(Final update 1/17) 300 miles and something's not right...

[Stewie]

I picked up a 2015 BRZ limited on 12/31/14. I have just over 300 miles on the car and something doesn't feel right. I noticed it starting this weekend and it felt very prevalent just now on the drive home.

Between 2600 -3100 rpm (+-) it feels like there is a shudder coming from the rear passenger side tire and sometimes an odd vibration from the front passenger side that doesn't appear to be rpm related. I can replicate the rear vibration but not the front.

Has anyone experienced this? I tried searching but couldn't come up with anything. I've already checked the tire pressures and checked to make sure that the lug nuts are tight.

I have an appointment with the dealer tomorrow morning but the whole thing kinda has me bummed. Any possible insight you guys could provide would be appreciated.

Thx

[Stewie]

Just wanted to add that I haven't hit anything, modded anything, or revved the car past 4000 rpm.

[MGPAX]

I have had the tires get flat spots overnite and vibrate the next day for a bit when they are cold. Also if it's on the same side of the car, may have picked up something off the road maybe?
I know you said it didn't feel like rpm related on the front, but this car transfers vibes, sounds etc very easily.

Hope you find it and it's an easy fix.
PAX

[Stewie]

Originally Posted by MGPAX

I have had the tires get flat spots overnite and vibrate the next day for a bit when they are cold. Also if it's on the same side of the car, may have picked up something off the road maybe?
I know you said it didn't feel like rpm related on the front, but this car transfers vibes, sounds etc very easily.

Hope you find it and it's an easy fix.
PAX

Thanks pax. I hope it's something simple as well.

Anyone else have something similar happen to them?

[Ganthrithor]

Is it happening at that engine RPM in every gear, or is it speed-related? My first guess would be that the shuddering wheel is just out of balance. I've had that happen on cars before (in my case because of snow / ice accumulation on the wheel, but it's possible someone just screwed up the weights and yours was never balanced correctly). At any rate, that's certainly an easy thing to check-- just have the dealer pull the wheel off and throw it on their machine. It should only take a couple of minutes.

[Stewie]

I'm hoping it's something simple. The thing that's worrying is that it felt like it was getting worse last night. The vibration/shudder felt more prominent.

[Lonewolf]

As others have said, one or more of the tires may have picked something up. If you are not at the dealer yet, turn the wheels side to side and try to examine the tread of the tires as much as you can.

I had something similar to what you were describing happen once to me and there was a fat screw head protruding almost a quarter of an inch above the tread of the tire, but I had not lost any pressure in that tire.

Hoping for something small...

[Wilsonk227]

I'm not sure if this is the same as yours but I've noticed whenever I started from a stop and slowly depress the gas. I'd feel a vibration coming from the rear wheels. I'm not sure if the wheels are slipping or if there's other stuff but I don't rev hard too. It does it at like 1500 rpm. This is slow start too so I have no idea.

Maybe it might be something similar? If anyone has any idea of this please let me know too. I'm thinking the rear tires are just slipping?

[paiceyfan]

I agree with the comments on ice and flat spotting due to parking the car for an extended period in very cold temperatures....I lived in New York for eight years and had this issue.


Now on the west coast, I have had something similar happen, not long after receiving the car. In this case, it was gravel from the workplace parking lot causing imbalance in the wheels.


Having the balance checked should cure it, assuming it is not something more extreme.

[Pkush]

Vibration from rear wheels is something I feel on cold starts. I think it's something with the differential. Seems normal operation to me

[JB86'd]

I have 11k miles on my car, and I felt this the other night for the first time, when my car sat in the cold for a few hours (it was around 37 degrees, Socal never gets this cold). I even got out and checked if I had a flat tire because it felt so strange. I'm convinced it was either the tires being cold with a flat spot or as Pkush said, the diff being cold. It's since warmed up and haven't noticed it.

[Pkush]

Yeah it's 0 degrees right now. I feel it every day lol.

[Stewie]

Originally Posted by Wilsonk227

I'm not sure if this is the same as yours but I've noticed whenever I started from a stop and slowly depress the gas. I'd feel a vibration coming from the rear wheels. I'm not sure if the wheels are slipping or if there's other stuff but I don't rev hard too. It does it at like 1500 rpm. This is slow start too so I have no idea.

Maybe it might be something similar? If anyone has any idea of this please let me know too. I'm thinking the rear tires are just slipping?

I've noticed that too. Whenever i let off the clutch gently and only apply the minimal amount of power via the gas pedal...there's a strange sound coming from what I imagine to be the tranny/flywheel area that can be heard until about 2200-2300 rpm. Does that match what you've experienced?

[Stewie]

Originally Posted by Ganthrithor

Is it happening at that engine RPM in every gear, or is it speed-related? My first guess would be that the shuddering wheel is just out of balance. I've had that happen on cars before (in my case because of snow / ice accumulation on the wheel, but it's possible someone just screwed up the weights and yours was never balanced correctly). At any rate, that's certainly an easy thing to check-- just have the dealer pull the wheel off and throw it on their machine. It should only take a couple of minutes.

Good idea and I have a plan. I'll update the thread on what was done/concluded below.