driving excitement for me Maybe it was the cheap no-name brand of axle I installed that I had sitting in the parts cabinet?

[ORCoaster]

Perhaps a check on the rear wheel bearings is in order next.  I had a similar experience and found the passenger side loose by the next turn of the nut that aligned the cotter pin.  Remember that rear washer has to float on that bearing not be tight.  Should be able to move it around with the tip of a screwdriver.

[srgtlord]

Ill check the rear bearings. If thats not the issue Ill replace the passenger side axle. I Believe that one has close to 100,000 miles on it.

[srgtlord]

Well, I found out one of my rear bearings was toast, and a brake cylinder was leaking on the same side... But I did find the actual root cause of the terrible shake, the inner cv joint boot on the right side of my vehicle had completely ripped but it was not noticeable unless you pulled on it. I replaced the axle, Problem solved. Now on to getting a tdi starter.

[ORCoaster]

The fun never stops now does it?

[srgtlord]

Im just a glutton for punishment

[ORCoaster]

Nah, you just want your ride to roll correctly.  Not too much to ask really.  Just seems to take forever to get it there. 

[srgtlord]

Well , case not yet closed, shaking started again at 60+ mph.....must have hit a pothole and lost a wheel weight......