Anyone else get floatiness?

[Dominic]

I've noticed that when 'pressing on' in my Leon instead of it feeling planted it goes a little floaty and feels like the body is moving around quite bizarrely, rather MK4 Golf-esque. It does it under heavy braking as well but I expect it due to weight transfer etc.

It's a 2016 Leon FR Tech 184ps DSG, 58k miles.

Completely standard with Continental Something on the front and Michelin PS4 on the rear. Actually whilst I'm on the subject as well, since having the PS4s fitted in July to the rear and having the Conti's moved to the front I get horrendous tyre drone but I'm not sure which ones are at fault.

Is any of it normal? If not what's everyone's experience on upgrades that won't impact NVH too much? With the 18's it's already firmer than woodpecker lips.

 

[cupra14]

Sounds like tyres / tyre pressures / suspension i.e. not normal.

 

[lm_92]

The first thing I'd check are the springs and shocks. Broken springs can reduce your contact with the road, while broken shocks will make the car feel "bouncy". If you can see any oil on any of your shocks, that's a good sign that it's gone bang. Failing that, places like Halfords offer free suspension checks with no obligation to buy/repair anything through them.

 

[LR231998]

Rear shocks

 

[Norbert]

Seat shocks leaks and service say normal.mine leak too.

 

[lm_92]

Shocks are certainly not designed or supposed to leak. If they are leaking, they need to be replaced. It is normal for a "misting" of oil to be visible where the shock has compressed though.

 

[Norbert]

Thats a leak to me.bit or more oil.

 

[Jaco2k]

I have upgraded my pendulum mount (new arm) and dropped in a dogbone insert at the same time.
These two mods made the front much "tighter" and got rid of the vagueness you mention - that would be my starting point.

 

[LouG]

At 58K the shocks will be past their best, especially on "modern" roads. Do the bounce test, or get a suspension specialist to give an opinion. Mixing tyres can sometimes have odd effects too.

 

[SteveGSXR600K1]

This has been brought up before, and several members have experienced it. I've got same year/engine as you except it's a manual, and mine does it. It's always done it from when I first got it at 1 year old and 4k miles. It passed its MOT a few months ago, so wouldn't expect leaking or misting shocks.

 

[RUM4MO]

Thats a leak to me.bit or more oil.

Yes, but it is only "misting and normal" during warranty period, after that it becomes "failed needs replaced now", I seem to remember in the past, while doing pre-MOT checks on my cars, I'd take the opportunity when the car was lifted up off its wheels, to wipe the upper areas of the dampers clean of any oil misting - just in case! If a damper does not mist out some oil then it quickly r

 

[rcwsr]

I've experienced the same thing on my 2016 22k mile cupra. Thought it might be torque steer but yeah it feels more floaty, like it wants to go on either side of the road when I put my foot down.

 

[RCampbell1]

Yep my 2015 FR 184 ST did it and so did my 2018 GTD Estate, both had passive suspension. Cupra definitely does not do it so I'm thinking the adaptive suspension makes the difference

 

[Hawkers]

Is this when cornering, as it could be the electronic torque management (XDS) braking inside front wheels which seems to make the steering wheel go lighter and turn easier into the corner if you're pressing on.