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4 Posts
I bought my 14 Optima Ex with 31k miles on it loaded.
Issue: Front end vibrates at speeds 38 to 56mph and varies from left to right, intensity, but mostly right and dependent on rpm at those speeds and temp seems to play a role as well.
Kia Dealership: I've had it in three times from purchase to figure out what's up. They inspected suspension on both sides, tire balance that was nearly on, swapped tires back to front, put 4 other tires/rims on and test drove, motor mounts (service mgr stated my engine has more vibration than his 15), shop contacted kia for assistance and recommendation was only to try new tires on the front as everything they stated was deemed not replaceable, no change with tires except the 18s did ride a tiny bit better than my 17s. Problem still exists. I played with tire pressure and at max pressure the vibration is a shorter wave and finer vibration and lower pressure the wave is longer and has more vibration (more power to turn a tire with less pressure?). When I let off the gas as this is happening the vibration lessens then I coast and only a small amount of vibration if any exists.
Thoughts: first I suspected maybe struts, but could it be motor mounts or trans mounts? I find it odd that the vibration is mostly on the passenger front, but will move to the left every once in a while then I hit that speed range again and it's back to the right. At start up and idle there is noticable vibration, rolling wave, and play that almost replicates what I feel while driving within those speeds.
Your thoughts on where to start. I'm no mechanic, but do some work on my cars except tearing deeper into my engine.
Part recommends/brands.
This has been going on for almost a year and a half.
Issue: Front end vibrates at speeds 38 to 56mph and varies from left to right, intensity, but mostly right and dependent on rpm at those speeds and temp seems to play a role as well.
Kia Dealership: I've had it in three times from purchase to figure out what's up. They inspected suspension on both sides, tire balance that was nearly on, swapped tires back to front, put 4 other tires/rims on and test drove, motor mounts (service mgr stated my engine has more vibration than his 15), shop contacted kia for assistance and recommendation was only to try new tires on the front as everything they stated was deemed not replaceable, no change with tires except the 18s did ride a tiny bit better than my 17s. Problem still exists. I played with tire pressure and at max pressure the vibration is a shorter wave and finer vibration and lower pressure the wave is longer and has more vibration (more power to turn a tire with less pressure?). When I let off the gas as this is happening the vibration lessens then I coast and only a small amount of vibration if any exists.
Thoughts: first I suspected maybe struts, but could it be motor mounts or trans mounts? I find it odd that the vibration is mostly on the passenger front, but will move to the left every once in a while then I hit that speed range again and it's back to the right. At start up and idle there is noticable vibration, rolling wave, and play that almost replicates what I feel while driving within those speeds.
Your thoughts on where to start. I'm no mechanic, but do some work on my cars except tearing deeper into my engine.
Part recommends/brands.
This has been going on for almost a year and a half.