LCR - mystery vibration...

6th.replicant

Active Member
May 29, 2008
698
9
London
When turning right with the suspension under load - eg, on roundabouts - there is a vibration, which sounds like a mini road drill, emitting from the left-front of my LCR.

My regular garage, a longstanding VWG specialist, has ruled out loose engine or gearbox mounts, anti-roll bar links or anything differential-related.

They assumed it was the inner CV joint because the gaiter was split. So, a new OE-spec GKN CV joint has been fitted. But it’s made no difference - the vibration remains.

Anyone know what it could be?

Ta :)
 

bruceR

Active Member
Apr 11, 2005
2,538
616
Monifieth, Dundee
That’s what I was going to suggest, it does make a rumbling noise when cornering, replace both for peace of mind


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g60stu

Full Member
Feb 9, 2003
418
311
Reading
As @Alexis27 said, is it worth swapping the wheel/tyre to eliminate that? Though I guess that doesn’t tie up with your mini road drill description. Long shot but maybe worth a try.
 

wilfster

Active Member
Mar 6, 2010
89
9
You say the inner CV joint was replaced and the driveshaft is OK. Are you sure the outer CV joint is OK on both sides of the car?
Is there anything with minimal clearance from the brake disc, such as a bent/corroded/loose backplate, loose brake pipe, etc., that could be fouling when the suspension is compressed?
Are the driveshaft nuts torqued up correctly?
Stone between the disc and backplate?
Is there any vibration or unevenness when braking?
Broken roadspring or knackered top mount?
Are the wheelbolts correctly tightened? Seems obvious but I once had a similar problem when a garage had used loctite on the bolt threads. This caused the torque wrench to break prematurely before the bolts were tight.
 

6th.replicant

Active Member
May 29, 2008
698
9
London
You say the inner CV joint was replaced and the driveshaft is OK. Are you sure the outer CV joint is OK on both sides of the car?
Is there anything with minimal clearance from the brake disc, such as a bent/corroded/loose backplate, loose brake pipe, etc., that could be fouling when the suspension is compressed?
Are the driveshaft nuts torqued up correctly?
Stone between the disc and backplate?
Is there any vibration or unevenness when braking?
Broken roadspring or knackered top mount?
Are the wheelbolts correctly tightened? Seems obvious but I once had a similar problem when a garage had used loctite on the bolt threads. This caused the torque wrench to break prematurely before the bolts were tight.
Thanks for reply.
It was assumed the inner CV joint was the cause because its gaiter was split - the other 3 gaiters are OK.
The drive shaft and outer CV joint are both OK.
The wheel bolts are correctly tightened.
The top mount is fine, as is the spring, brake cable and back plate.
Have done much wheel / tyre swapping.
No vibration when braking.
The vibration only occurs when turning right with the left-side under load.
 
Last edited:

DorsetChap

Active Member
Jun 3, 2016
43
2
Dorset
Have you replaced both front wheel bearings. This platform is notorious for the sound appearing to come from one side when it's the other bearing that's on its way out. Ask me how I know!
Have you checked whether any screws holding the arch liner have come out (on both sides)? With the same thinking it could be that the tyres could be too wide.
Could try jacking it up and rotating the wheel by hand on full lock - might just hear something.
Only other thing I can think of is one of the other cv's has gone, even though the boots are ok.
 

6th.replicant

Active Member
May 29, 2008
698
9
London
This morning I drove four comparison ‘laps’ around the Hanger Lane gyratory (which is basically a very large roundabout).
I entered the corners at the same speed in-gear and then on the next lap in neutral - when in-gear the vibrating / groaning noise is ever present; when in neutral there’s *no* noise.
Could it be the diff?
 

Andrewwright

Turbo lover
Aug 16, 2016
1,568
224
Peterborough
any possibility it could be abs / ESP?
check over the wiring to the abs sensor etc particularly when steering on lock. particularly where the wire connects to the sensor.
I had this kick in at speed, the ECU tried to spin the car out , was really just luck that I held it and the TC kicked in and turned off. Soon as I can I'm getting it coded out, always turn it off now. Crazy how a safety feature nearly killed me....wouod have been my fault as I shouldn't have been doing such speed.
Is a wheel/speed sensor failure.

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Andrewwright

Turbo lover
Aug 16, 2016
1,568
224
Peterborough
This morning I drove four comparison ‘laps’ around the Hanger Lane gyratory (which is basically a very large roundabout).
I entered the corners at the same speed in-gear and then on the next lap in neutral - when in-gear the vibrating / groaning noise is ever present; when in neutral there’s *no* noise.
Could it be the diff?
I'd be checking the other side first

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6th.replicant

Active Member
May 29, 2008
698
9
London
The right-side CVs, drive-shaft and wheel bearing appear to be OK.

Does no-one think it’s significant there’s no vibration / groaning noise when cornering with the gearbox in neutral?
 

Andrewwright

Turbo lover
Aug 16, 2016
1,568
224
Peterborough
The right-side CVs, drive-shaft and wheel bearing appear to be OK.

Does no-one think it’s significant there’s no vibration / groaning noise when cornering with the gearbox in neutral?
Hard to say as we are not there. Do you feel it through the floor or steering wheel? Or both? Does it go into gear ok? Could be flywheel vibration if shafts are ok

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