Car shaking violently

Hello, I haven't gotten tags as of yet to further investigate this problem but when I get the car to around 2500 rpm it starts violently shaking. I pin pointed it to the drive train and not the alignment or anything else because it only happens when you try to get it above 2500. It also only happens when it's in gear and driving. We tried to get it to do it again while in park and got it to 5k before letting off with nothing unusual happening and my dad did a break stand burnout in the driveway and nothing happen then either. I'm just asking around to get some idea as to what it might be so I can fix it ASAP. When I get my tags on tomorrow hopefully I'll be able to pinpoint it but it's always good to have a place to start looking. It's especially annoying doing 55 mph on the freeway because I'm sitting at 2k revs going up a hill. Any help is appreciated, thanks.

 

Sounds like a transmission problem.

Dear Justino and station wagon fans,

I'm no expert but that sounds like a transmission problem, perhaps something in the torque converter?

Unless you are really good with a wrench, you'll probably need to bite the bullet and bring the car to a mechanic that can deal with 20 year old cars.

Cheers, Edouard

 

2500 rpm regardless of gear or speed?

 

Torque converter clutch shudder?
Hold your left foot lightly down on the brake pedal when it does it and see if it stops. The brake light switch also opens the circuit that engages the clutch.
If it is that it wouldn't do it while doing the brake torque burnout because you hold your foot on the brake too.

 

Or cracked flex plate or loose bolts in it. We recently discussed this with others and son has replaced a number of flex plates for friends just lately. Sometimes the bell housing bolts are loose which starts the problem.

 

it's doing this at 2500 rpm in park/neutral AND in gear? or only in gear?

does it(if it does it only in gear) do it in every gear at 2500 rpm? or is it only in drive/od at cruise speed?

 

It does it in OD for sure and I'm like 80% sure it did it in 3rd and 50% sure it did it in second. I've only driven it once and that was 5 days ago so I don't remember exactly. Thanks everyone for all your suggestions, I have a nice check list of things to go over when the jack and stands make their way home on Saturday.

 

sound like a broken flexplate/flywheel.
specifically, when the whole center breaks out then then it re-catches in a weird way to push the converter off center.

 

Sure seem to be hearing this more lately. Flex plates are cheap at most auto parts stores.

 

Until we know it does it truly at 2500 rpm in all gears and not just in final gear (or certain speed), we cannot rule out an imbalanced tire, wheels bearings, rearend, or even steering components.

 

I was thinking U-Joints along with the above.

99.9% of the time if he had a broken flex plate or loose converter bolts he IS going to have NOISE usually sounds like a bad rod or wrist pin.

Check it in all the gears at 2500 rpm. And let us know.

 

I'm gonna say center bearing on driveshaft, [if it has one] bent driveshaft, and/or U-joints.

 

It could be anything from the harmonic balancer to the rear end.
I'd get an Olds factory service manual /the instructions for the car at some point if you plan on keeping it and intend to to do any work on it yourself.

If you aren't a member of the Impals SS forum join up and ask about the problem there if it gets tough to figure out. You can also search their archives, all kinds of info on shuddering or shaking problems others have had. I'm not saying people here aren't knowledgable too but 91-96 GM B-Body cars are all they deal with over there.

Pretty basic test and check stuff except for the trans where you need a scan tool.
The manual says it can be;

• Engine or mounts
• Transmission
• Tires, wheels and brake drums
• Propeller shaft and u-joints
• Wheel nuts
• Tire air pressure

Check the the wheel nuts first, it's can be a real bummer when a tire falls off.

 

BlueVista wrote:

"The manual says it can be;

• Engine or mounts
• Transmission
• Tires, wheels and brake drums
• Propeller shaft and u-joints
• Wheel nuts
• Tire air pressure

Check the the wheel nuts first, it's can be a real bummer when a tire falls off."

From personal experience, you can also add a failing water pump, fan clutch or fan to that list of possible causes.

 

Examine your tires carefully also, with a old work van I had shaking/vibrating after 45mph and trouble shooted everything to the point of frustration, I couldn't drive it on the highway period. Had the van parked with the wheels turned all the way to the left and noticed a strange bulge in the tread. Tires were not that old yet the cords had separated, the od thing was it was a front tire but I never felt any vibration in the steering wheel.