Hello, all. I apologize if this has been covered. I've been away from the forums for awhile, and am growing tired of a condition that is causing me not to enjoy the HHR. I get a vibration from about 40 to 60 mph, that dealerships cannot seem to replicate. It is obviously there, and think it something they are just trying to avoid. I recently had all four tires replaced, and questioned the installer afterwards as the problem was still there. They said it looked like a rim is a bit bent, but should not be making that much of a problem. It feels like the torque steer you get when you beat on it (SS at least), or a bad alignment or severely bent rim. Sound familiar?

 

A vibration and torque steer are 2 different things. Not related.
If you have a possible bent rim causing the problem then get rid of the cause. Try putting the spare or a donor wheel on in place of the bent one. Take it for a test drive and see if it fixes the problem. This would be where I would start.

 

front wheel bearings, bent rim, tires out of balanced, flat spot on tire, bran new tire has a broken bead, lose stabilizer, broken shock, tie rod end, upper or lower mounts on shocks, do you know of someone that has a lift where you can get under it and look at different things to eliminate some of these things that I listed?

 

Did you have this bad vibe Prior to new tires install ??

A good tire shop should have pointed out a bent rim when they were balancing the tires. It would have been obvious to a good installer..

Unless they accidentally bent it..

 

Thank you, everyone, for the replies. I am not at all mechanically savvy, so excuse my lack of knowledge. I did have the vibration before the new tires. I do not understand why the rough ride only occurs from 40 to 60? It seems to me that it would be at all speeds, if it is anything that was mentioned.

 

No speed can change the dynamics of a out of balance or spec part.

I suspect the dealer is not avoiding anything other than the fact they just can find the issue. Some problems often have to get worse to locate. Not everything on a car is cut and dry even for the best mechanic.

As posted there are many things it could be and even ones not posted. I to would say get wheel replaced or at least move it to the back or other side to see if the feel changes. Bent wheels can be bent and balance up fine but still shake so this may not have fixed a thing. I would just replace the wheel anyways as often they will wipe a wheel bearing out sooner than a good wheel.

If you have the bent wheel on the back you will feel it more in the seat of the pants. If the wheel is on the front it should be felt in the steering wheel more.

 

Could be a bad CV axel or a bent wheel. Try rotating the front to the back and then see if the vibration changes from steering to seat