I am reposting because I realized that I hadn't specified the model/year...so people who filter based on model may not hav seen it. Just ignore if you've read it

Basic problem: At highway speeds, especially when turning left slightly, the car experiences moderate to violent vibrations and noise, seemingly from the front right wheel area.

New parts: About 10k miles ago I did the following: New struts, new control arm bushings, new ball joints,new tie rod ends, new brakes, new sway bar bushings.

Very recently: New front right end link bushing (was clunking on low speed bumps)

Prior to problem: I curbed the front right tire fairly badly. I don't know if this is related or not. I have replaced the rim since then with a balanced tire/rim.


The problem has become progressively worse, and is at the point now where any speed above 55 MPH (especially when turning left as in a lane change) the car will make terrible noise and vibration. Imagine a tire as poorly balanced as possible, and the vibration resulting from that. Now multiply that by about 3. At times it sounds like a jackhammer to the control arm or something.


upper strut bushings have NOT been replaced. Wheel bearings have NOT been replaced. Neither seemed bad, though, on visual inspection.

Before I tear it all apart, does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

-Steve

did the problem exist before the curb incident? If not, we will assume some thing has been damaged from the curb impact. You have changed the rim and tire, now things to look at are hub and bearings. Pull the bearings, clean and check for distorted races and bearings, even better, they are cheap enough to just replace them. HUb? hard to tell unless you can get into alignment shop where they can put a laser tool on it. USed hub about $20 $40 + studs. Don't beat studs in or you may bend hub. From there, I'd confirm integrety of ball joint and tie rod ends, any play between tires when turning wheel?. Possible control arm distortion may lead to high speed flutter, but tire wear would become evident. Start with the alignment shop and work inward from there. Let us know what you find.

your post is not perfect. LOok at it. and you want to chop me up get a life

Stephen,
Have you checked to make sure the gland nuts are tight on the right strut? Maybe when you curbed the rim the ball joint, or something else, got skewed. I'd re-check the tightness of all the related front suspension bolts... then I'd take it to an alignment shop for verification that nothing is outta wack. Good Luck, Jon

"I'd re-check the tightness of all the related front suspension bolts..."

Bingo.

Don't ask me how it came loose, but the control arm bolt was loose. And I do mean loose (a full turn from being snug).

The only real theory I can come up with for how it got loose is that I forgot to re-tighten it when I was trying to diagnose my front end (low speed) clunk. I just hate to think that I screwed up that big.

Thanks for the help, prblem solved, and no one hurt.

-Steve