What causes vibration 60mph+

[bobski1]

Car has developed a vibration and a sever brake shake but only after 60mph+. The vibration is a very gentle vibration but it's the whole car and doesn't come through the steering wheel, when I brake at 60mph+ the whole staring wheel shakes/knocks side to side and there is then massive vibration.

I've changed control arms now that long ago and this seems persistent with both summer and winter alloy wheel set.

I did think sticky caliper but It doesn't pull to any one side during braking and it generally drives fine 0-50mph although a tiny squeal has recently developed

Any other ideas on what else it could be causing this?0

[Slow.Patrol]

I had something similar which turned out to to be the drive shaft.

Are you feeling the vibration in your seat or through the pedals?

[HJG]

What's the car?
Could be a warped disc.

[bobski1]

All vibration are through the car/seat except when braking then the while car shakes & the steering wheel judders quite badly.

It's an E61 bmw

[Mave]

Might be a lightly binding brake. Go for a drive, pull over and put your hand on the wheel to see if it's hot

[GreenV8S]

bobski1 said:

when braking then the while car shakes & the steering wheel judders quite badly.

That's a striong sign that it's related to the front brakes or suspension.

Edited by GreenV8S on Wednesday 24th January 17:49

[Summit_Detailing]

I had similar on a CLS, having changed the front brakes it was better but still present but to a lesser extent in certain situations. Replaced the rear brakes and it disappeared.

Cheers,

Chris

[ShoooRn]

bobski1 said:

All vibration are through the car/seat except when braking then the while car shakes & the steering wheel judders quite badly.

It's an E61 bmw

This to me screams of the guibo/flex disc. The joint on the propshaft wears and over 60mph you can feel it through the cars bodywork. Is there a clunk when engaging drive to reverse when cold?

[bobski1]

ShoooRn said:

bobski1 said:

All vibration are through the car/seat except when braking then the while car shakes & the steering wheel judders quite badly.

It's an E61 bmw

This to me screams of the guibo/flex disc. The joint on the propshaft wears and over 60mph you can feel it through the cars bodywork. Is there a clunk when engaging drive to reverse when cold?

Do you have a part diagram or number?

It clunks sometimes but will check it again shortly, would that explain the excessive shaking during braking? vibration is still there when I take my foot off the accelerator and the juddering gets less below 60mph but is still there

[Pica-Pica]

Summit_Detailing said:

I had similar on a CLS, having changed the front brakes it was better but still present but to a lesser extent in certain situations. Replaced the rear brakes and it disappeared.

Cheers,

Chris

That happened to me. Only when braking, though. A BMW 335d, lack of use and gritters corroded my discs. I tried the usual repeated heavy braking, but that did not cure it. I replaced the front discs and pads as they were getting quite low. Partially resolved, four months later, I replaced the rear discs and pads. Fully resolved. I am a light brake user, but now I make sure that I brake on long descents, and now do the occasional heavy braking to clean up the discs.

[Steviesam]

Ah yes. The BMW series shimmy.

Occurred on the E39 too. I sold mine because despite many many new parts (several sets of discs, calipers, control arms, propshaft bearing etc it never went away. Almost every old 5 series I have driven has done this to some extent.

[E-bmw]

Steviesam said:

Ah yes. The BMW series shimmy.

Occurred on the E39 too. I sold mine because despite many many new parts (several sets of discs, calipers, control arms, propshaft bearing etc it never went away. Almost every old 5 series I have driven has done this to some extent.

Full suspension bush refresh did it for me/mine.

[GliderRider]

Check all the tyres. A bulge, flat spot or one that's its been parked up or squashed in a wheel hanger could do this. I had one once that was moulded straight and it wouldn't stay inflated. Until then it shook like mad.

Jack each wheel up and spin it. A buckled rim, or a wheel rim with something stopping the rim sitting flat against the hub perhaps?

Check all your wheel nuts are tight.

As has been said, warped discs will definitely cause s a shake when braking.

Also check bumpers, under trays, exhausts and anything else that could be flapping or knocking, when you hit a resonant frequency all sorts of stuff can happen than makes lots of noise.