Vibration At Highway Speeds

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2016 Dodge Journey and 2015 Dodge Journey. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Vibration associated with the CV joints in the half-shafts occur in the 3rd and 6th order (3 or 6 events for each rotation). The inner tripod joint with three pivot axis has three events in each rotation of the half-shaft. This will produce a 3rd order vibration of the wheel rotation speed. The outer CV joint with 6 pivot axis balls has six events in each rotation of the half-shaft. This will produce a 6th order vibration of the wheel rotation speed. A 6th order vibration will create a high pitch sound, like gear noise. Use a vibration analyzer to determine the frequency of the vibration before replacing components.

SYMPTOM	POSSIBLE CAUSE	REPAIR
Low frequency vibration, matching wheel speed. Wheel balance and runout is OK.	Foreign material (plastic bags, organic sinew and road debris) fouling the half shaft.	Clean debris from around half-shaft.
High frequency vibration matching 3rd order wheel speed.	Faulty inner tripod joint. Vehicle ride height is modified.	Replace half-shaft. Return vehicle to proper ride height.
High pitch whine sound with possible high frequency vibration in the floor matching 6th order wheel speed.	Faulty outer CV joint. Vehicle ride height is modified.	Replace half-shaft. Return vehicle to proper ride height.