# The Shakes

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-shakes/7508>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [November 20, 2007, 11:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-shakes/7508 "2007-11-20T23:09:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![toddbischoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d78d45/32.png) [@toddbischoff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/toddbischoff)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2007, 11:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-shakes/7508/1 "2007-11-20T23:09:19Z")

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I have a 1997 Pontiac Transport Montana. A couple of weeks ago it began to shake, I check the tire on the side of the shake and found that it had some broken radials, I changed the tire and hoped that would help…it didn’t. The odd thing is that I can drive for a couple of miles and it drives fine, the shake comes and after a couple more miles it drives fine again. I’m thinking I might have a warped rotor, but was told that a warped rotor would make the vehicle shake constantly. Any suggestions?

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**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GreasyJack)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 2:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-shakes/7508/2 "2007-11-21T02:21:15Z")

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I’m not sure exactly what you mean by “broken radials” (tread seperation maybe?) but I’d say if one tire was having some problems, all of them should be suspect. Depending on how old they are, I’d say balance or replace the other three.

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**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 5:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-shakes/7508/3 "2007-11-21T05:03:37Z")

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Change the tire location and see if the shaking feeling moves with it.

Perhaps you have the start of a worn wheel bearing (although they tend to make a low growling/grinding noise when worn).

Regarding the possibility of a warped rotor, does the shaking get worse (steering wheel shake?) when applying the brakes?

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**Author:** ![CapriRacer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capriracer/32/22_2.png) [@CapriRacer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapriRacer)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 12:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-shakes/7508/4 "2007-11-21T12:18:14Z")

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It wouldn’t hurt to examine the other tires, but I think your problem is elsewhere. I suspect a worn or broken suspension bushing. This would cause the vehicle to be fine, until you hit a small bump and the suspension moves ever so slightly and then the new position causes a vibration in the drivetrain.

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**Author:** ![toddbischoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d78d45/32.png) [@toddbischoff](https://community.cartalk.com/u/toddbischoff)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 5:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-shakes/7508/5 "2007-11-21T17:06:23Z")

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Yes it does get worse when applying the brakes.

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**Author:** ![Roadrunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@Roadrunner](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Roadrunner)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2007, 8:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/the-shakes/7508/6 "2007-11-21T20:48:05Z")

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If relocating the tire/wheel on the FR doesn’t fix it, then the fault likely is either a warped rotor or possibly a faulty caliper.