Hi Guys,

 

Could really do with some help on this as I need to narrow down the issue.

 

My var had a steering wheel wobble when braking for a little while and there was some movement in the drivers tension rod, so after reading a post on here, that could have been my issue. I hadn't had a chance to change it for quite a while. Car started having a droning noise at 40mph and above, I thought the tension rod must have got worse, so I changed both sides and got the alignment done. This has cured 90 odd percent of the steering wobble when breaking, but I feel the droning noise has now got worse.

 

On the motorway yesterday, I cuold actually feel vibration through the car, which made looking through the rear view mirror fuzzy. There's no real vibration through the steering wheel, but it feels like the whole car. I can't tell for the life of me where the droning noise is coming from, front or rear

 

I jacked up the front last week and while on stands, I drove through the gears. What I did notice was a very noticeable shake through the steering wheel. Tomorrow I'm going to jack it up again and drive through the gears with the wheels off and see if there's any shake, then put one tyre back on to see if they change anything.

 

There's no movement on the wheels when jacked up feeling for movement in the bearing.

 

Is there anything else that I could try or is there a known fault that could cause this?

 

Cheers

 

Vijay

check your dog bone and gearbox mounts for signs of collapse, and the top engine mount.

 

Also check your driveshafts for play or free movement.

Thank you, will look under the car tomorrow when it's up on stands

If the alignment was out you could have worn tyres.

The rears can produce a drone noise that gets worse the faster you go.

Especially if the inner edges have a sawtooth pattern to them.

 

Can you check the balance of the tyres/wheels.

At the same time can the wheels/tyres be swapped from left to right hand side?

 

Thanks AG Falco

I can't say if it was before the alignment, but I never noticed any veering or vibrations before.

 

I'll look at the tyres tomorrow but will have to take them to a tyre place if I need to get them checked.

 

Tyres are directional, so can't do left to right

Good and bad news I guess. A mate who knows more about VAG cars than I do popped round to help. He reckons the dog bone is uprated as it's red. He noticed the rear bush on the nearside wishbone has perished. There's movement in it just by hand. I'd guess that would cause the vibration when breaking, but is it the likely cause of the vibration while driving?

 

My next question is uprated bushes or just buy new arms?

 

Bushes - I guess doing both sets on the wishbone makes sense. Is this the right kit (even though it doesn't say it's for a 1U5)? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Octavia-MK1-Complete-Front-Wishbone-PSB-Polyurethane-Bush-Kit-1996-to-2004/182613517333?epid=1443518035&hash=item2a849d2415:g:bJ4AAOSwhu9cPyLV

 

Ebay has the arms with bushes already pressed for £37 or a complete kit for £57 (I've already fitted tension rods)  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SUSPENSION-CONTROL-ARM-WISHBONE-KIT-FRONT-VW-BORA-GOLF-MK-4-1J-NEW-BEETLE-9C/381655648507?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D40733%26meid%3Dc42575e3930441f3b2abf67273c31893%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dco%26sd%3D273127813498%26itm%3D381655648507%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

 

The car is a daily driver and do a lot of motorway journeys

Always easier to do the whole arm with the bushes fitted, if you ask me.

And I would do both sides at the same time.

 

Just check the alignment afterwards.

 

Thanks AG Falco

My mate said the exact thing, easier, but bushes probably won't be the same quality/last as long as PU bushes long term.

 

I will be doing both sides

On 06/10/2019 at 17:31, Vijay2018 said:

but bushes probably won't be the same quality/last as long as PU bushes long term.

 

How long are you likely to keep the car? 

Longer than the new arms will last?

 

Thanks AG Falco

47 minutes ago, AGFalco said:

 

How long are you likely to keep the car? 

Longer than the new arms will last?

 

Thanks AG Falco

 

Well there's no money for a new car lol so as long as possible   I ended up ordering PU bushes so that's the way I'll go now  

 

Just hope it resolves the main issue..............................

Edited 7 October, 20196 yr by Vijay2018

Replaced the front wishbone bushes but sadly still got the same droning noise/vibration over 25mph. Anything known to give this issue?

Tyres, wheel bearing?

Does the noise move if you mover the tyres around, front to back?

Does the noise change with speed?

Does the noise change when cornering?

 

Thanks AG Falco

I can't even tell which corner/front/rear the noise is coming from so don't know how I can tell if it's a bearing. I've done the usual try jacking and moving the wheel top to bottom by hand - no noticeable movement. Also tried measure the temp of the wheels are a logn run as was told there would be more friction in a worn bearing, so more heat - all around the same temps.

 

Haven't swapped front to back wheels as I'm hoping to be able to borrow a mates wheels of his Seat which he reckons will bolt straight on. That should eliminate wheels and tyres.

 

Noise starts 20-25mph and is louder at motorway speed. Top end motorway speed it seems to quieten a little but not sure if that's it balancing out or I just can't hear the noise at speed.

 

Difficult to corner at 20-25mph so I don't know if it chances while cornering 😞

J

3 hours ago, Vijay2018 said:

I've done the usual try jacking and moving the wheel top to bottom by hand - no noticeable movement.

 

Jack the wheels up and spin them. Try the rear wheels/tyres first.

See if one makes more noise than the other side. Get your ear close to the hub.

 

You can also grab hold of the strut/spring and you can feel a vibration with a noisy wheel bearing when the wheel is spinning.

Again compare them side to side.

 

Thanks AG Falco

AG Falco, looks like you were spot on. Got the rear end up and while my mate span the nearside wheel, I got my head under the rear of the car and there's a very noticeable rumble/groan from that side. Can also see a difference in how the wheels on each side slow down. There's no play when you grab the wheel and try and move it, but definitely looks like the bearing needs changing on the rear nearside, so thank you

 

So, how easy is it and any makes to stay away from? I'm thinking just get Febi Bilstein?

 

Cheers

 

Vijay

On 20/10/2019 at 16:27, Vijay2018 said:

So, how easy is it and any makes to stay away from

 

Never done a rear wheel bearing on an Octavia.

 

Buy from a local good motor factors and ask them what make sells without any problems/comebacks.

 

The thank button is the Heart Icon at the bottom of a post. 😉

 

Good Luck

 

Thanks AG Falco

Just wanted to say thanks again. Just changed the rear wheel bearing assy which was a nice easy job. No sign of any rumbling now  I could easily feel play in the old bearing once it was off