Hey guys
So for some time now ive been getting this bouncing-like feeling coming from what feels like the drivers side front tire (a friend of mine said he could feel it too from the passenger seat as well). I have my e brake, abs, and traction control light on but ive pretty much settled that down to an electrical problem that im getting sorted out, i dont know if maybe that is affecting it though. My thought is maybe an axle is shot or my hub is shot but everything looks and seems fine until i drive. If anyone knows anything about this please let me know im a broke college student and can’t afford to lose this car to something stupid. Thanks for any help.
An out-of-balance tire, a tire with a defect (shifted or broken belt inside the tire), an unevenly worn tire, an under inflated tire, or a wheel with damage can cause the bouncing-like feeling. Since you feel as though vibration is from the LF, I would closely examine the tire and wheel.
The picture of the vehicle in your post seems to have aftermarket wheels. The quality of aftermarket wheels can be sub-standard. Did the vibration start recently? Hit any large potholes or curbs with the LF? Do the wheels have hammer-on rim weights, or glue-on weights in the inside of the rim? Check the weight location to see if it looks as though one or more weights came off (cleaner spots, obvious outline marks, etc.).
They are RTX wheels which from what ive seen and heard are pretty solid wheels. My front tires tread is definitely getting a little low so that could maybe be it. I’ll check my tires when its daytime but if it isn’t that do you have any other ideas of what it might possibly be?
The LF (and probably the RF) strut cartridge could be worn-out, or leaking - which would contribute to the lack of stability or firmness in the suspension travel.
However, the motion you feel is caused by something - which I suspect is tire and/or wheel related.
If you’re in cold weather now - check the tire pressures. Under inflated tires can contribute to a bouncy feeling. For every 10 degree drop in temperature, a tire pressure will drop 1 PSI. I’m in the Midwest, and this past week we went from 59 degrees F to 8 degrees F in day or so.
Yeah im in upstate NY and it's been getting cold over the last few days so ill check the pressure for my tires. The front two are reasonably worn down which could also be a cause. Some other people told me it might be a hub that went so I have to check that too. Thanks.
If the hub bearing begins to wear out, you will hear it “hum”, with the pitch changing with speed, or direction of travel (such as when you turn your steering wheel on a cloverleaf highway ramp). It usually takes sped of 20-30 mph, or higher, before you hear the hum.
A defective hub (bearing) will not cause bouncing of the suspension, but can overheat and deteriorate quickly (and it will get much noisier).
I think I might have found the problem. I was doing a little looking around the wheel assembly and took off the tire and discovered that my sway bar itself is cracked right at where the sway bar meets the end link. Has anyone experienced this before? Fingers crossed I figured it out.
Glad to hear you figured out the problem - now to fix it........
I have read a few posts on this forum about front sway bars breaking near the end link area. I do not think it is very common. Defective / worn out end links are very common.
Have you hit a major pothole or road defect recently?
I haven’t worked on a 7th generation Impala or Grand Prix for quite some time, so I have no advice to offer on how to replace it (whether it is very easy or somewhat difficult) other than many bars can be easily replaced by removing the end links, and the sway bar bushing mounts.
Good luck.
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