Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

Hey everyone:

My 2004 Civic Si Hatchback is giving me a horrible shaking at 40 mph.
It is quite dramatic so it makes it like driving a bucking bronco.
If I keep my foot in it and accelerate to 60, the shaking stops.

Its not the steering wheel, its the whole car. It seems to be coming from the front end.

My mechanic told me to replace the lower ball joints on the front of the car. I replaced both of them and the shaking went away for a week and then came back.

I rotated the tires front to back and that did not help. Therefore, I don't think it is funny wear on the tires causing it.

Any ideas what could be wrong?

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

Mileage?
When did this issue begin?
Recent work associated with this complaint?

Speed of the shake, as in what car parts move at the same speed as the shake (maybe one shake per wheel revolution?)

Besides reaching 60 MPH, is there anything else that you can do to affect the shake? Acceleration/coast/deceleration have any effect?

Noises associated with the shake?

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

The car is just under 130k miles.
The issue began a few months ago.
There was no recent work done before the shake begain, but I replaced the ball joints to try to fix it.
The frequency does not seem directly related to speed. It does not change frequency as I accelerate.
I can also slow down to below 40 mph and it goes away. Coasting does not change it.
The car has a random thumping noise that seems to come out of the front end when driving around at low speed. That started happening before the shake. I have not been able to diagnose it since I can't find a way to replicate it.
When the car is shaking, it is very loud but that might be related to the violent movement of it.
When I get to 60 mph, everything is quiet.

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

i would start by inspecting any rubber based mounts,

engine mounts, control arm to frame, etc etc

tie rods? tie rod ends?

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

Well that's still kinda vague. Without being able to drive it myself, I can only guess.

I'd say to raise it up and spin all 4 tires and watch the tread as it spins. Let the engine spin the fronts so you can watch the tread from the front of the car.

Kinda sounds like maybe one or more is NOT round anymore. Maybe egg shaped, has a broken belt, lumpy tread, excessive runout, bent wheel, etc..

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

I jacked up the car and checked the lower ball joints and they look ok (Which I replaced less than a month ago):
Attachment 91727

I checked the stabilizer bar links, they look ok:
Attachment 91728

I shook the stabilizer bar to see it it was loose, it seems pretty tight.

I checked the steering links, they seem ok:
Attachment 91729

I grabbed the half shafts and they had some give back and forth. I would say they move back and forth about 1/8 of an inch. Here is a pic:
Attachment 91730

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Neil

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

Are the tires round?
Wheels round?
Aftermarket wheels?


Normal.

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

Threw a wheel weight?

Oh wait... shake does not increase in freq when accelerating.

Subframe possibly? Was this car repaired after an accident?

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

I rotated the tires (Wheels included) and nothing changed. I have a hard time believing it is them.

There is also some thumping just driving around at low speed. Again, that does not lend itself to me thinking it is the tires.

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

We had have the car about a year. There was no shake when we bought it and no accidents since we have owned it.

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

control arm bushings? subframe bushings? any other visible stuff?

or hard-to-see stuff?

this was what was clanking in my car a few years ago, but could not see it clearly since it's in the top side of the lower arm:
Attachment 91726

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

Go at a steady speed, making it shake the worst (I assume 40 MPH):
What does it do as you accelerate?
What does it do holding steady speed?
What does it do as you let off the gas pedal?
Does the shake change under any of these conditions?


Is it a shake, or is it a noise?
Got video of all this?


Has your mechanic driven the car?
What does your mechanic say the problem is?

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

Blue Struts? Hmmmmmmmmmm... anyone else thinking what I am?

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

:eek:

Man, makes me cringe how badly I'd pounded my Paseo's LCAs running from meth-enabled roiders driving on surface streets in Phx, thinking I'd brake-checked them... good thing it was a pre-'96... and had stock ride height. :rolleyes:

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

It is worst at 40 mph.
If I hold at steady speed the shaking is quite violent.
If I speed up or slow down, the shaking goes away.
It is definitely a violent side to side shake.

There is a thumping noise at slow speed, I don't know if it is related, but that started first and then the shaking so I think they are related.

Yes, he drove the car and suggested replacing the lower ball joints.
That solved the problem for about a week and then it came back.

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

Bad tire, lumpy tire, slipped belt
CV joint/axle problem, maybe wrong unit or bottomed out

Blue struts? Lowered without compensating elsewhere, something in a bind


I didn't mean speeding up or slowing down.
I meant using the accelerator pedal--- to load and unload the drivetrain and axles-- while staying within the speed range of horribly bad shaking you described.

Figure out what the thumping is then.


New parts junk? Bad? Something else wrong? Try a different mechanic?


I can't drive it from here. All I can do is guess.

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

I guess I need to find someone local that can drive it and help diagnose. Thanks for trying though.

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

Did you ever find the problem with your car!

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

this thread is almost 5 years old, your probably best to make your own

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

I too was experiencing the same symptoms of vibrations with my 03 Civic 200k at around 35 to 40 mph. I changed both lower ball joints, both CV joints, brake pads / rotors & shocks & struts all around... vibration still there. For me the problem was corrected when I changed transmission fluid to Honda's automatic transmission fluid from the dealership. Look up "Torque Converter Shudder", this is corrected 90% of the time by doing a fresh change (not flush). Runs smooth now, I hope this helps someone save a few beans. Its an easy cost efficient trouble shooting first step. Cheers

Re: Horrible shaking at 40 mph
 

This shaking is called the automatic torque converter shudder. It happens when the tranny fluids viscosity breaks down and needs to be drained out (not flushed). If your dipstick smells burnt & looks real dirty, it's time. Between 30-40 mph the Vic's are looking for 4th gear and is shuddering do to lack of tranny maintenance. Do yourself a favor & buy 3 quarts of Honda ATF from the dealer along with a new washer ($6 a piece) and drain out from the drain plug. Car should be brought to operating temp prior to this. Car must be level to drain out completely. Do it again after driving for 300 miles. Torque Converter shudded stopped immediatly after first drain, but when I did a total of 3 car also shifted like new. Your welcome Vic heads!