vibration when turning left

[sheller]

Hey guys,
I was hoping you could help me out with a problem that I've been trying to track down. The vibration is under my feet and through the steering wheel when I turn to the left. Turning to the right is just fine, it only happens to the left. Ok, in November I started getting vibrations so I had the sway bar linkages replaced and the problem mostly went away. After that it was only under fast, extreme turns to the left that I'd feel a slight vibration. A couple of months ago I had H&R sport springs and Tokico struts installed by Corksport. After that even breathing on the steering wheel to the left caused a vibration. The guys there and everywhere else said that it was a text book case of the axle going (or at least not having the little clip the keeps the 2 pieces together under the boot). So I had the axle replaced. That made no difference. The mechanic saw a little play in the sway bar bushings so he ordered those for me. When he installed those it was a little better but not much (by the way, they also swapped the front 2 wheels so they aren't the issue either). I took it in and had it aligned and the problem became much better but was still there (you had to actually be turning not just swerving to the left). While the guys at Les Schwab were aligning her, they noticed that the front motor mount was shot. They figured that might be causing it. So I have that replaced. Again, it is a little better but still there. After putting the front mount in my mechanic sees that the rear mount has a little play too. Today I just had that replaced. Once again it is a little better but the problem is still there.
Does anyone have any other possibilities for this? My mechanic is running out of things that he can think of to replace.
Steve

[ryanlindenberg]

when you need to turn left, make 3 turns to the right instead.

[dewthis]

I had the same problem aftr i swapped for the ze. I thought it as the mounts too but it turned out to be the axes. My shop put a protege driver side axle on my passenger side. That cleared it all up , after 4 days in the shop. They said the other shaft was 3/4 in. shorter, protege shaft. They said lowering it caused the problem. You can give that a try.

[markV6]

I've got the same thing.
i thought it was a cv joint problem! so i ordered a cv joint ain't had chance to replace it yet. any other ideas while i'm working on it? if i need more parts i don't want the car off road

[zytariuk]

It's one of you're front wheel bearings.

[Buff1110]

im having the same problem right now. my car has a 2in drop and i just swapped in the ze. on left turns or even just swerving left the whole car shakes and theres a lot of vibration. i have brand new axles on both sides. this protege axle is from what year and model that they used? im gonna take out the lowering springs and try that tomm.

[markV6]

buff mines not lowered just on 17"s and still does it. liken ZY said i believ it will be the wheel bearing or the cv-joint!!!! tell you once i replace mine. Dmn this seems to be a common theme with the mx3's<p>once you turn if you carry on accelarating the vibration gets worse!m therefore i let off the gas for a sec or so then put it back on and the vibration goes straight away, give it a go hope this helps in the meantime!!!!<p>[ May 31, 2003: Message edited by: markV6 ]</p>

[dewthis]

The shop didt say what model the shft was from only that it is 3/4 in. shorter. They alsothought it was the wheel bearing but no luck.

[sheller]

Well, I took it into Les Schwab today. They said that just on the rack they didn't really feel any vibration but immediately felt it when they took it for a drive. So they took a closer look and found that the lower left control arm was bent slightly. This is causing the sway bar to be shifted to the right slightly. They showed me and on the left side there is about 1/2 an inch clearence and on the right about 1 1/2 inches. Keep in mind this was without any weight in the car. When one of the guys pulled down on the car, the clearance on the left side went to almost nothing. So, what it looks like is happening (and the wear marks on the sway bar are evidence of) is that when you turn to the left the sway bar and body loose whatever litte gap it still hase and causes them to keep pounding together. This shows up as a major vibration under my feet. It also explains how it gets a little worse with more than one person in the car. This problem has undoubtedly been there for a while but with the stock setup it was only under the most extreme turns to the left that I felt anything because that caused enough body roll to have them make contact. Now with the H&R springs dropping the body down, the gap shortened considerably and the vibration has been happening much easier as a result. A new control arm will hopefully pull the sway bar back into its proper alignment and avoid this contact. They also said a stiffer sway bar would probably help. My regular mechanic is going to order me a the control arm and I'll let you know how that works out. Thanks.
Steve

[markV6]

i know the cv boot on mine is shot. and the vibration only happens when i first run the car after leaving it for quite a few hours. my thoughts with mine is that maybe the grease is drying a little maybe and causing the cv joint to not function properly. who knows if this is the reason but maybe something to bear in mind also