I am getting a fairly harsh vibration coming from the rear end of my car when it's drifting around corners. As soon as the rear end breaks loose, it's like a high speed jack-hammer is going to work on the car. I'm curious to hear of any other WRX wagon owners have had this problem. And for those of you ASE certified types, I'm wondering if this could be a problem with a bad wheel bearing allowing a point on the tire to move to the left and right rather than just around in a circle. Any other thoughts or comments would be appreciated.

PS - How long long would it take for an "enthusiast" to switch out a wheel bearing?

EDIT: I have a Cusco 22mm ARSB set on 24mm and today I made sure all the bolts were tight. Again.

 

Its not a wheel bearing, ive heard other GDA folks compain of this issue.

 

I noticed the same thing on my WRX.

 

what kind of roads are you on when you are doing this?

 

If wrx-ish is thinking what I'm thinking about terrain... perhaps its ABS?

jason

 

It's not dependent on terrain surface. It happens on all corners when I drift going below about 45 mph. It's not the ABS because I know exactly what the ABS feels like, and also because I do not use the brakes to induce a drift most of the time. It is also not dependent on which way I'm turning as it happens when I turn both ways.

Oh and after today's drive, I'm going to upgrade the vibration to "very harsh" status.

There is definitely something that's not right back there. Could this be just a general problem of all(10 or so) of the bushings in the rear of the car being too soft? This problem is really getting on my nerves and any input on the subject would be VERY helpful. Thanks in advance.

 

get under there, and look at everything. If it's not what you like, set the bar to 22mm, and get the differental lockout bolt from MPJ, there are like $30, and really easy to install. Torque them to 80 ft/lbs. and see that feels.

With these bolts in, my car feels so much more tighter. more concise with turning. It may help with your problem as well.

But then again, all 4 wheels, and really shaking... i dunno, something is very loose. Take it easy.

-Gagan

 

Just coming from the rear end, I'm pretty sure. But it does shake the whole car.

 

Stock tires?

 

Yeah. Fronts are bald, rears still have tread. Need to be rotated.

What are you thinking here?

 

once again i ask this question.
i mean dry pavement? wet pavement? dirt? mud? snow?

i ask another as well. what kind of power mods have you done?
just curious as to how much power you are putting to the wheels.

 

it mostly does it on dry pavement, but i do recall it happening on wet pavement once or twice. i don't spend nearly as much time on the gravel as i would like to, but when i do, the vibration does not happen.

as for power mods, i've got a custom cat-back straight pipe and that's bout it.

 

sounds like your tires are worn out. The rolling diameter on the worn out fronts is smaller than the rear.

since it happens on dry pavement most often, I would say that the drive line is binding up from the difference in tire diameter from the front to the rear.

to check try lowering the rear tire presures and raise the front. If it goes away or is reduce then it could be the problem.

IMHO, you need a new set of 4 tires. since you forgot to rotate your tires, you have trashed the set. been there done that.

Is you shifting feel kind of notchy? that's another symtom.

 

well that's a pretty good idea chris.

you're probably right but i'm gonna ask a question or two just for the sake of asking questions.

why would my driveline only bind when i'm sliding? isn't the center diff already perceiving a difference between the front and rear driveshaft rotation speeds when i'm just driving straight?

i'm just trying to get an idea of exactly what's happening.

oh and i'll probably rotate the tires anyway, just so i can wear down the other two and milk as much life as humanly possible out of those pieces of crap. that way i'll at least have a chance of not having to put the new tires on a credit card(they are the devil).

 

Its the tires, only people whove complained about this have had the stock tires. DDman had this problem, but says its gone with his new wheels/tires.