random vibration during acceleration

[DrMaxwellEdison]

I've been driving mom's Festiva while rebuilding the B3 so I can make it till I can find a good BP or BPT. When driving it, I will be in 4th or 5th gear and the steering wheel and the shift knob start vibrating horribly.... it does not do it every time or for very long... I have noticed that when I shift into 3rd gear (goes to high RPMs from 4th) it doesn't do it.... and if it does it and I stop for a traffic light and start from 1st or 2nd it does not do it again.... this has been happening randomly for about two to three weeks now and I can't think of what to check, since it only occurs when it's underload when I'm driving and it's so intermittent... I'm trying to get my B3 done and back in the Polar Express so mom can quit driving her '05 Chevy Venture so she can gain another 10-20 MPG.... I recently had to quit my job because the payroll dept was screwing around with my timesheets on their end, so that doesn't make either situation easier.... any suggestions?

[FestYboy]

well first shake down the front end and look for loose tie rod ends and loose lower ball joints, after that, inspect your lower control arm bushings that locate your sway bar. if they are cracking or missing pieces, replace them. you'll need a 17mm wrench and a LARGE pair of channel locks.

[DrMaxwellEdison]

Both of which are handy.... the replacement parts will have to wait though, aside from the swaybar, which I just so happen to have an extra of... everything else not so much...

[89newb]

mines an automatic but it does start to shake when I get to 65mph. the faster i go after that worse the shaking gets.

[DrMaxwellEdison]

I can drive it sometimes to past the end of the speedo, i.e. 85+ and it'll never cause this issue.... but other times I can be going above 25-35 MPH and it rattles shakes and cusses and fusses at me....

[89newb]

i think i need new tires. mine may be shot but before i get them im looking at getting a little bit wider wheel

[FestYboy]

mines an automatic but it does start to shake when I get to 65mph. the faster i go after that worse the shaking gets.

you sir need a tire ballance.... that's all

[WmWatt]

Inflate tires and swap sides to check if it's tire wear or balance.

[DrMaxwellEdison]

had my tires balanced in December because the front tires needed to be replaced... now my left rear tire needs replacing I do believe, it has some life left in it... I'm waiting until I can get back in the woods to get my extra tires from back there (no snow, just rain)

[gauge_half_inch]

i have read that occasionally if the lugstuds are improperly torqued on our cars it can cause weird random vibration. for the wonderfull price of free, losen the lugs and properly torque them to spec. what can it hurt anyway.

[smurfstiva]

more likely not but get up under the front and grab a cv axle at a time and shake the crap out of it. if one shakes alot get a new one. maybe not correct me if im wrong so i know better from now on.