Hi, wondering if anyone has had similar handling issues with their Rapid

 

2 weeks ago the car was in for its MOT and needed 2 front shocks and both track rod ends replaced, tracking was done as well...  I noticed straight away the car felt wierd, not just different but wierd... and at about 50mph it just feels skittish, and on the way home the car under steered on the first roundabout I came to, I put it down to oil or something and thought nothing more of it, but since then it's awfull to drive, skipping over bumps, follows ruts, under steering not only at roundabout's, but sharp corners, mostly right handers, and this morning I almost crashed, the car was aquaplaning like a boat, it was raining but I would not have said it was raining that Heavy and indeed other cars were flying by me clearly not having the same difficultys, but there I was just all over the place with no traction, ended up sitting at 40mph all the way to work!!

 

Had the car nearly 4 years and done close to 100k in it so I'm more than familiar with the handling characteristics of the car, and i have never had any such issues with the handling before, I'd certainly remember having aquaplaning and understeer issues like this.. 

 

Has anyone had similar issues and more importantly, fixed them? 

 

Cheers

7 minutes ago, Sas_Quatch said:

needed 2 front shocks and both track rod ends replaced, tracking was done as well.

Did the garage do a proper alignment like they should have or just the tracking?

1 minute ago, KenONeill said:

Did the garage do a proper alignment like they should have or just the tracking?

I did ask if it was 2 or 4 wheel and they said 4 wheel.. 

 Get back to them, or to someone you can trust to check the car is safe.  Sounds like a death trap.  If the place that did it messed up you need to look at a competent place sorting the issue and the people you paid compensating you.

Pretty bad them being a MOT test station.

 

Go check that you do not have directional tyres and they are on the wrong side of the car.

Check what the tyre pressures are at.

Edited 29 January, 20206 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

6 minutes ago, Sas_Quatch said:

I did ask if it was 2 or 4 wheel and they said 4 wheel.. 

Did you get a report showing toe, camber and caster values for all 4 wheels?

 

Also as Root..soot says.

35 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

Did you get a report showing toe, camber and caster values for all 4 wheels?

 

Also as Root..soot says.

No.. I didn't! 

15 minutes ago, Sas_Quatch said:

No.. I didn't! 

Well, given what was done, new front dampers and track rods, and new tyres, you definitely need a proper 4 wheel 3-axis with the correct tyre pressures set. Look for somewher that uses a Hunter (brand name) rig. Ask the place that did the MoT to pay the bill.

3 hours ago, Sas_Quatch said:

Hi, wondering if anyone has had similar handling issues with their Rapid

 

2 weeks ago the car was in for its MOT and needed 2 front shocks and both track rod ends replaced, tracking was done as well...  I noticed straight away the car felt wierd, not just different but wierd... and at about 50mph it just feels skittish, and on the way home the car under steered on the first roundabout I came to, I put it down to oil or something and thought nothing more of it, but since then it's awfull to drive, skipping over bumps, follows ruts, under steering not only at roundabout's, but sharp corners, mostly right handers, and this morning I almost crashed, the car was aquaplaning like a boat, it was raining but I would not have said it was raining that Heavy and indeed other cars were flying by me clearly not having the same difficultys, but there I was just all over the place with no traction, ended up sitting at 40mph all the way to work!!

 

Had the car nearly 4 years and done close to 100k in it so I'm more than familiar with the handling characteristics of the car, and i have never had any such issues with the handling before, I'd certainly remember having aquaplaning and understeer issues like this.. 

 

Has anyone had similar issues and more importantly, fixed them? 

 

Cheers

Mine was on OEM Continental Premium Contacts. At around 26000 miles, the grip started to go away, coincident with the tyres getting down to 3mm tread. That winter I was surprised to be getting saved by the TCS and ABS on my country lane commute. It was all about reaching critical wear on the rubber. I tried to get through the summer on the same tyres but the dry grip was going too so I made plans for new rubber, even though they looked fine and were legal at 2.5-3 mm all round.

Did they swap the front wheels over? I've also previously had a mismatched pair of Goodyear Eagles that drove fine until swapped around to even up the wear. Then the car was awful.

Edited 29 January, 20206 yr by camelspyyder

4 minutes ago, camelspyyder said:

Mine was on OEM Continental Premium Contacts. At around 26000 miles, the grip started to go away, coincident with the tyres getting down to 3mm tread. That winter I was surprised to be getting saved by the TCS and ABS on my country lane commute. It was all about reaching critical wear on the rubber. I tried to get through the summer on the same tyres but the dry grip was going too so I made plans for new rubber, even though they looked fine and were legal at 2.5-3 mm all round.

Which is a characteristic of Contis, because they have a harder compound at 3mm remaining...

Tyre pressures?

Well It's going back in tomorrow morning after I told them I considered it dangerous to drive..

 

See what they say!! 

 

Cheers

Well the wheel alignment had not been done at all... No record of it being done!! (Even though I had paid for it!!) Garage is doing the alignment and replacing the tires, although they did try fob me off with budget tires untill I kicked off and demanded like for like, just waiting on them phoning me back..  and I will be asking for proof it's been done this time!!! 

 

Thanks all. 

 

 

Name and shame?

1 minute ago, Burchy said:

Name and shame?

Lol... Am I allowed??

1 minute ago, Sas_Quatch said:

Lol... Am I allowed??

Go for it both barrels.

On 29/01/2020 at 15:43, KenONeill said:

Well, given what was done, new front dampers and track rods, and new tyres, you definitely need a proper 4 wheel 3-axis with the correct tyre pressures set. Look for somewher that uses a Hunter (brand name) rig. Ask the place that did the MoT to pay the bill.

 

All of the above can be done without disturbing anything other than the toe in so should only really require tracking which it sounds like they havn't done.

 

TBH with a garage like that who can release a car with dangerous handling I would not have confidence in them not making things worse by doing a 4 wheel alignment when only tracking was required, if they start messing with things that were correctly aligned & dont really know what they are doing................

 

Even with tracking I would first check that the steering wheel was central & then check it with my own guages or a string line.

 

Editted, deffo tyre pressure check as well.

Edited 30 January, 20206 yr by J.R.

Arnold Clark Vauxhall, Prestwick Road Ayr...  

 

If you're wondering why I took a Skoda to a Vauxhall dealer, my wife has a Mokka and I was impressed by the service she got... Plus they have an interest free payment plan ...lol. 

 

And the car has been fixed and they put on new tires, only driven it home but it's a thousand times better!! 

13 hours ago, J.R. said:

can be done without disturbing anything other than the toe in so should only really require tracking

Well, maybe, but you need to disturb the springs to change dampers on any coil-over system including all strut systems. This may disturb the front ride height, and that definitely changes the front static camber settings.

Removal & refitting of a coil spring will not change the ride height.

 

Is the front camber even adjustable?

ARNOLD CLARK PEUGEOT AYR.

Were trying to contact me yesterday after my 'Survey response' on Wednesday.

 

We bought an old used car last February.  MOTed in January 2019. Previous MOT July 2018.

We got a 2 year Service & MOT plan.

 

I knew the MOT History.  I know the cars well. A Suzuki.

Came with New Discs, Pads & Tyres & Serviced.... New Rear Springs, New wipers, New Oil & Filter & Air Filter certainly. 

 

July 2018, Fractured or broken O/S Front spring fail. Passed the same day.  No idea where.

MOT again Jan 2020. There were new discs and pads on it, and new rear springs. Crap wipers

3,000 miles later.

Last week in for a service and MOT @ 8 am.  Call at 8.30am broken front spring, wiper failed mot.  Rear Brake binding.

 

I said OK get the spring, put on a wiper, and service the back brakes.  If you check you fitted them last year.

Do not change the Brake Fluid by year / miles, test it for H20.

No problem if you can not get the spring on by tonight, as long as by tomorrow Lunch time.

Quote 1.3 Hours, Parts, Labour, VAT £216.

Happy as larry.  

 

Then the call again, 'Got the spring, mid afternoon, Not ready tonight',  That fine but need it at 11.30 am Tomorrow, then the attempted upsales. 

BOG OFF.  Just Service it, you are not fitting Plugs or Filters, sort the rear brakes.

 

So car not ready next morning, not going to be ready till afternoon.

Tech calling me was a clown, and ARNOLD CLARK Peugeot & Toyota AYR do not have a Brake Fluid tester at the Workshop supposedly.

 

There is a Service Video on the ramp with the wheels off last Wednesday.  Quickly gets passed the Discs, new rear Coils, and not that much concentrating on the front coils..

Edited 31 January, 20206 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot