Bad vibrations!!

[Gilrick]

Anyone had anything similar

Right then, are you sitting comfortably, then i'll begin.

Altea 2.0 tdi sport on 17" alloys. Put new tyres on the front July last year. Since then been getting strange vibration at about 80 mph. Ok, so i get all 4 wheels rebalanced in September, vibes reduced a little but not totally. December vibes bad again so pop back to tyre centre for re balance.

"Your left rear tyre shaped like a 50p coin on the inside mate." "i bet that's what causing the vibes." OK so on goes a new tyre and all 4 are balanced again.

Now getting really pi**ed still got the vibes. So booked it into dealer, 1st week of Janaury to have the suspension checked.

Dealer "Can't find anything wrong with the suspension mate, but both your front tyres are down to the cords on the insides. " Bear in mind these tyres have only had 5k on them and were inspected at a tyre centre only a couple of weeks earlier. Dealer solution, 2 new front tyres and a 4 wheel allignment but we can't do it here, we haven't got the gear

So today off i goes to a local independent VAG specialist 2 new GSD 3's all wheels balanced and 4 wheel alignment £350 thank you.

Gets in the car, gets on bypass to 80 where i get that vibe again

Any help or idea's would be most welcome.

 

[adt]

Was the alignment done with laser operated kit? Could the whole body be out of alignment?

May be worth exploring this with a body shop with suitable equipment as the tyre damage is saying something significant is up somewhere. It's not the usual tyre scrub 'cos the tracking is out.

Like the way the 'experts' can spend your cash freely but not be accountable when the problem has not gone away......

 

[Gilrick]

Was the alignment done with laser operated kit? Could the whole body be out of alignment?

May be worth exploring this with a body shop with suitable equipment as the tyre damage is saying something significant is up somewhere. It's not the usual tyre scrub 'cos the tracking is out.

Like the way the 'experts' can spend your cash freely but not be accountable when the problem has not gone away......

Yes was done with a full laser alignment system. from the report the camber angles were out and have been corrected. I've had it from new so unless it was a factory problem i pretty sure it's straight.

Also it tracks straight and handles well just vibrates when you get to 70 ish.
For a moment i thought it might be something to do with the engine or it's mounts but if i put the clutch in at that speed and just coast it still vibes.

I can only think that something like a driveshaft is bent slightly. If it was a bent wheel it wouldn't have balanced.

 

[loadswine]

Could be a driveshaft, look to see if all the bolts are present. Shocks are another possible, look for any leaks. Any noise associated with the vibration? If so, maybe wheel bearing. This sort of thing can drive you nuts, especially when the stealers just want your money and don't seem genuinely interested in your problem.

 

[goble]

warped disc?

 

[Gilrick]

Shockers and springs have been checked. I was begining to think driveshaft as it does increase under acceleration loading.

As for warped disc, i've never had one but i would imagine it would be noticable when you braked and so far it feels normal.

Thanks for the sugestions.

To be honest i've lost it with it now, i just want rid of it. Unfortuately it's a company car and i've got to wait til 1st March 2008.

 

[Bendertherobot]

I have this. Mine's in today looking for a cure.

Mine also grumbles a lot when driving slowly (wheel bearing?)

Mine DID do it at about 60, then I had it tracked etc and now it does it at 80.

I read that the rear dampers going can cause this.

Will let you know what comes of mine later.

(EDIT: I am sure that I read on here that the deformation of the tyres is caused by the springs or dampers having given up, mine too are misshapen).

 

[ALTEA]

How old is the car? Can you not take it back to the dealer and tell them to sort it. How can they prove that its not a manufacturing defect / warranty job if they cant tell you whats wrong with it to start?

 

[Bendertherobot]

Update on mine.

My rear tyres are deformed apparently! (Duh)

So I have to replace them and then take it back.

they couldn't answer WHAT was causing the deformation.

 

[RJS]

Hi
Bendertherobot
How many miles did your rears have on them the same has just happen to me.
They told that the tyres had spent to long on the rear.

 

[Bendertherobot]

20k, which is brilliant I guess!

They've checked the suspension and given it a clean bill of health.

 

[Tell]

Been going over speed bumps fast Bendertherobot . Honest John of the Daily Telegraph claims worn tyres on the inside edge are speed bump induced, is this the deformity ?.

 

[goble]

multi link rear suspension causes thei because of negative camber and toe in alot of new cars with multi link instead if beam seatup do this, if you want it to handle well then thats what happens

 

[Bendertherobot]

Been going over speed bumps fast Bendertherobot . Honest John of the Daily Telegraph claims worn tyres on the inside edge are speed bump induced, is this the deformity ?.

Interestingly, our estate has those middle size ones which you can hit at speed because they are thinner than the space between the wheels.

But you can't judge it perfectly so you tend to hit the inside edge of the tyres.

 

[Tell]

That is what the Telegraph is saying or it may have been Dr Diesel in Diesel Car, recommendation is to put one wheel firmly up on them and the other one off. I just trawl over them where I know them to be which is easy enough in the DSG, reason being I don't want to wreck my wheels or suspension.

 

[Gilrick]

How old is the car? Can you not take it back to the dealer and tell them to sort it. How can they prove that its not a manufacturing defect / warranty job if they cant tell you whats wrong with it to start?

Cars almost 2 years old. It has been in to the dealer. They told me to get the new fronts and a 4 wheel alignment and all wheels balanced (somewhere else as they haven't got the equipment).

Still getting the vibes so it's back in tomorrow at dealers, and i'm not accepting it back until it's fixed. The problem is actually getting worse every day, basically i can't drive it over 55mph now.

I can see a call to Seat UK coming soon.

 

[Bendertherobot]

Got my rears done this morning.

Car is clearly much better. Only driven at 60 so far but no discernable vibrations or other nasties.

The tyre place I use is particularly good.

 

[Bendertherobot]

Also, I don't use the supplied Dunlop SP Sport now.

I've gone for Goodyear Eagle NCT5 V rated instead.

 

[Gilrick]

Took car in the dealers this morning and took the technican for spin. Felt better about his expertise when he informed me that he'd worked for VW then Audi for ten years before starting with Seat. He didn't even have to drive the car as the vibes were so bad he could feel them through the seat and the floor!

Picked it up on way home tonight and was dismayed to find they had only swaped the fronts to the back, oh and torqued the wheels anywone heard of this?


Anyway went for a quick pound down the local bypass. Feels much better but still not perfect. I may give it a week and see if it gets any worse. If so it's going back.

At least they didn't charge me anything for today or the inspection before christmas

 

[Tell]

>>oh and torqued the wheels anywone heard of this? <<

that means tightened them up to the torque point, if that's the question ie. saying they won't now rattle if that was the problem. A throw away line I suspect.