Hey guys,
About 2-3 days ago my 06 Sienna started with a dull vibration that seems suspension related. I say that because when I drive on the freshly paved main road around the corner from where I live I don't feel or hear anything, but on any other road I am hearing/feeling something. It sounds like it's coming from the right front according to my ears and my 14 year old son as well. However I'm feeling it around the tunnel/accelerator pedal area as well. How do you guys go about trying to figure out weird vibrations/sounds? It's very dull and slight, but it's there. The car has 190k on the clock and everything in the suspension is factory original.
CV joint? Wheel bearing? Jack up the front end and check for play? How are the tires?
Drive it 'til it gets worse?
1988RedT2 said:
CV joint? Wheel bearing? Jack up the front end and check for play? How are the tires?
Tires are probably 2 years old, but only used between May and December. It's really an odd vibration, I can't figure out where it's coming from when driving it, but it does seem to be coming from the front.
Check all the engine and trans mounts too.
I'd guess wheel bearing as most likely in a long list of possibilities. Does the noise change when swerving back and forth?
at about that mileage I had a very odd vibration and a clunk from the front end. Was a collapsed strut.
04 sienna.
Vigo (Forum Supporter) said:
I'd guess wheel bearing as most likely in a long list of possibilities. Does the noise change when swerving back and forth?
It does not change with swerving.
Well, might have to put the control arms on jack stands (so its at ride height, but off the ground) and get under there while someone manages the throttle. Possibilities are wheel bearings, CV axle center support bearing, differential side bearings, or just a general graininess coming through a failing engine mount. Hard to say without feeling it. If you don't find anything and the tires are not directional switch them side to side so they both spin the other direction and see if it changes.
In reply to Mazdax605 :
I was wondering...
"Doesn't do it on glassy smooth but does on anything rougher" does sound a bit like the system is lacking a damping element. I would not have bet any money on it 'til I saw your pic, though.
OEM replacements, or aftermarket? I'm thinking about complete struts with springs and all.
Strut tops / bearings are probably ready, too. If you can get a full assembly for a reasonable price, I would do it. Probably won't need PB Blaster on the strut knuckle on that side. :) I wouldn't do OE. Check your swaybar endlinks, bushings, and balljoints before you start ordering parts.
Tyler H (Forum Supporter) said:
Strut tops / bearings are probably ready, too. If you can get a full assembly for a reasonable price, I would do it. Probably won't need PB Blaster on the strut knuckle on that side. :)
Yeah, was thinking of replacing the entire strut assembly with the springs and everything. Any particular brand better than others? OEM would be a good choice but they're pricey.
Mazdax605 said:
OEM replacements, or aftermarket? I'm thinking about complete struts with springs and all.
I put the highest quality quick struts I could find on the car. I think I put kyb's on there rock auto has them. Monroe is 2nd choice. I guess it depends on how long you want to keep the car.
I knew it was a strut. Sounded just like our old. Sienna. Same mileage as well
Our 05 with around 190k on it had a vibration under load and at highway speeds. I had a mechanic that I trusted take a look at and he couldn't find anything. I finally told him to replace both axles. He initially refused saying he didn't want to waste my money. I took him on a drive and showed him the issue. He told me that I drove it much harder than he did but now he could feel it. He swapped in the new axles and it was like new.
We put a set of the Monroe quick struts on my son's Mazda 3. It was easier that I thought it would be. It cuts out about half the work and the most dangerous part of the job.
So I've heard lots of people saying Monroe is a good choice, but a few people saying that they're terrible. I don't know what to think now.
What is the alternative to Monroe? I've installed a boatload of their OESpectrum or whatever the hell they call them, and have had zero trouble. Monroe-Matics are cheap junk.
Remember, you are not competing with a set of Penske's on your late model, here. You are looking for struts for your wifes minivan.
I've installed the cheapest quick struts known to man on a whole bunch of vehicles. They all work ok but just seem to fall off quicker than oem-quality stuff, as in they feel noticeably different within 20k miles instead of the 60-150k I see from oem dampers before they become objectionable. That may or may not matter depending on how many miles you put on this thing.
Vigo (Forum Supporter) said:
I've installed the cheapest quick struts known to man on a whole bunch of vehicles. They all work ok but just seem to fall off quicker than oem-quality stuff, as in they feel noticeably different within 20k miles instead of the 60-150k I see from oem dampers before they become objectionable. That may or may not matter depending on how many miles you put on this thing.
The reality is that while it's not a very cool vehicle I absolutely love this thing. I keep thinking about replacing it because I'd like to get something cooler as a daily driver, but you really can't beat a minivan when it comes to versatility. It has 190k on it, and I'd like to get as many years as possible out of it because the budget won't really allow for two car payments and my wife got a new car last year.
I went to my friendly local Napa and they want $250 a piece for fully loaded struts. In my searching I have come to realize there is a difference in the 7 and 8 passenger model struts. Of course we have the 8 passenger one. I wonder what the difference is, weight load, higher spring rate?
Ordered new Monroe quick struts from Rock Auto yesterday around 2PM. Got an email saying they would be delivered on Tuesday August 18th. This morning around 11AM I get an email saying they've been delivered. Think, no way that is true. Go home for lunch because I was nearby. Sure enough there is a huge box on my porch with RA stickers on it. I can't believe this!!
Honestly, my wife and I were anti mini-van before we had kids. Then when #1 came along and we tried to use the club cab truck with suicide rear doors as the baby carrier it became apparent that a mini-van would be much more useful. We put 200k on ours before we sold it. I put 135k of those on it after she was done with it and wanted an SUV. I'm sure it will go another 100k. The only issue it had was one of the rear power doors quit working. I turned the master switch off after the dealer told me it'd be $1500 or something to fix it.
I've never replaced struts before. Is it as straight forward as it seems? Two big bolts on the bottom, a few brackets that hold the brake line, and ABS wiring, and the 3 nuts on the top?
Okay, so I changed the bad passenger side strut out. Of course the sway bar end links had to be cut off and now I need to go buy new ones tomorrow morning. The strut replacement was actually pretty easy, but that sway bar end link was a total nightmare. I hate living in the rust belt!!
