Vibration through steering wheel.........again

[Guest]

A few months ago i had problems with vibration through the steering wheel with the wheel actually wobbling in my hands. This usually happened at about 60-70 MPH

I had the wheels balanced umpteen times but to no avail. So i changed the wheels and tyres and all was well for a while so i assumed that the old wheels/tyres where at fault.

However in the last six weeks or so this problem has returned. Now the only other thing i have ever changed on the car is the springs and dampers as i got hold of some vRS ones.

What i need to know is this.

Are there any checks on the suspension i can do to see what could cause this?

Specifically i want to know if The bearing at the top of the front damper could cause this problem or if one of the ARB drop links could be at fault as when my friend and i did the suspension change we did have a couple of issues with regard to these two components.

I really really need some assistance on this one so any help would be great:thumbup:

Cheers

Rob

[cheezemonkhai]

I may have said this on the last thread but fingerplate balancing as opposed to standard balancing. It mimics the wheel being attached to the hub when they balance it.

[Goochie]

I think its more that the wheels being out of balance - he's had 2 sets of wheels balanced at different places lots of times.

[Guest]

I may have said this on the last thread but fingerplate balancing as opposed to standard balancing. It mimics the wheel being attached to the hub when they balance it.

tried it several times last time i had this problem, did not fix it.

I am convinced it is something to do with my suspension

[Guest]

someone must know if the strut top bearing or a faulty ARB drop link could cause anything like this?????

If i asked in the "ask a tech" section do you think i would find anything out????

Cheers

[Goochie]

I think Jon (TaviaRS) had an issue with the top of his stuts, possibly, maybe.

[mackdaddy]

Hit a kerb in the missus' Fiesta.

Got vibration - had tracking done.

Came back - had tracking done.

Came back - checked alignment.

Came back - I put the probable culprit wheel on back hub.

Strange scuffing noise.

Put car on axle and guess what - wheel as warped as...as...a very warped thing.

This wasn't spotted by 4 tyre guys at 2 tyre places!

[mackdaddy]

hmmm just re-read your post.

2 sets of wheels....hmmm

Are they likely to have been damaged/warped/buckled?

[cheezemonkhai]

Only reason i suggested ballancing is becasue i had two sets of tyres and at least 5 different places ballance my wheels (including a skoda place) that didn't get it right.

Anyhow, tend to suspect it could be something else.

[EddyH]

I hear plenty of stories from people who have had their wheels balanced 5 or more times before it's right.

I'd suggest you need to get yourself to a specialist who can check the suspension and alignment if you think that may be the fault. Posts on here are only gonna be guesses without being able to physically see the car.

[Guest]

The strange thing is that sometimes the vibration does not seem anywhere near as bad as other times. Tonight on the way back from work it was virtually non existent.

Not sure where to go to get the suspension etc checked out. Would a normal garage be able to do this for me???

There is a Skoda specialist not too far from where i live but as for a specialist suspension place, i do not know of any.

Obviously i can't really ask my dealer to look at this as i am sure they will realise the suspension is not standard for an Elegance model, even though it is genuine SKoda Octavia vRS stuff, as are the wheels.

[EddyH]

Did you fit the vRS front ARB along with the springs and dampers as I don't see it listed in your signature but you would need it as your standard one doesn't fit in the same way.

[Guest]

Did you fit the vRS front ARB along with the springs and dampers as I don't see it listed in your signature but you would need it as your standard one doesn't fit in the same way.

No, just got the standard 23mm ARB that was on the car when i got it.

Are there any pics of how the two differ??????

[EddyH]

No, just got the standard 23mm ARB that was on the car when i got it.

Are there any pics of how the two differ??????

I wonder if thats the problem. I don't know the implications but the vRS one attaches to the struts the non-vRS one doesn't. As you've changed the struts I would expect you would be better with a vRS ARB.

vRS: http://www.neuspeed.com/products/product_details.asp?app=83|R3&type=2&ltype=ns_euro&p_id=143

non-vRS: http://www.neuspeed.com/products/product_details.asp?app=30|G4&type=2&ltype=ns_euro&p_id=135

[iann]

Check driveshafts for damaged /split gaiters or excessive up/down play. I had similar experience with a Pug 205 caused by this.

[Guest]

I wonder if thats the problem. I don't know the implications but the vRS one attaches to the struts the non-vRS one doesn't. As you've changed the struts I would expect you would be better with a vRS ARB.

vRS: http://www.neuspeed.com/products/product_details.asp?app=83|R3&type=2&ltype=ns_euro&p_id=143

non-vRS: http://www.neuspeed.com/products/product_details.asp?app=30|G4&type=2&ltype=ns_euro&p_id=135

Thanks, but i can't get the links to work.

It would seem that i have two options

Replace my ARB for a vRS one.

Replace my vRS springs and dampers for some non vRS sports springs and dampers/coilovers.

I have a feeling it may be cheaper to do the latter as i understand that changing the ARB is a tricky job and may have to be done at the garage.

[makk]

I read somewhere of someone whose vibration problem on a Honda Civic turned out to be unbalanced brake discs.

[stevenh]

Brake discs can warp, especially with Hondas.

My Prelude and my Accord Coupe warped their discs.

With the Accord, I put new discs and pads on but the vibration returned within a few miles - turned out the face of the hub was unture - caused by excessive heat build up from the old warped discs rubbing!

Needed to get my brake discs skimmed whilst on the car to counteract the warped hub.

[EddyH]

Thanks, but i can't get the links to work.

It would seem that i have two options

Replace my ARB for a vRS one.

Replace my vRS springs and dampers for some non vRS sports springs and dampers/coilovers.

I have a feeling it may be cheaper to do the latter as i understand that changing the ARB is a tricky job and may have to be done at the garage.

The damage may already be done as you mention you had trouble with the ARB drop links. An R32 front ARB will fit the vRS struts and costs around

[Guest]

The damage may already be done as you mention you had trouble with the ARB drop links. An R32 front ARB will fit the vRS struts and costs around £50, not sure on labour cost and of course you will need the alignment doing whether you swap the ARB or springs/dampers.

I use JBS in Chesterfield (a bit further for you than me) for all work on my car, they offer a suspension check and 4-wheel laser alignment for £45+vat.

That might be worth a go

I will try and get it booked in sometime in the next couple of weeks hopefully.

Where will i get an R32 ARB from?????

[EddyH]

That might be worth a go

I will try and get it booked in sometime in the next couple of weeks hopefully.

Where will i get an R32 ARB from?????

JBS can get you one or any VW dealer. I'd wait until the car has been checked over first though and see what they recommend.

[Guest]

JBS can get you one or any VW dealer. I'd wait until the car has been checked over first though and see what they recommend.

Will do:thumbup:

Thanks for the all the help with this, at least now i have some idea of where to start.

Although since i posted about this problem it has been barely if at all noticable.:confused:

[Urban Spaceman]

Could it be your CV joint - i had exactly the same problem - one day on the motorway it

started again - i nearly lost control:eek: but managed to slow down and pull over - the CV joint had broken.The thing is i had it into a garage three times and they could`nt find anything wrong - sometimes it vibrated for a day then it stopped - and did the same again and again.

Probably is`nt that - but i would rather speak up and you have it checked for your own safety - you never know:thumbup:

[Guest]

Could it be your CV joint - i had exactly the same problem - one day on the motorway it

started again - i nearly lost control:eek: but managed to slow down and pull over - the CV joint had broken.The thing is i had it into a garage three times and they could`nt find anything wrong - sometimes it vibrated for a day then it stopped - and did the same again and again.

Probably is`nt that - but i would rather speak up and you have it checked for your own safety - you never know:thumbup:

I am sure it is worth checking out. But i would have thought that a broken/worn cv joint would be noticed by a clonk whilst driving the car round in a circle at a slow speed??????

Perhaps someone can confirm if that is the case????

Also the car has only done 27k surely the cv joints last longer than that???

It is certainly worth mentioning though.

Cheers:thumbup:

[Guest]

Got my car booked in at JBS on the 10th of November.

They quoted my