Excess Vibration between 48-55mph on 2008 mazda 3

[msi1337]

getting excess vibration between 48-55mph on 2008 mazda 3. Recently had the tires balanced and the alignment done. Problem still exists. Any ideas?

 

[Vette73]

is it through the steering wheel or the whole body? Can you feel one side vs the other and/or front vs rear?


Did the tires get moved from front to back?

 

[msi1337]

it feels like the front end. the technician who did the balancing and alignment stated that the front tires had "cupping". the tires on this are cheap (nexus I think). but I just got the car and they still have a lot of tread left. Its more than just the steering wheel, if you set a soda in the middle console you can see it shaking at the speeds I listed. Any slower than 45 and faster than say 60 and it goes away

 

[StageLeft]

If they're balanced you could try rotating; put front on back and vice versa. If it impacts what's going on you know that there is something wrong with the tires.

 

[rh71]

Same problem at 60mph+ here. I had a warped rim on rear left and out of round tire on right rear. Road-force balance (max 20mph) did not help. The vibration was bad... got rid of the warped rim and the vibration is better, though still there. The out-of-round tire is your problem. You can probably see that while it's being spun on the balancer - I did.

Although I doubt it really helps, since it's the cheaper option, first try a road-force balance ($30 per tire). If that doesn't work, time for 4 new tires - which I have to do eventually.

Find a road-force balancer: http://www.gsp9700.com/pub/search/findgsp9700.cfm

 

[msi1337]

about road forcing..they do that at the place I had the my balacing/alignment done. I just didnt want to get into too much $$$$

I will have to call them back and see if they can fit me in. thank you all for helping. you guys rock

 

[stag3]

i had the same gremlin on my acura legend
parts i replaced :
pads/rotors
tires
checked rims for balance
and got a couple alignments

i never figured out where it was coming from, and it was only between 45-60 miles for me
below or above that, it was smooth
drove me crazy

so i traded it in

 

[LuckyTaxi]

i had the same thing and balancing fixed it. what about rotors or like someone said bent rims

 

[bruceb]

Most likely, bent rim, out of round tire, or a tire with belt seperation. In case of the last two, replacement is the only option.
If a bent rim, sometimes it can be fixed, but usually cheaper to just replace it. Also check your Tie Rod ends, Ball Joints and
shocks / struts. Any of them being bad can cause similar symptoms.

 

[vi edit]

I have the same problem with my '08 Mazda5. Many others do as well. It only does it for the first few minutes though. After the car warms up it seems to go away.