My 2001 Volvo XC70 with 50,000 miles have a...

[Josh34]

...slight shudder/vibration at 45+ MPH? My car most noticeably vibrates at speeds of 75-85. The alignment is definitely not the issue. Nothing even close to making me pull over, but I'm definitely concerned with the long term effects. How do I go about diagnosing this without getting taken to the cleaners by the service department?

[Adam K]

Possibilities:- Your wheels/tires aren't mounted or balanced correctly- Your tires may have uneven wear or "flat spots"- Your tires might not be inflated to the same pressures- If they're not the original tires, they may not be the correct size. - If you notice the vibration more when you step on the brake, it's likely you have warped brake rotors. To avoid paying a dealer to look at it, you could try taking it to an auto parts store, such as AutoZone or Pep Boys. They can be helpful. You might want to find a local, trustworthy, independent mechanic who can deal with these issues.

[ljames299]

I had the exact same problem on my S40: I must have had the tires balanced and rebalanced three times before I found out I needed new CV joints. It was $500 with my independent mechanic (if you live in Atlanta, I can give you his name), Volvo wanted almost twice as much.It will not further damage the car by driving it, it is just really annoying - I couldn't put up with it.