Front end vibration

[PTownSubbie]

I am new to this but I will try to explain things the best that I can.

I have a slight front end vibration and excessive tire noise that is more severe right around 35mph. It also has a rythmic sound that is more dominant near the 35 mph range. It somewhat subsides at higher speeds. This may be because the rythm is so rapid that I can't pick it out.

I have the front end up on jackstands now and have inspected the frontend for loose parts. I found nothing that rattled when I tapped it with a rubber mallet.

I attempted to check the front wheel bearings for wear by placing rotational force on the upper and lower sides of the tires but got no movement so I don't think it is the wheel bearings. How much movement will you get if the bearings are bad? I didn't have any abnormal sounds when the tire was rotated either.

I did notice some cupping of the inside tread of both of the front tires. The rear tires show no abnormal wear. Doing some research on the internet shows that cupping is caused by worn front suspension parts. Like I said above, I didn't find anything worn or loose in the front end. The cupping is uniform around the tire. The pattern seems to have worn 2 treads and skips 1 tread and then has 2 worn treads with 1 less worn tread all the way around the tire.

The vehicle has 110,000 miles on it and I changed the shocks in July 2002 at 74,000 miles. The shocks I put on are Gabriel Gas Ryder LT with Velocity Sensitive Technology (VST). The only numbers on them are C00365G2277 and 747938. These numbers don't translate to anything on the Gabriel site or the internet. The shocks don't have any abnormal movement side to side or any excessive rust.

I am leaning toward replacing the shocks but they only have 35,000 miles on them and don't show any abnormal wear. The vehicle is not used off road but is an everyday driver.

What other things can I check to indicate wear in the front end?

Thanks for the help!

 

[IZwack]

no need to replace the shock as the shock doesnt really have anything to do to cause vibration .. if anything it would mask any vibrations.

wheel bearing assemblies that have gone sour sounds and feels more like a jackhammer under your vehicle.

your research on what causes cupping on the inside of the tire is correct for most cases, especially since its happening to both front tires. this usually means ball joints. your vehicle has two ball joints per side on the front - for a total of four (two upper and two lower). the upper joints usually go bad before the lower joints. unfortunately, its not that easy to check the upper joints but try searching the message board and see what you come up with. however, most of the time, bad joints are associated with a "grunt" or a "moaning" sound when you make very slow turns (like when your trying to park).

 

[orange_exploder]

When's the last time you had a front end alignment and the tires balanced?

 

[PTownSubbie]

Balance has been a little while but the problem didn't subside the last time I had them balanced. The alignment has been about 18 months or so.