I've scoured the internet, and the various sections of forums here, but haven't found another case like this.

My bone stock 2006 xB, manual transmission, with 33,000 miles starts to vibrate as I drive. You can hear it around 45 mph, and once it gets to highway speeds, it's just a pulsing vibration that runs through the entire car. It feels like a tire out of balance, except the whole car feels that way. And as for the pulsing part, it vibrates constantly at those speeds, but it increases in noise level and feel every few seconds, and then dies down again.

So far, the dealer has balanced my wheels, and tried a whole new set of wheels and tires on it, and the noise is still there. The engineers suggest replacing the front axles, and if that doesn't work, replacing the transmission. No one knows if any of this would fix the problem. I'm not going to get into this for all that money. Hoping someone has some insight, or knows of a similar problem.

 

33,000 miles may be a little early but have them check your alignment and motor mounts. Replacing a functioning tranny for vibration is a stupid suggestion by the stealership.

 

Try getting a on-car 4 wheel balance, basically it will balance the rotors, drive shaft and rims together which is best for stubborn vibration issues. Be warned that once you do this you will need to do it again if you rotate the tires. Also if you pull the rims yourself for whatever reason you will need to align the wheel studs exactly when reinstalling them...so mark the rim.

 

Just want to update this. Still have no clue what is causing the box to vibrate at speed. The vibration is definitely in the pedals and steering wheel, and not the seat. Working with a Lexus tech friend of mine to eliminate some possibilities. No clue why a 33,000 miles stock car would do this. If I find out what it is, I'll post it. Getting real close to either trading it in on something, or buying a dealer extended warranty, waiting a week, and taking it in, "Hey, I have a vibration."

 

See if they can run it on a dyno or jack up the front wheels so you can check what is out of balance by just looking at it while they spin. Also PULL YOUR SPARKPLUGS and check them! It could be a front axle out of balance or a brake rotor out of balance.

 

I would guess motor mounts - they don't make them as robust as they used to.

Do you still get the vibration when you shift into neutral at 45mph?

 

Good question!!!!!

If he did, I would guess something in the front end and not the tranny. Add the fact he felt it in the wheel and pedals and not the seat, my guess is the axle, or the CV joint, or even a front wheel bearing. One of my bearings went bad sometime ago and it made the car feel like it was coming apart.

 

Ok, I did the neutral check today, and yes, the vibration is still there. Feels almost like bad shocks sometimes, and bad tire sometimes. But nothing we've mentioned should go at 33,000 miles, right? On a bone stock xB.

 

If it is the axle, is there a way to check? The dealer said the motor mounts were fine. I will eyeball those in the morning.

 

Wheel bearing,it happen to me,

 

Grab the axle and check for play when you move it up and down. You should Jack up a wheel at a time and spin it feeling for grinding and also view the axle for wobble as it spins.

 

I'm going with bad tires - 'cos my sons Xb appears to have them and they make a droning vibration that put his hands to sleep after a recent 150 mile trip.

Jack the front wheels off the ground one at a time - handbrake on and shifter in neutral engine OFF. With your hands, spin the tires forward and watch the tread surface of the tire as it rotates. It should be smooth. If you see any lumps, those can be tires going bad.

At 33K, the OP could still be on the original tires, which are getting a bit old.