Vibration (like buffeting) 68-73MPH new tires, 3 different shops checked

[smokey_mountain]

Sounds to me that there is a different issue the just happened to co insides with that car wash mishap.

I think so too, I will try put to neutral test but somehow I do think it is a coincidence. Will try one more drain and will add small dose of Lubeguard (not sure what LG version to use in 10-speed ULV though).

 

[LsHart]

before putting new rim, local tireshop did spin the rim to check it on the Hunter machine, did not see anything wrong with it. Tires from Tirerack were 03 2024.

I still would take the new rim to a actual rim shop and have them check it. There's a up and down vibration when spun on a balancer and a wobble. Like the hub face is not true to the tire mounting surface. Sorry just want to help.lol

 

[mikez71]

MAYBE actual wind buffeting? Like a loose or leaking recirculation flap or ventilation flaps? (Or bad window seal, door seal etc.?)

That's a narrow range for it to happen, and high speed enough that wind might actually be changing your cabin pressure?

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

MAYBE actual wind buffeting? Like a loose or leaking recirculation flap or ventilation flaps? (Or bad window seal, door seal etc.?)

That's a narrow range for it to happen, and high speed enough that wind might actually be changing your cabin pressure?

Usually can rule this out by slightly cracking a window.

My thoughts are possibly CV joints, Rear Diff, Front Diff, or wheel bearing. All of those should be checked. Possible you bent a front half shaft, slightly?
Did you get an alignment when you got tires.

Many tires come with a 30d Ride Guarantee...may have been too long now, but might be worth trying another set?

 

[mountie]

I do NOT know if newer transmissions are like my old ’88 GMC, but I had a shuddering….. It was a bad torque converter’s lock -up.

 

[tjs3922]

I had a similar issue several years ago on a new 18 Denali (not XL). slight vibration and odd steering sensation at approx. 65 mph. Turned out both left side rims were slightly bent/damaged. Always felt they arrived damaged as the vibration was there almost from the beginning but was a bit on and off. Found a couple of new takeoffs on eBay for $300. Had them installed and balanced. All good after that.

 

[smokey_mountain]

I had a similar issue several years ago on a new 18 Denali (not XL). slight vibration and odd steering sensation at approx. 65 mph. Turned out both left side rims were slightly bent/damaged. Always felt they arrived damaged as the vibration was there almost from the beginning but was a bit on and off. Found a couple of new takeoffs on eBay for $300. Had them installed and balanced. All good after that.

Thanks, for sharing, how did you find the rims damage, none of the tireshops seem able to check rims for trueiness?

 

[OR VietVet]

Spin the empty rim on a tire balancer. Hold a tool of some sort up to the edge, inner and outer, and watch for clearances changes. The inner edge can be watched for with the balancer tool that pulls out to the wheel when is mounted on balancer for a balance. That info is put in the balancer before a tire/wheel is balanced. Hold something else up to the outer edge of the wheel to check it, while spinning.

A trained eye can see that.

 

[tjs3922]

What OR Vietvet described sounds about what happened. As the rim was spinning I could see it wasn't true and straight. It was frustrating as I had the problem from new but had put about 6k miles on before I dealt with it. Dealer did pay for mounting and balancing.

 

[BG1988]

Hope the wisdom of the crowd will help me troubleshoot further. I am stumped. This truck was one of the smoothest riding highway cruisers, zero vibrations for 49,000 miles of any kind up until recent episode.

23 Tahoe Duramax 3.0 4x4 LS with 10-speed AT with 49,500 miles.
Carwash damaged/cut my front tire and scratched the wheel. I had purchased a new Chevrolet OEM takeoff rim on eBay and 4 new Michelin Primacy LTX tires.

After tire and wheel install, I have noticed a vibration strictly during 68-73MPH (that is felt as buffeting like rear windows are open). I had taken the car back to the install shop, they roadforce it on the Hunter machine, one tire was pretty close to be out of range, Tirerack replaced the tire. Installed and re-balanced at another tireshop, they confirmed that all tires were within spec, however vibrations were still there. Took it to the dealer, paid for the re-balance and rotation.

Wanted to do a rotation to see if vibration will move from back to the the steering wheel on the front, but - same vibration/buffeting. Chevy dealer says it is not very likely the tires or rims are the problem (dealer himself does not of course reproduce the problem, because they cannot testdrive at 68-73MPH).

Additional thoughts:
-very narrow range strictly 68-73MPH
-rotation does not seem to change anything
-3 different tireshops does not seem to think the tires are the problem, but not sure if I need high quality $#4 who can validate if rims are not out of true or something with the wheel(s)
-maybe I am dreaming (not certain) but I am sensing this buffeting more when coasting (foot off the accelerator)
-lastly, if I am going through a corner in this speed (68-73MPH), I also feel even more

My hypothesis:
1) torque converter shudder, I am planning to do pan drop/drain/filter/fill on A/T.
2) takeoff rim causing the problem but balancing machines are not detecting rim problems (this is farfetched in my mind but I am not an expert on balancers if they can detect out of true or general rim issues)

Appreciate the thoughts.

put a glove on your hand

I bet one or more of the tire(s) are out of wack
(defective batch of tires)...

you said
"one tire was pretty close to be out of range, Tirerack replaced the tire"

 

[BG1988]

MAYBE actual wind buffeting? Like a loose or leaking recirculation flap or ventilation flaps? (Or bad window seal, door seal etc.?)

That's a narrow range for it to happen, and high speed enough that wind might actually be changing your cabin pressure?

could be somethign simple as the wind and being near a 18wheeler

even in my corolla it will buffeting if the weather conditions are just right at about 60-70mph and another larger Vehicle is near by i.e 18wheeler

 

[smokey_mountain]

all shops keep telling me they balanced tires to <7 lbs of Road Force. I do get that it could be rims and maybe even tires, at this point, looks like no matter what I will be paying. Just do not want to pay in vain, already over $600 into all costs on top of tire costs.

 

[OR VietVet]

I may have missed it, BUT, did you get the alignment checked? Did you get a before and after printout of the alignment? I want to see where the caster is before and after.

 

[smokey_mountain]

I may have missed it, BUT, did you get the alignment checked? Did you get a before and after printout of the alignment? I want to see where the caster is before and after.

I have not done an alignment, I asked original tire install shop and then GMC dealer to check the alignment but was told that alignment cannot be causing harmonics issue, I personally was thinking alignment is a good idea to check. Alignment was done 6K miles back with old tires.

 

[tsuintx]

Thanks, for sharing, how did you find the rims damage, none of the tireshops seem able to check rims for trueiness?

Then those shops are either not interested in finding the problem or totally incompetent. Pretty damn easy for them to dismount the tire, put the wheel on the balancer and go from there.

 

[OR VietVet]

I have not done an alignment, I asked original tire install shop and then GMC dealer to check the alignment but was told that alignment cannot be causing harmonics issue, I personally was thinking alignment is a good idea to check. Alignment was done 6K miles back with old tires.

You can get a caster shimmy that can resonate thru the vehicle. There could be a caster problem at front or rear. It is worth an alignment inspection and compare current setting to specs. Post pics of the print outs here.

 

[jfoj]

A few things to note.

1. Alignment will not solve a vibration, it will solve excessive tire wear that can cause tire imbalances, but this takes time for the tires to wear to the point they become imbalanced.

2. Wheel balancing/Road Force balancing CANNOT solve a problem with a distorted tire, badly worn or cupped tire or a bent wheel. I have even seen Road Force balancers not identify a bent wheel and even show a bent wheel as balanced.

3. You do not need to remove the wheel from the vehicle to check and identify a bent wheel or bad tire. Jack up or lift vehicle and spin the tire and look for out of round and wobble either on the tire or the rim. If you can SEE it, you WILL feel it.

4. Run the open palm of your hand back and forth on the tread of the tire and feel for high and low spots or sharp edges. If you feel unevenness on the tread surface, the tire lugs are worn unevenly and are cupped or scalloped then they will be noisy.