Serious vibrations over 35mph in my 91 RT

CutterfiltoffCutterfiltoff Band Wagon
in General Civic Wagon Discussion
Can anyone guess why my 91 RT wants to shake itself to pieces anytime I get it over 35mph? I started off by getting the rear CV joints rebuilt (they were due). I also had my mechanic take a look under the car, but they couldn't see anything that would be the cause. Has anyone else experienced this problem? I need help!

Comments

  • Ryanthegreat1Ryanthegreat1 Wagonist
    Are the tires in good shape and in balance?

    Do the vibration change with throttle input? How about steering input?
  • CutterfiltoffCutterfiltoff Band Wagon
    Ryanthegreat1 wrote: »
    Are the tires in good shape and in balance?

    Do the vibration change with throttle input? How about steering input?

    The tires were our first guess, so we just had 2 replaced and the rest checked. They should be fine. The vibration is entirely tied to the speed of the car as far as I can tell. Throttle and steering don't change it. I have hit some potholes really hard a couple times, and the car is lowered. Is it possible the drive shaft is slightly bent? Maybe one of the front CV joints are bent? If I were to guess, it doesn't feel like the vibration is coming from one corner of the car in particular. It feels like it's relatively central.
  • Ryanthegreat1Ryanthegreat1 Wagonist
    Maybe the drive line smacked something and is now bent? Check the health of the carrier bearings and u-joints.
  • dove grey 64dove grey 64 Wagonist
    Check all your diff bushes and rta bushes. Also check your wheel alignment
  • CutterfiltoffCutterfiltoff Band Wagon
    dove grey 64 wrote: »
    Check all your diff bushes and rta bushes. Also check your wheel alignment

    Forgive my ignorance, what are the rta bushes? Is it possible that the old rear motor mount has given away and this is the result? When I put the JDM engine in it was the only mount I couldn't find a replacement for.
  • dove grey 64dove grey 64 Wagonist
    Rta= rear trailing arm bush
    I doubt your worn rear engine mount is the issue. Did the problem occur after the new engine or was it happening before aswell?
  • CutterfiltoffCutterfiltoff Band Wagon
    The problem started about a year after putting the new engine in.
  • CutterfiltoffCutterfiltoff Band Wagon
    I took it to the driveline specialist, and he determined its the rear U-joint. Whats my best bet to find a new/rebuilt one?
  • AbideAbide Council Member
    rockford drive line and get your hammer out!
  • CutterfiltoffCutterfiltoff Band Wagon
    Abide wrote: »
    rockford drive line and get your hammer out!

    Rockford is the wagonist's shop of choice? I just ship them mine and they ship it back all remanufactured and shiny?
  • CutterfiltoffCutterfiltoff Band Wagon
    Alright! After a bit of searching I understand what Rockford is all about. I had the driveline pulled, and the vibration problem is gone, indicating how toasty the rear u-joint was. Here's the only thing left, the driveline shop I took it to (very reputable) swears up and down that staked U joints like the ones in our RTs need to be new. If you put new ones on an old driveline, they claim it can be very dangerous. Is there any truth to that? The other option the mentioned was sending it off to a specialty shop to be remanufactured for something crazy like $750.

    Thoughts? I'd love to hear from people that have had the rockford installed with lots of happy wagoning miles since ;)
  • NobiZeroNobiZero New Wagonist
    I took my driveshaft to a local shop and they fixed it no problem. It can be dangerous if the shaft is that beat and there's possibility of it cracking when they take the old joint out. In that case, you're looking at either having them fix yours, which can be sketchy and costly, or buying a new one.
  • dove grey 64dove grey 64 Wagonist
    Sorry to bump this back up but I have a similar issue with vibration at about 83kph (50mph I think)
    Would disengagement of the 4wd lever stop the tailshaft rotating? Just figure it would save me the time of removal etc
  • Ryanthegreat1Ryanthegreat1 Wagonist
    Negative. That will only disconnect power from going to the rear. The rear diff will still be driving the drive shaft. It may vibrate less.

    You might be able to unbolt the drive shaft from the rear diff and then zip tie it up and out of the way AND disconnect the 4wd at the lever. Then the drive shaft would no longer be rotating.
  • dove grey 64dove grey 64 Wagonist
    ^Thanks for the info, I disengaged 4wd and my vibration has disappeared. Guess I'll pull the shaft out and fix it up.
  • NobiZeroNobiZero New Wagonist
    Also, take a look at the mounts at the top of your rear diff. If they're bad, the diff could be moving around when you're driving as well making any vibrations feel far worse. For a cheap, easy fix, bore a hole in the center of some hockey pucks and stick them up there in place of the stock rubber. Been in my wagon like that for almost 15k now with no problems.
  • MrJayDMMrJayDM Wagonist
    I read a post on here saying that all the rear diff mounts are about the same as on the 97-01 CRV's
    The post said some are a little different but all the mounts/bushings line right up and work..

    I started having bad vibrations after having a little fun in the snow the other day..
    I drove my wagon on ramps and there was a ton of snow and ice stuck under there, around the drive line and wheel wells..
    Once I cleared it all out the vibrations went away..
    Think God!!
    I don't want to have to deal with replacing the U joints anytime soon...

    I do plain on keeping my wagon for the rest of my life, so I have thought about going ahead and ordering 2 sets of U Joints in case Rockford stops making them..
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