Vibration when travelling at high speeds.

[Steamer170]

So I have a 2001 explorer and it has a bit of a vibration when i am travelling at highway speeds. Recently I decided to crank my torsion bars up and the vibration was noticeably worse. My mechanic says its because of a bent rim but i beg to differ. I feel like its my front driveshaft. Anyone have any ideas why it would get worse? I want to keep my torsion bars cranked up but cant with the vibrations.

 

[rb142]

Cranking it up puts more angle and stress on the CV axles, so it would accentuate a bad one or accelerate the failure of a good one. It also changes the camber, but that shouldn't cause this problem. Why does your mechanic think it is a bent rim? Did he find a bend, or did he just make that up? It's worth checking to be sure.

 

[masospaghetti]

Bent rim would be more of a shaking, not a vibration.

The driveshaft is spinning 3.73 times faster than the wheels so any noise due to wear or imbalance would be 3.73 higher frequency. This feels and sounds like a vibration instead of a rythmic shaking.

A bad u-joint or CV could definitely cause a vibration at higher speeds.

 

[1997XLTRollover]

Cranked torsion bars and it gets worse..... A rim is not going to care that you cranked the torsion bars and neither will your front driveshaft, it changes nothing. It will however cause a nasty angle on your CV's so will probably accent that vibration if one is worn. That being said although it's not as likely it could be worn ball joints as well. A TT will put those at a nasty angle too which might cause the vibration to be worse. My suggestion for a TT is go no more than 1.5". I know guys say 2" is max but that puts the front suspension at such a nasty angle I would never run my truck that way.

 

[Steamer170]

Yeah I dont think its a bent rim at all. I just had the rims balanced not to long ago. I also just replaced the drivers side ball joint with a grease able one. When I did the TT I had only raised the vehicle 1". My mechanic says the cvs are good but maybe i'll change them myself anyways. Even with it not cranked up it has still has a vibration so it would be nice to get it fixed.