nixco

I'm getting a shudder from what sounds/feels like the front left axle/wheel area, but really only when the front wheels are on center or left of center (it goes away when the front wheels are pointed right of center). Note that it's not triggered by steering (i.e. steering left when coming out of a right hand turn doesn't cause it, it's the orientation of the front wheels themselves). It does get much worse the farther the wheels point to the left. The shudder increases in speed with increased axle revolutions/speed.

I recently bought the car, and had new front tires put on. One of the goofballs stripped a lug on the front left wheel, and it eventually had to get torched off and the wheel was ruined. I noted that the ruined wheel had a torn spot on the bead, which indicates to me that they had applied some tools to it and were really wrestling it off of there. Could they have screwed up something in the axle/wheel hub, and which element is most likely? I'm anxious to hear what you guys think...

I had worried that torching the lug might heat up the rotor enough to warp it, but braking does not have any effect on the shudder. I did put the car in 4WD mode for a few hundred yards and it seemed that it went away and came back as soon as I put it in 2WD again, am I crazy?

solderjunkie

Not crazy.

It sounds like the axle-joints are borked.

If you are not in the rust-belt, they are relatively easy to change.

BuckB91XJ

Sounds like whoever wrestled that left front wheel off did something to loosen or warp the front left wheel bearing. You're feeling the shudder in a left hand turn because that is when you are putting the most force on the left front wheel pulling it away from the hub.

ol"blue

X2 on the hub being damaged. Jack it up and check for play. I'd make the shop fix it, or at the very least buy the replacement parts. Talk to the manager. They know they were beating on it, so be confident and raise a little hell. If you wimp out they'll just blow you off.
I don't mean to presume, but if you're a young kid take your Dad or an older, cocky friend/relative to argue for you.