Hyundai: santa fe vibration, wheel alignment, wheel bearing

Question
QUESTION: I have a 2002 awd 2.7 lx santa fe with 60,000 miles.  My problem is a vibration felt in the steering wheel and frt end. So far I have done the following to eliminate the vibration: four new tires, new frt ball joints, new frt tie rod ends, 4 wheel alignment(twice), wheel bearing checked for play, tire rotation after new tires installed all of these remedies produced little or no improvement.  The vibration occurs at 35 to 40mph and then again at 60 to 65mph, These is no vibration felt at any speeds other then the above.  Trips to dealers and tire and alignment shops resulted in no help.  One tech suggested that possibly that one of the half-shafts was bent maybe from original delivery.  Spinning the tires on a lift showed no noticeable bend in any of the axles. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you for your time.


ANSWER: Hi Denny, You know your problem could be that the tramission vibrates when its switching gears and causing the vibration to the steerring wheel. Has this recently started happining? Does your car switch to a higher gear after the vibration starts?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Toney, Thanks for responding, I don't think the problem is in the tranny.  It seems to be operating properly.  The vibration is constant if you hold the sf at the above speeds.  The vibration disappears only when you increase or decrease your speed outside those mphs.  The tranny has already shifted into the highest gear ratios at 60 mph so I don't think the vibration is coming from the tranny. Thanks again for your time.

Answer
Well its kind of hard to tell without actually looking in the car. But from what it sounded like it seems like something was loose in the belt or trans.

Here is a website of someone who probably could help you more than I could:

http://car.justanswer.com/hyundai