Hello

It's been a while since the Octavia's been on the motorway but the last time it did, I noticed a steering wheel vibration at around 65-75 mph which wasn't present above or below that speed.

So I had the front wheel balancing checked at a local tyre place and they told me that the wheels were out by about 30g on either side. They rebalanced the wheels (which had 6 month old tyres on) and the problem is much better.

The thing is, there's still a faint vibration at similar speeds - nowhere near what there was before, but definitely not gone.

Is wheel alignment a sensible next step? And if so, should I be looking at a place with proper 4 wheel laser alignment which I assume isn't what the vast majority of garages with a "Wheel Alignment" sign outside offer?

Thanks..

Could be they are not balanced spot on but getting your car four wheel aligned would be a good idea just to make sure it handles right

Got mine balanced at the weekend, they were quite a bit out! Maybe wheel hop knocked some weights off? Anyway there spot on now.

steering wheel vibration at around 65-75 mph which wasn't present above or below that speed.

I think they need to do a job one more time. This is typical for wheels being of balance.

I think they need to do a job one more time. This is typical for wheels being of balance.

^^^

Sounds like wheels still not balanced correctly. I have had lots of experience of poorly balanced wheels.

One national garage took 3 attempts & still never got it right. Took it to their Beverley branch after complaining to their HQ and bingo - spot on.

Let them have another go, but if problem persists take it elsewhere. Some garages just don't have the expertise / decent equipment.

I've got a similar thing going on although it's at 75-80mph. New steering rack reduced it heavily but it's still there, slightly more so when on a curved stretch of m'way and there's the slightest bit of steering applied.

I've had the wheels balanced by 2 separate places and also rotated front to back etc and it's still there. Changed front wishbone rear bushes to poly ones and now looking at changing the ball joints next to see if that helps.

After that it's new track rod ends on the agenda (arms were already changed when diagnosing the rack issue).

It's like I can feel the ripples in the road far more than I should be able to as opposed to wheel wobble caused by balancing as it's not quite rhythmic and feels more like a general car vibration from the front as opposed to steering wheel wobble which is much more distinctive. An in a straight line it's hardly present at all.

Sodding car. :(

Check the back wheels are balanced as well

Hello

It's been a while since the Octavia's been on the motorway but the last time it did, I noticed a steering wheel vibration at around 65-75 mph which wasn't present above or below that speed.

So I had the front wheel balancing checked at a local tyre place and they told me that the wheels were out by about 30g on either side. They rebalanced the wheels (which had 6 month old tyres on) and the problem is much better.

The thing is, there's still a faint vibration at similar speeds - nowhere near what there was before, but definitely not gone.

Is wheel alignment a sensible next step? And if so, should I be looking at a place with proper 4 wheel laser alignment which I assume isn't what the vast majority of garages with a "Wheel Alignment" sign outside offer?

Thanks..

30g is a fair bit of weight to add to an alloy to balance it!

Mine have 15 - 20g max on each rim in total

Make sure they are doing it properly with weights on the inner and outer edge of the wheel - some places just go for one weight on each wheel

Thanks - I'm going to take it to one of those places listed on www.alignmycar.co.uk and get the lot checked out. I'll post and let you know how I get on..

Get the wheels swapped front/back and see if it improves.

So I had a proper 4 wheel alignment from a Hunter equipped place. There was, of course, some adjustment to be made and the car feels different.

They also rebalanced the front wheels - as I asked them to - and they also reported that they were not correctly balanced.

But the bloody vibration is still there at 65-75 mph!

The only thing that has cured it has been putting winter steel wheels with the winter tyres on. Completely gone!

So at least I know there's nothing wrong with my car. I'll try doing as suggested and rotating front to back when the alloys go back on in the spring.

'No thanks' to ugly weights on the outer face of the wheels. Self adhesive weights in the groove on the inside are all I need.

'No thanks' to ugly weights on the outer face of the wheels. Self adhesive weights in the groove on the inside are all I need.

Not what I meant, you can still balance alloys with inner and outer stick on weights and the outer ones are just behind the lip of the front face. You should never use the weights that clip on with alloys, they are for steelies.

So I had a proper 4 wheel alignment from a Hunter equipped place. There was, of course, some adjustment to be made and the car feels different.

They also rebalanced the front wheels - as I asked them to - and they also reported that they were not correctly balanced.

But the bloody vibration is still there at 65-75 mph!

The only thing that has cured it has been putting winter steel wheels with the winter tyres on. Completely gone!

So at least I know there's nothing wrong with my car. I'll try doing as suggested and rotating front to back when the alloys go back on in the spring.

So you have a buckled alloy or a square tyre then!

Thanks. OK - so at least I know where to focus the attention. And I'm more relieved that nothing's wrong with the actual car itself (£££££…).

Yep, they can be a pain to track down these kind of vibrations. A spare set of wheels and tyres helps :-)

Check the back wheels are balanced as well

Trusted wheel dealer told me if the problem was the rear, the vibration from would show up in the seats. Vibration through the steering wheel is front. Can't remember which one is indicated when it's the pedals, but I think they said it was the front again.

I had horrendous vibration above 75 mph, had a 4 wheel laser-alignment on a 'super-tracker' at brittania tyres in Hinckly, wow, its like driving a new car, best 50quid I've ever spent on a car...

Good point - I haven't had the back wheels specifically checked. The vibration is was 100% in the steering wheel.

Will be interesting to see what happens in the spring with the wheels rotated - then I know what to get done next.

Still probably the fronts then, as said you tend to feel out of balance rear wheels through the seat.

Try a different tyre shop. I had a lot of bother getting mine balanced in the past and I suspect the machine was faulty at one place.