Steering wheel vibration

[Montymole]

Any recommendations as to where? Can it be done while I wait ?

[spikeyboy101]

Had the wheels rebalanced.

The one with loads of weights on previously now only has a couple on.

Did ask if the wheels looked like they were buckled or had a flat spot - no was the answer.

But the vibration / wobble is still present at around 53 - 63 mph.

Going to go back and have the front wheels moved to the back - see if that resolves it.

BUT is there any thing else that could cause the vibration / wobble ? As previously mentioned I only noticed the car starting to do it a few weeks ago.

Thanks

[adsgreen]

To discount the brakes, go for a drive at 55-60 where the wobble is.
Coast down to a stop and feel the discs - should all be the same cool temp.

Might be something loose in the steering mechanism.

Geo? (long shot)

[Montymole]

I feel your pain spikeyboy.... Mine was at 80-85.... I'm still not 100% happy either, I may ask check the steering out early nxt week at Stafford Audi...

[spikeyboy101]

Thanks - its driving me nuts, typical once you feel something you notice it all the time, even thinking I'm feeling it lower down the speed, but hands off the wheel and no wobble.

Timing for this is great as I'm off to the ring next weekend.

[adsgreen]

What happens when you brake lightly and hard at speed?

If it were the discs then the vibration would be a lot worse under light braking and much improved under hard.

[adsgreen]

Anyone close who can lend a wheel to test?

[spikeyboy101]

Ok so car went back to garage today for them to have another look at.

One of the wheels may have a possible buckle - so swapped front to back.

Also check out the brakes, bearings etc - all seemed ok.

Still got the damn wobble / vibration.

Can't feel any uvibration through the brakes with either light or hard braking.

[P_G]

Can you feel the vibration coming from the front or the rear though? If it is the rear then it will be the wheel, if the front possibly smething else. Best thing wuld be to find a place with a Hunter GSP9700 wheel balancer as it will force match all of your wheel whilst balancing them and advised which wheel to pu on which axle to minimise vibrations It may also identify other issues like flat spotted wheels, buckles in others or tyre abnormalities.

It is part of the allign my car website

[mumbles]

What happens when you brake lightly and hard at speed?

If it were the discs then the vibration would be a lot worse under light braking and much improved under hard.

This could explain my vibration???
Is it worth getting the discs skimmed or should I just buy new ones???

[spikeyboy101]

Quick update.

Found a garage locally that had hunter balancer and alignment equipment, although not the gps9700.

Had the wheels rebalanced again and alignment done.

All felt good, although though I could feel slight vibration in the car, steering wheel vibration seems to have gone.

The slight pulling to the left had gone as wheels were slightly out of alignment.

Drove down to the ring at the weekend and on the much smoother European roads could feel the vibration on the car and the steering wheel wobbled now at 60 mph.

Back in the uk it's harder to feel but I'm sure it's still there, plus that I could feel it on smooth roads confirms there is still an issue.

So anymore ideas on what could cause this - it only started doing it about 4 weeks ago and I haven't hit any pot holes that I'm aware of, I'm the only driver and only time. Haven't driven is when it was with AMD for the decoke and air box vacuum fix (not saying they hit a pot hole or anything)

Only thing I can think of is a buckled wheel - if one is very very very slightly buckled would this cause this issue ? Or should the tire smooth it out ?

What would be the best way to check for a very very very slight buckle ? As now had two garages look and neither have really highleted a buckle in the wheels.


Appreciate any help.

[Montymole]

I'm still the same also....steering wheel wobble but not at any specific speed, just seems to bounce about and not feel stable, they have re confirmed my DRC is all ok and said only thing to check now is alignment but they want £50 to check and then £180 to fix if it's out.

Spikeyboy, would you just confirm how much difference you steering wobble was after the alignment and some idea of cost?

[macRS4]

£180 for a 4-wheel alignment seems a bit steep, monty.

I got an alignment carried out at Revolution fairly recently and iirc they're about £70 if all 4 wheels need adjusted.

My local dealer was only quoting £100 for an alignment when I asked them earlier this year.

However, even after the alignment and a rebalancing I've got a bit of a vibration still coming through the steering wheel, so my next step is to get the car in for a health check and then a visit to a garage with a hunter gps 9700 machine.

[stu]

Appreciate any help.

No one's mentioned it yet: engine mounts?

At least one of them has a sensor so will show on a VCDS. Better brains than mine have been pitching in already, haven't mentioned it, so it's unlikely.

Common things are common.

[spikeyboy101]

Alignment was £40 to check and £40 to adjust - I would never expect to pay more than £80 for the alignment.

I've rung around all the local garages from the align my car web site and none of them have the gps9700.

I'm a bit stumped as what to do next as I am concerned about something letting go when I'm driving and causing me to crash.