Interesting comments from people. Last week I changed front tyres over again, from PZeros (which had been on the back for a while) to EfficientGrips. While it's a bit quieter there's definately something wrong up front. Even though someone has road tested it and "thinks its fine", I know this car.

I cant even explain how it feels, definately a vibration at speed and while driving slowly - almost like someone picks the car up and moves it forward....really really weird.

I'm sure I'll sort it when I have more time.

Hope so mate, as I had my wishbone bushes checked and everything is fine. But the vibration is still there. It's flippin annoying. I know how you feel. If I get to the bottom of it, I'll let you know

Edited 10 November, 201114 yr by Deneo

Deneo - how old is your car and how many miles?

The issue I face is I don't have access to any ramps and rely on local garages. I know for a fact no one has really checked everything. Only just a poke and prod of the things that are visible and accessible. No one has checked for bent drive shafts, wheel hubs, struts, engine/gearbox mounts (although I plan to look at these myself when I get a moment)...etc. Even on the recent MOT there was an advisory note saying the undertray prevented a full check (I wonder what it's hiding?).

I have a very kind offer from a member within this forum to check the above, but he's a couple of hours away (Leeds) - hoping to get a chance to visit in the near future.

Deneo - how old is your car and how many miles?

The issue I face is I don't have access to any ramps and rely on local garages. I know for a fact no one has really checked everything. Only just a poke and prod of the things that are visible and accessible. No one has checked for bent drive shafts, wheel hubs, struts, engine/gearbox mounts (although I plan to look at these myself when I get a moment)...etc. Even on the recent MOT there was an advisory note saying the undertray prevented a full check (I wonder what it's hiding?).

I have a very kind offer from a member within this forum to check the above, but he's a couple of hours away (Leeds) - hoping to get a chance to visit in the near future.

My car is 2006 and nearly 60k on it. I've put it on the ramps and see no visible issues with the mounts I can see, and the "dog bone" seems well and truly ridged. All I can see is that the engine seems very noisy on Idle, but don't all PD Diesels do that?

I haven't had time to read every reply but I would honestly put a different set of wheels on that you know are straight. I read that you've had them re-balanced loads of times and that one was slightly buckled at some point - This can cause all sorts of issues but only at different / certain speeds and is obviously exaggerated at higher speed but I would definitely put another set on - If you were local to me you're welcome to borrow a set of Audi Wheels i have to try it out...

Definitely worth trying though as it's usually a wheel or tyre problem with this type of thing - I had it on a Golf Mk4 with a slightly buckled rim, and my Dad had it on his 06 Octavia VRS with the same issue...

I haven't had time to read every reply but I would honestly put a different set of wheels on that you know are straight. I read that you've had them re-balanced loads of times and that one was slightly buckled at some point - This can cause all sorts of issues but only at different / certain speeds and is obviously exaggerated at higher speed but I would definitely put another set on - If you were local to me you're welcome to borrow a set of Audi Wheels i have to try it out...

Definitely worth trying though as it's usually a wheel or tyre problem with this type of thing - I had it on a Golf Mk4 with a slightly buckled rim, and my Dad had it on his 06 Octavia VRS with the same issue...

I had my wheels in at www.wheelrepair.co.uk, they found a flat spot on one wheel but all the others were fine. If I get a chance, or can find any near me, I will try new wheels.

Nikg123 - Appreciate the offer. The wheels/tyres were the first suspect. Starting off with the obvious wheel balance, I have tried new tyres, rotating wheels.etc. In desperation to eliminate, I found a Hunter WheelForce machine that is supposed to check everything, even the 'springy-ness' of the tyres. Apart from the very slight buckle (now on OS rear, they all measured fine and balanced perfectly. For all of that, the problem always 'feels' from the front.

Nikg123 - Appreciate the offer. The wheels/tyres were the first suspect. Starting off with the obvious wheel balance, I have tried new tyres, rotating wheels.etc. In desperation to eliminate, I found a Hunter WheelForce machine that is supposed to check everything, even the 'springy-ness' of the tyres. Apart from the very slight buckle (now on OS rear, they all measured fine and balanced perfectly. For all of that, the problem always 'feels' from the front.

I know what you're saying mate, and it might seem unlikely but any slight buckle / flat spot in the wheel in my head would be well worth eliminating as to me it really could be enough to throw the whole car out of balance at speed, even if it feels like the front if you know what i mean?

I may be completely wrong but if i had a slight buckle in any wheel or any imperection I would definitely want that ruled out before I could move on

I know what you're saying mate, and it might seem unlikely but any slight buckle / flat spot in the wheel in my head would be well worth eliminating as to me it really could be enough to throw the whole car out of balance at speed, even if it feels like the front if you know what i mean?

I may be completely wrong but if i had a slight buckle in any wheel or any imperection I would definitely want that ruled out before I could move on

Totally agree. I'll drop the spare on and see if it makes any difference.

When you put a wheel on do they fit into the center piece housing tight or loose.

Why because my megane does not fit tight and if the wheel nuts aren´t tightend by hand slightly first you will get a small vibration always between

100-150km/h, and has nothing to do with wheel calibration.

don't discount the problem originating from the rear, cars are good at making noises, vibrations comming from other area's. My first thought was drive shaft/cv joints. Get on your back and give the the shafts a pull, if they move from foward to rear of car you have problems, they should move in and out a bit to allow for movement. Other than that you will need to get the cars front end of the ground and use a dial gauge on each drive shaft.

When you put a wheel on do they fit into the center piece housing tight or loose.

Why because my megane does not fit tight and if the wheel nuts aren´t tightend by hand slightly first you will get a small vibration always between

100-150km/h, and has nothing to do with wheel calibration.

That is down to center rings that should be installed on wheels where hubs are smaller then rims opening. If you use OEM rims then this wouldnt make difference unless Skoda makes different bolts for choice of rims. Sounds like there more things to consider with your problem.

PROGRESS??

For those interested, out of curiosity, I decided to drop the spare wheel on in place of the alloy with the "slight buckle on the inside rim". I say that in quotes, because out of the 10+ times, with 6 (yes 6), different garages that have balanced these wheels, only 1 place gave me this info - and this was after a Hunter Road Force test which showed NO issues. The only reason this came up was the mechanic mentioned it. They also said it wouldn't really cause any problems and suggested moving it to the back (originally on front).

Just driven 30 miles along a country road and it feels soooooo much more stable. Although I couldnt really get too much speed up, it feels much smoother and is much more accurate going into / out of corners. More importantly I don't get the weird movement I was trying to describe.

Tomorrow, I'm going to drop the alloy back on and spin it up and see for myself what the buckle looks like (I haven't seen it for myself yet)....could this be the problem or perhaps part of it???

I'll let you know...perhaps even get a video of it depending what I see.

That sound like could be a cure. It does make sense. Any imperfections on a tyres (even small onces) will effect balance, driveibility and steering. What is strange that you changed wheels/tyres and you had problems then but if that fixed problem - Then Congratulations.

That is down to center rings that should be installed on wheels where hubs are smaller then rims opening. If you use OEM rims then this wouldnt make difference unless Skoda makes different bolts for choice of rims. Sounds like there more things to consider with your problem.

Original renault rims and original disks, because their is a gap diference if it´s "tighten" to one side first the wheel will not be balanced and at high speed the wheel is going up/down up/down up/down up/down up/down cause it´s not centered on disk, being the disk centered to suspension.

The center rings aren´t used as much lately as times ago.

Edited 14 November, 201114 yr by alberg

Have you done a few more miles (at speed) yet to see if it's all fine???

If so I'm really pleased for you though, just think how much money / time you've wasted getting them rebalanced could be all worth it if it turns out it was just a simple thing haha.

Good luck anyway, hope it's sorted!

Update???

Update???

Hey allias - had to drop the old wheel back on yesterday as I had a motorway journey to do. With the spare wheel on, it's a smaller size and only rated at 50mph.

The motorway journey felt pretty bad even @ 60. So the next plan is to either buy a new/second hand Zenith 18" alloy, or see if anyone local can straighten the buckle (if thats possible)?.

I'll keep you updated - again, thanks for the interest.

Hey allias - had to drop the old wheel back on yesterday as I had a motorway journey to do. With the spare wheel on, it's a smaller size and only rated at 50mph.

The motorway journey felt pretty bad even @ 60. So the next plan is to either buy a new/second hand Zenith 18" alloy, or see if anyone local can straighten the buckle (if thats possible)?.

I'll keep you updated - again, thanks for the interest.

Just get it changed, I saw a Brand new 18" Zenith on Ebay for £50 - Gotta be worth it compared to trying to get the buckle out as it is more than likely to go again if it's happened once.

Safest option is definitely replace it!

The other thing about a buckled wheel is it can make the tyre wear very strange so keep an eye on that, i've seen it where the Tyres end up with bulges in places and really strange wear patterns across the tyre which can cause a lot of road noise - The Octavia's seem prone to that anyway with tyre wear.

Every car - not just Octavia - will act like that when you got something wrong on suspension - Tyres/loose parts/alignment/bent components.

Yeah mine does the same, but the thing with mine is that it's not constant.. There are times that I'm driving at 120km/h with no vibration at all, then at other times it vibrates like hell! Also happens just at take off, the rear window and rear view mirror shake like it's an earthquake!!

Yeah mine does the same, but the thing with mine is that it's not constant.. There are times that I'm driving at 120km/h with no vibration at all, then at other times it vibrates like hell! Also happens just at take off, the rear window and rear view mirror shake like it's an earthquake!!

Sound like wheel of balance in your case pal.

*** RESOLVED ****

Hoooray!!!!.

Shudder - this WAS down to the slight buckle in the alloy!. As I mention in the forum, after countless wheel balances and check by so called 'experts' and running up on a Hunter RoadForce that passed a no problem. The only way I found this was one chap showed me how the inside rim was moving around - not much I give you that, but I was told time and time again "it'll be OK mate, I'll balance it out"....yeah really. New alloy fitted - no shudder.

Vibration - Again, I can't add up all the people that have looked at this including Dealers, Kwik-Fit, Chemix, Halfords and others. Even been on a ramp with a shaker. I've even specifically asked a dealer to check all the bushes. Again, "no problems here mate, they're all fine".

So I took it to Midland VW and a chap called Jody took it for a test drive. Within 15 seconds of pulling away he knew what was wrong. "Rear lower arm bushes, shocks are worn and your diverter valve is split" - guess what - he's was bloody spot on!!.

Bushes and valve changed today - different car to drive.

When I get the chance I'll change the springs/shocks, but even with todays work, what a joy to drive on the motorway again.

Can't recommend them enough - great job.

I had all the same problems when I had a FIAT, dealers done all what you have had done but still not resolved until talking to a REAL mechanic who said bet it is the drive shaft. Had it done (nearside) and problem solved.

*** RESOLVED ****

Hoooray!!!!.

Shudder - this WAS down to the slight buckle in the alloy!. As I mention in the forum, after countless wheel balances and check by so called 'experts' and running up on a Hunter RoadForce that passed a no problem. The only way I found this was one chap showed me how the inside rim was moving around - not much I give you that, but I was told time and time again "it'll be OK mate, I'll balance it out"....yeah really. New alloy fitted - no shudder.

Vibration - Again, I can't add up all the people that have looked at this including Dealers, Kwik-Fit, Chemix, Halfords and others. Even been on a ramp with a shaker. I've even specifically asked a dealer to check all the bushes. Again, "no problems here mate, they're all fine".

So I took it to Midland VW and a chap called Jody took it for a test drive. Within 15 seconds of pulling away he knew what was wrong. "Rear lower arm bushes, shocks are worn and your diverter valve is split" - guess what - he's was bloody spot on!!.

Bushes and valve changed today - different car to drive.

When I get the chance I'll change the springs/shocks, but even with todays work, what a joy to drive on the motorway again.

Can't recommend them enough - great job.

Moral of the story - take it to a mechanic, not a fitter!

Glad you got it sorted, but I would have replaced the buckled wheel 1st , try cycling with a buckled wheel and you know to chuck away. My spare 5th zenith was £30, needed a new tyre, and i powder coated to match others, but when they are so cheap a no brainer. Also Alias does really know his stuff, now understeer is minimal, feels more like a rear drive now, and rear planted. When my lowering springs were fitted they must have been tightened whilst hanging, thought bushes were worn as they squeeked when wet , fine now,he roadtests 1st, then alterations, then roadtest, then fine tuning then roadtest . cambers and toe were wrong