Feeling weird vibrations, sounds: Advice please?

[jskrepnek]

No, it's not an earthquake!

Our van is vibrating strangely when moving (at a range of speeds) AND I have my foot just slightly on or not on the pedal at all.

-- As soon as I apply power the vibration stops.
-- Engaging the clutch doesn't make a difference.
-- Not happening (obviously, I guess) when stationary
-- Sound *seems* to be coming from the front. (Need to really test this)

One possible clue: My wife recently went on a short drive with a fairly flat tire (front right).

I think this is probably something my local mechanic can deal with straight up, but since he is pretty reluctant to even touch our van, maybe someone on here can help me to point my guy in the right direction.

Thanks for any help,

-- Joel

[fexlboi]

Could be a cracked engine- or transmission mount.

[Golf Cart]

Joel,

Did you have the vibration before the flat tire? IF not, try checking the lug nuts on the tire that was fixed. Could be just loose. If it was there before, I'd do like Felix says. Check out the motor & tranny mounts , and then the u-joints

Cheers

[jessef]

Driving on a flat tire can do a few things. Compress the sidewall so when you inflate it back up there will be a bulge. That will cause a vibration. You could have worn balljoints, tie rods, shocks, etc.. and the flat tire driving may have just pushed one or more of those parts beyond repair = need to get replaced.

Tell your mechanic that the drivetrain is identical to a Toyota 4runner, Mitsubishi Montero, Nissan Pathfinder, etc... Solid axle in the rear with leafs, IFS in the front.

Simple as that.

Any mechanic with a brain should be able to diagnose a wobbly front end quite simply on site.

[jskrepnek]

Well, I'll swallow my pride here.

The culprit ended up being loose lug nuts on a rear wheel. So loose in fact that the wheel fell off. Thankfully I pulled onto a side road at that point (noticed something *very* weird) and wasn't going fast. Scary though, had both kids in. Strangely, I had just finished speaking with two separate mechanics, neither or whom had time to look at the vibrations, but assured me it was nothing to worry about.

A (different) handy mechanic in town took one look and replaced all of the posts and is recommending a new rim. Back up and running in no time. No major damage.

A not-so-handy other mechanic in town appears to have not properly torqued the nuts on that wheel.

However, I am now learned to always retorque the nuts after a shop has played with the wheels in any way, especially with aluminum rims apparently (which I have).

Thanks for the responses,

-- Joel

[TardisDeli]

Hmm ... we should all go outside now & check that wheel nuts can't be loosened by hand !

Others have mentioned this, one person put a locking security nut on each wheel to ensure it could not fall off.

[jessef]

The locking security nuts can back off just like regular lugs.

I've had that happen on an old mazda pickup a long time ago. Mechanic rotated the wheels and the front left wasn't torqued on properly. Came flying off doing 100 on the island highway in Nanaimo. I watched the tire bounced over the grass middle section into the oncoming lane which sparks were shooting up the driver's side window from the rotor grinding down on the pavement. Luckily, no one was in the oncoming other side lane and I was able to keep the wheels straight until I ground to a halt. Freaked the crap out of me.

Very lucky you found it in time and no one was hurt.

[TardisDeli]

I know what we are all gonna do tonight at the Coquitlam Meet-Up. I have a torque wrench, for an Ikea cinnamon bun anyone can use it. What is the wheel nut spec ?? Christine.

[jessef]

I have two different specs in two separate manuals.

80-90 ft lbs
90-100 ft lbs

also will depend if you have aftermarket/and or aluminum rims