Vehicle vibration on highway
 

Hey all,

Just took ownership of a 2010 R3 with 50k KM on it (32k miles) a couple days ago. Regretfully not test driving it on the highway, i noticed a few days after getting it that the entire floor and maybe rear of the car of the vehicle vibrates and makes a noise as if i am driving over rumble strips (deep growl/vibration). The vibration isn't constant, but rather pulsates for 1 second, goes away for 1 second and then returns, over and over. After further testing, i noticed it is very prominent from 70-80km/hr (45-50mph?) and gets worse at highway speeds. I did notice on the highway that it happens while driving straight and quickens/worsens when turning my wheel left at highway speeds. It also seems to disappear when turning right at 100km/hr+. I'm leaning towards a shot wheel bearing but am not sure as i bought this vehicle from a mazda dealership that claimed to have safety inspected it. If they truly did a proper safety on the vehicle then a shot wheel bearing wouldn't have passed their test, correct?

Sorry, not too familiar with suspension components and need all the help i can get while i'm within the 15 day return policy for the vehicle.

Thank you

I would just go back to them. Whatever inspection they did and sold you on, they should probably own up to.

It could be flatspotted tires, which will pass after a short drive, but either way, this should be up to them to figure out and repair to your satisfaction.


I don't think it's a bearing, it would have to be really really shot to cause vibrations like that.

If the car has not been driven in a while, the fluid viscosity will take a bit to get back to normal, meaning trans and diff. When I don't dive mine after the the winter for over 5 or so months it vibrates for a bit, so I keep it under 45mph for about the first 25-60 miles or so, in other words a nice slow Sunday drive, (it also has flat spots on the tires). It all goes away after that. Try that first, and if it stays, might want to check for drive shaft u joints, had frozen u joints in my old escape that would cause the car to vibrate after certain speed.

I would bet wheel bearing also. But they don’t always catch those because they don’t always wobble.
My truck was doing that took it in to two different places cause I couldn’t get any wobble while it was jacked up either. Both said fine and must be in tires. Then about 400 miles later parts fell out and it was indeed a bearing. So they may have checked it just didn’t show up on the normal check

If there are no vibrations through the steering wheel then its coming from the rear. Hub, wheel balance, or driveshaft is what I'm thinking. I'm leaning more towards hub since the issue changes when turning. ​​​​​​

thanks for all the suggestions guys..

turns out it was the front passenger wheel bearing. The original dealer ended up replacing it on their dime as i argued it was not safe to drive. symtpoms are now gone - still quite a lot of cabin noise on the highway so im concerned theres a rear bearing needing replacement but so far it drives much better

A quick Jack and check of the wheels to make sure it's not a bearing or maybe a bushing..

Great stuff!! congratulations.