I would like to know why my rear end shakes really bad at 55 mph
My rear end starts shaking at about 50 mph and gets worse the faster I go. The shaking is not in the steering wheel
My car has 171000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle is likely having an issue with the tires or suspension. Typically you start by testing the simpler possibilities and work your way to the more complicated fixes. With that said, one of the most common reasons for vehicle shake at 55 MPH is unbalanced tires. This can be corrected on a tire balancer with the addition of weights to make sure the tire spins evenly. See your local tire shop to help make this correction. If the problem continues after you have the tires balanced and properly inflated, you will want to look into the suspension components in the rear. For more diagnostic help, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
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It could be any number of issues: Loose Wheel. Damaged or out of balance tire or wheel. Damaged or Hub or Steering knuckle.
The most prevalent cause of vibration is problems with your wheels or tires. The potential problems include improper wheel and tire balance, uneven tire wear, separated tire tread, out of round tires, damaged wheels and even loose lug nuts.
This could be a sign of a bad differential or driveshaft joint. Fluid Leaks: The rear differential and universal joints have seals and use lubricants to work properly. A leak or cracked seal may cause vibrations and failure of rear differential gears.
Tire Problems
Tires are one of the most common causes of car vibrations. One of the possible issues are out-of-balance tires. Your problems may not be noticeable at slow speeds, but the shaking will intensify as you accelerate to 55-60 miles per hour. The steering wheel, or even the entire car, will start to vibrate.
In these cases, one of the most common causes of the Death Wobble appears to be the Jeep`s front track bar. While the bar itself isn`t really at fault, the bolts that hold it in place and the supporting bushings can cause the vehicle to vibrate and shake.
The most common cause of vehicle shakes at 50 mph or higher is tire balance. Again, transmission or drive lines can cause this, but the tires should be the first thing to have checked.
A damaged axle can cause suspension vibration, oftentimes fairly severe shaking. This shaking will usually get worse as your reach higher speeds, and it`s important to address axle issues as soon as possible. A related issue that can cause vibration is worn CV (constant velocity) joints.
Vibrations and Shaky Ride – Failed wheel bearings produce an unfavorable ride. You`ll experience vibrations and tremors as you travel as a result of an increase in friction in the wheels causing them to change position. Until the wheel bearings are replaced, the shakiness will persist and may even worsen.
Vibration While Driving. Because the CV Axle joints are located right next to the vehicle`s wheels, any damage to them can directly affect your driving. If you suddenly feel as though your vehicle is vibrating more than normal, it can mean that you have a damaged halfshaft.
As the cv joint wears down, it becomes less able to absorb shock and vibrations. This can cause the knocking sound, as well as other problems like a vibration when you`re driving. If you`re experiencing any of these symptoms, it`s important to get your cv axle shaft replaced as soon as possible.
Wheel Balance
When your car vibrates every time you drive at 50-70 mph, it is most likely that your wheels are out of balance. The vibrations will emanate from the steering wheel across the seat and through the vehicle`s floor.
The most common reason for a car to shake is related to tires. If the tires are out of balance then the steering wheel can shake. This shaking starts at around 50-55 miles per hour (mph). It gets worse around 60 mph but starts to get better at high speeds.
The death wobble is caused by loose, damaged, or misaligned parts in your Jeep`s suspension or steering system. Due to the mechanical defect in your car, the parts can shake loudly or violently when you travel at high rates of speed or on rough terrain.
Unbalanced or Damaged Wheels – Around 45 MPH, you may feel a vibration through the steering wheel. As you increase in speed, the vibration will intensify. In order to rotate properly, the wheels of a vehicle need to be balanced.
Low automatic transmission fluid can cause shaking. If the shaking is accompanied by the check engine light, it`s time to visit a mechanic. Drivers of manual cars might discover their clutch master cylinder is the source of the shaking.
The most common reasons for your car to excessively vibrate are a problem with your tyres, wheels, brakes, steering, suspension, axle or engine.
Excessive shaking when you are going from a stop to low speeds can be caused by a worn-out U-joint in your drive shaft, causing uncontrolled shaking as you speed up.
CV joints are located at the end of each axle. There is both an outer and inner joint. When the inner CV joint is damaged or begins to fail, you will notice your car vibrating under hard acceleration. As it gets worse, the minor vibrations turn to violent shaking when under load.
Uneven tire wear – If you don`t regularly rotate your tires, your front tires and rear tires will wear down at different rates. This can cause vehicle vibration.
Balancing also contributes to overall ride comfort. Imbalanced tires can wobble or hop up and down, causing vibration. If a front tire isn`t properly balanced, you`ll likely feel vibration in the steering wheel. If the problem is in the rear, you`ll feel shaking in the seat or floor.
A humming, rumbling or growling noise that increases with acceleration or as the vehicle turns. A loud constant whining or grinding noise when the vehicle is in motion. Clunking noises when driving over uneven road surfaces.
The source of where the shudder is felt can clue you in as to whether the front or rear brakes are to blame for the shudder. Steering wheel vibrations are often due to an issue with the front rotors while rear rotor troubles will cause vibrations that are felt in the brake pedal.
If it`s a used driveshaft that is causing the vibration, sometimes an easy fix is to rotate the driveshaft 180 degrees in the differential yoke. This may help improve the balance. Of course, the universal joints and the driveshaft itself need to be closely inspected, looking for any wear or collision damage.
These are typically felt at lower speeds, from 0 to about 40 mph. These are also worse on heavy throttle and load, when accelerating or going uphill. Angle related vibrations are often described as a shudder and usually get better or go away when you let off the gas or shift into neutral.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
I would like to know why my rear end shakes really bad at 55 mph
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle is likely having an issue with the tires or suspension. Typically you start by testing the simpler possibilities and work your way to the more complicated fixes. With that said, one of the most common reasons for vehicle shake at 55 MPH is unbalanced tires. This can be corrected on a tire balancer with the addition of weights to make sure the tire spins evenly. See your local tire shop to help make this correction. If the problem continues after you have the tires balanced and properly inflated, you will want to look into the suspension components in the rear. For more diagnostic help, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
Read Full Q/A … : I would like to know why my rear end shakes really bad at 55 mph
How much to replace rear differential in 2005 s60 t5awd. Car shakes between 55-70 mph and quick grinding noise, happens once a da
ANSWER : Hello. Typically if you get a grinding noise from the rear of the vehicle along with shaking it can be a differential issue. It can be a failure in the differential pinion bearing or it may just be an issue with the coupler in the drive shaft. I usually get the vehicle in the air and inspect both of these areas. I would check the driver shaft first and then check for any issues with the differential. If nothing is found at that point I drain the fluid from the differential to check for metal which would indicate an internal failure. If you want to have this checked, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to you to [diagnose why this noise is occurring under the vehicle] https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-is-making-a-noise-inspection
Read Full Q/A … : I would like to know why my rear end shakes really bad at 55 mph
shakes really bad when driving
ANSWER : Hello. I suggest you have steering and suspension evaluation done on your vehicle. The shaking you are describing is likely coming from a control arm bushing, or shocks and struts. A technician should be able to pinpoint which component it’s causing the shaking by doing a steering and suspension evaluation. If you wish,you can find a technician and schedule an appointment to do so here https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/brakes-steering-and-suspension-inspection
Read Full Q/A … : I would like to know why my rear end shakes really bad at 55 mph
My car shakes when braking and shakes while I’m driving a little bit, do you know the problem and how much it would cost, it’s for
ANSWER : Hello. Most of the time when you get these issues it is due to warped brake rotors. When they warp you will get this shaking and this noise. If there are any loose components in the steering then that can amplify the issue. I usually get the vehicle in the air and inspect the front end for any worn out parts and then I check the brakes. I measure the rotors to see if they can be machined, but most of the time if they are warped enough to cause shaking they will need to be replaced. The cost will need to be determined once the issue is found. If you are wanting to have this shaking checked, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to you to [diagnose why the vehicle is shaking while braking] https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-is-shaking-or-vibrating-inspection
Read Full Q/A … : I would like to know why my rear end shakes really bad at 55 mph
How much to replace rear main seal or will BlueDevil rear main sealer work?
ANSWER : Hi there. Former Toyota/Lexus master technician here. I can tell you from experience that using any kind of sealer is a literal "Band-Aid" that will not last and could damage internal engine components if some of it breaks loose into the crank case. Your Mechanic does not provide rear main oil seal service at this time, but I would definitely recommend pursuing a qualified technician that can perform the service properly with a quality seal. I suggest using a factory seal as this is a repair that no one want to do twice; the second time either party’s expense. Your Mechanic is here for many of your other service, diagnostic, and repair needs 7 days a week. Feel free to schedule your next service at www.yourmechanic.com.
Read Full Q/A … : I would like to know why my rear end shakes really bad at 55 mph
My car doesn’t respond to the gas pedal like it should
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The engine is likely sensing an issue and compensating for it. When you restart the vehicle, the component may be passing its start up tests, and the engine stops trying to outperform itself. Start by having the vehicle scanned for diagnostic codes. If there is another sensor to blame, it may show up there and make diagnostics a lot easier. If not codes come up, you will want to test the fuel pressure available at the engine, and make sure the fuel system is working properly. You can also clean the throttle and test the throttle position sensor. For more help with diagnosing and resolving the issue, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
Read Full Q/A … : I would like to know why my rear end shakes really bad at 55 mph
Vibration when 65+mph or when stoping
ANSWER : Whenever there are multiple causes of vehicle vibration, which is probably the circumstance you face, it is best to fix the obvious causes first because that will greatly simplify diagnosis and identification of the remaining causes. So, in your circumstance, you should request replacement of the motor mounts and then continue on with the vibration diagnostic. If you do end up replacing motor mounts, genuine OEM mounts are recommended in order to maximize the chances of resolving that portion of the vibration problem. If the vibration at idle, during parking, is not resolved by replacing the motor mounts, be sure to rule out engine operating conditions. For example, rough running at idle can be caused by faults in the air induction system as well as the ignition and fuel systems. To get an evaluation of the running condition of the engine, please request a rough idle diagnostic.
Vibration at high vehicle speeds, felt through the car body and/or the steering wheel, is usually due to dynamic imbalance of the wheel/tire assembly and/or various types of tire defects such as belt separations or excessive radial force variation. Vibration on braking is typically due to excessive thickness variation in the brake rotor, pad defects, or excessive rotor runout as installed on the hub. Typically, thickness variation can’t exceed .001 inches and rotor runout, as installed, should ideally be no more than .002 inches. To determine if the rotors are the cause of the vibration in your case, rotor runout has to be carefully measured. To have the root cause of the brake vibration identified, please request a brake and suspension system diagnostic. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : I would like to know why my rear end shakes really bad at 55 mph
My car shakes really bad when going over 40 mph
ANSWER : Hi there. From the description you have given, your vehicle shakes over 40 mph. The first thought would be the tires like you’ve mentioned. Typically vibration (shakes) are due to something that is out-of-balance. Given the tires and wheels have been balanced, it could be a wheel bearing vibration, as a worn, loose, or bad wheel bearing could cause shaking. It could also explain the noise getting louder as you accelerate.
This could also be an out-of-balance axle shaft, as worn cv joints (attached to each end of the axle shaft) typically creating a clack-clack-clack noise while turning. To get a precise diagnosis, you can get in touch with YourMechanic to inspect the noise in person and follow through with any repairs that are appropriate.
Read Full Q/A … : I would like to know why my rear end shakes really bad at 55 mph
