Date:         Tue, 17 May 2005 01:17:16 EDT
Reply-To:     THX0001@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         George Goff <THX0001@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Vibration
Comments: To: camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 5/16/05 9:37:20 PM, camper@TACTICAL-BUS.INFO writes:

<< Road surface plays into the equation as well with some surfaces and the
vibration shifting to 60 or  70.  A hard steady side wind will also cause the
vibration at lower speeds as well.
The vibration is felt in the steering wheel.
I have just done checks of everything under the front but nothing is sticking
out.  My main suspicion is ball joints maybe just getting to the wear points.

Any comments? >>

The ball joints are easily enough checked.  I don't know if it can cause a
vibration, but I've had ball joints (inner ones at least) fail by drying out and
binding (stiction?) without any signs of slop.

If all is in order with the steering and suspension, it may be time to find a
shop which can do a Road Force Balance.  That's the name Hunter has for it.
It requires a special dynamic balancing machine which loads the wheel while
balancing it.  I came upon it while trying to find a shop to balance the wheels
on my Volvo's with the wheels mounted to the cars like in the old days.  The
wheels on a Volvo are indexed and once the factory tires are changed, there is
always the chance that an unpredictable vibration will occur, never at the
same speed nor under the same conditions but, at times, severe.  It seems that
the Road Force Balance is as close as you can get to the old on-the-car
balancing act.  You youngin's don't know the theater you've missed in seeing a car
jacked up and watching a mechanic wind up a wheel to a 100 MPH in order to
balance it.  No digital electronics involved with that number, just
I-hope-to-hell-that-friggin-thing-doesn't-fly-off inertia.

George