Chrysler Repair: Front end vibration - 96 LHS, radial runout, front end vibration

Question
I am experiencing a vibration from the front driver side of my 1996 LHS.  It happens when I reach 45-50 MPH and seems worse when I am turning to merge into traffic on a freeway.  The vibration smoothes out after I get up to 55-60+.  Tires, struts relatively new.  110,000 miles on the car.

CV joints?  Transmission?


Answer
Hi Mike,
Probably not the transmission. I would consider three possibilities: if there are no sounds (neither clicking when turning either left or right which would be a cv-joint that has lost grease to a boot leak; nor low growling when going straight ahead which would be a wheel bearing) then I would suggest that you check the radial runout of the center tread of all the tires. You do this by jacking up the wheel, let the temporary flat section recover for a minute or so, then rotate the wheel and observe with a fixed sharp point close to the tread how much variation in distance between the surface and the point occurs. It should be less than 1/16", or such out of roundness will cause vibration at the 40-50 mph range that you describe. If you find that to be present go back to the tire store and have them try to reduce this out of roundness by remounting the tire to the rim and use the out of roundnesses of the tire and wheel cancel out by what is called "match mounting". If that can't be done then the tire should be replaced.
Other than those three, a check of the bushings and ball joints on the front end would be in order.
Roland
PS Please rate my answer, thanks.