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Hi All,
2008 Mazda 3 S 2.3L Hatchback MT. 131K miles. Car shakes when accelerating, braking, and when turning. There is always an underlying minor shake, but this is amplified during steering/accelerating/braking. If anyone can please help diagnose, or offer suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it. It is currently my daily driver/only car, and I perform all maintenance at home, properly and extensively.
Chronological order of happenings:
Replaced the below parts about 10,000 miles ago:
Properly drove during break-in period after installation of above.
Replaced about 4000 miles ago:
- New rear shocks (KYB 551105)
Properly drove during break-in period after installation of above.
Replaced about 3000 miles ago:
After this, I was unable to get an alignment performed due to a very sensitive emergency which prompted me to drive a few states away and back (~2500 miles). I drove this distance with no issues.
What seems like front-end shaking begins to happen after I returned home, about 500 miles ago. I originally took my car to get an alignment, but the shop said my passenger side outer tie rod end was causing the wheel to shake, which was true when I observed in shop. It was rusted and the castle nut/pin were very rusty. This prompted me to replace it, as below.
Replaced within the past 500 miles:
Two days after I got the outer tie rod end replaced at the shop, I took my car in to get an alignment because the shaking/wobbling was still happening. Slightly less, but still a significant issue. At the alignment shop, they said the jam nut for the outer tie rod end was not affixed tightly/properly. After adjustment, alignment was performed (this was last weekend, about 300 miles ago). The car still shakes.
The shaking still occurs when I drive, it is not noticable in first gear or anything under about 20 MPH, but in all other gears, at all speeds above that, there is noticable shaking/wobbling. When I let go of the steering wheel, it has a sort of micro-wobble. It does not feel like warped front rotors, since I have drove and replaced many other FWD vehicles's warped rotors - the shaking I'm currently facing is more intense and does not feel familiar.
Other notes:
I'm thinking that the below issues listed could be causing the problem:
Please let me know I should check/replace something else. I can't seem to figure it out. What would you check and which parts would you try to replace first?
Thanks.
2008 Mazda 3 S 2.3L Hatchback MT. 131K miles. Car shakes when accelerating, braking, and when turning. There is always an underlying minor shake, but this is amplified during steering/accelerating/braking. If anyone can please help diagnose, or offer suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it. It is currently my daily driver/only car, and I perform all maintenance at home, properly and extensively.
Chronological order of happenings:
Replaced the below parts about 10,000 miles ago:
- New front calipers, OEM replacement
- New front rotors, Power Stop JBR1115XPR
- New ceramic brakepads
Properly drove during break-in period after installation of above.
Replaced about 4000 miles ago:
- New rear shocks (KYB 551105)
Properly drove during break-in period after installation of above.
Replaced about 3000 miles ago:
- New front struts (KYB SR4083, SR4084)
- New front passenger axle (Import Direct MZ8149)
- Rotated tires front-back (1 to 3, 2 to 4)
After this, I was unable to get an alignment performed due to a very sensitive emergency which prompted me to drive a few states away and back (~2500 miles). I drove this distance with no issues.
What seems like front-end shaking begins to happen after I returned home, about 500 miles ago. I originally took my car to get an alignment, but the shop said my passenger side outer tie rod end was causing the wheel to shake, which was true when I observed in shop. It was rusted and the castle nut/pin were very rusty. This prompted me to replace it, as below.
Replaced within the past 500 miles:
- New front passenger outer tie rod end, OEM replacement (This is the only part replacement I've had to take my car into a shop for (not done at home since I couldn't get it off) aside from mounting new tires when I purchased the car.)
- New rear rotors, OEM replacement
Two days after I got the outer tie rod end replaced at the shop, I took my car in to get an alignment because the shaking/wobbling was still happening. Slightly less, but still a significant issue. At the alignment shop, they said the jam nut for the outer tie rod end was not affixed tightly/properly. After adjustment, alignment was performed (this was last weekend, about 300 miles ago). The car still shakes.
The shaking still occurs when I drive, it is not noticable in first gear or anything under about 20 MPH, but in all other gears, at all speeds above that, there is noticable shaking/wobbling. When I let go of the steering wheel, it has a sort of micro-wobble. It does not feel like warped front rotors, since I have drove and replaced many other FWD vehicles's warped rotors - the shaking I'm currently facing is more intense and does not feel familiar.
Other notes:
- Rotated tires about 3000 miles ago, no issues up until about 1000 miles ago.
- Properly drove during break-in period of all parts, minus the emergency road trip.
- All-Season 740AA tires still have plenty of tread left, replaced only about 15,000 miles ago. No bubbling/damage.
- Steering pump is functioning properly, flush and replaced fluid about 15,000 miles ago.
- During the alignment, I asked shop tech to check all the bushings. Shop tech reports all bushings are good and should not be causing any shaking.
- Oil changes every 4000 miles.
- All other fluids are proper.
I'm thinking that the below issues listed could be causing the problem:
- Bad engine mounts? Would this cause as much shaking as I am experiencing?
- New axle is defective, or old axle seems to be going right after replacing the other one. This seems unlikely, as I drove the roadtrip with no issues, but I could be wrong.
- Front rotors are actually warped and I am misdiagnosing. This also seems unlikely, as they are high-er performance than OEM spec and replaced recently (10,000 miles ago, which is about 4 months ago) and as stated earlier it does not feel like warped rotors.
- Bad steering rack?
Please let me know I should check/replace something else. I can't seem to figure it out. What would you check and which parts would you try to replace first?
Thanks.
