Judder issue/noise

[May6470]

Hi Guys

I first posted this back in November but something else has popped up and hoped someone might help.

I’ve got a 2014 diesel FR.

This is an odd one as I’ve had the car from new (was my company car I bought at the end of the lease), I’ve done 137k miles in it and this has only really started around last November I would have noticed it before, it’s always been serviced , flew through MOTs etc.

If you floor the car from standstill it’s really bad judder front left like it had no grip, traction control light comes on and then it sorts itself.

If your say rolling up to traffic lights and floor it again the same happens.

What I noticed tonight when trying to test what it could be, if you are going round a corner and floor it the light comes on plus the car tries to go another way to what you are telling it like it just doesn’t have grip but this is all on the front near side.

Now for the above I’ve had 2 garages look at it, they can’t find anything. Trackings ok, my tyre tread is even etc, shocks fine. The other strange thing is when there are passengers in the car it’s not as bad, I got my mate in to try and have a look (when it first started happening), and I’m sure the his weight stopped the issue from happening!

Now recently the last month or so I have a lot of noise on the motorway, but it gets worse at about 70 and is better at 80. I’m wondering if that could be a wheel bearing?

If anyone has any ideas I would be glad as it’s starting to drive me mental.

 

[BoomerBoom]

If the traction light is on then your front wheels are spinning at different speeds, i.e. one faster than the other.

Noise and harmonics at different speeds means worn bearings or something is unbalanced. There isn't much to go on, but start at the brakes (binding caliper etc.) Then move inboard to the CV joints and then differential. Even one partially worn shock absorber could produce those symptoms.

 

[May6470]

Hi boomerboom

Your first paragraph is exactly what it is like, it feels like the near side front wheel just can’t get the power to the wheel quick enough, you can feel it when your driving that it seems to take a while to catch up.

Problem is I can’t see to find anyone who knows what is causing it.

 

[May6470]

Would anyone else possibly have any input? Worried I’m going to have to part ex the car if I can’t find the issue with the traction/judder.

 

[Polly]

I thought go back to basics again.

What brand and type are the tyres. are the pressures okay, how much tread left, swap front wheels left to right or backs to front. Fronts to back.

As to me it is just plain 'wheel hop' well documented on here after I first got it. Mechanical cures are many but still under warranty so left it.
Just a gentle right foot moving off or in the wet.
I get the same and noise on the motorways and like a bearing, diff, or gearbox noise too.
All tyre noise.
I altered the pressures higher and it stopped. However still have to be gentle with accelerator as I get wheel hop [ONLY nearside less with a passenger]

The clue for me was the passenger in the car. Never got it on the demos as had a BIG Salesman in the car. LOL not so bad with my 8 stone wife.
Have to feed her up?

 

[SRGTD]

@Polly - wheel hop and tramping was my initial thought, and tyre brand can be a big factor in this.

Bridgestones seem to be one of the tyres of choice for VAG, and if a car was fitted with these when it was built, many owners may just replace like for like. However, although they seem to last forever with a ‘hard as nails’ tread, the flip side is that grip can be compromised - especially in cold weather conditions, and when road surfaces are damp or greasy. A little enthusiasm with the loud pedal, and it’s easy to induce wheel hop / tramping and wheel spin.

Owners on some of the VW forums who’ve swapped their standard fit Bridgestones with something like Michelin PS4 or PS4S noticed an immediate improvement in grip, with little or no wheel hop / tramping. And it wasn’t because they were swapping worn Bridgestones with new Michelins, as some owners ditched the Bridgestones pretty much as soon as they got their cars, selling them on a well known online auction site to recoup some of the cost of the better tyres.

Cheap ‘ditchfinder’ tyres are also likely to induce wheel hop and tramping too, with very little provocation from the driver.

 

[May6470]

hi Guys

Thanks for the replies. See the odd thing is this all started out of the blue about last November time, I’ve driven all the miles in the car.

The tyres are Goodyear eagles asymmetric 3, they are what have always been on the (after the ones that came on the car), I have just replaced like for like when I need new tyres. All tyre tread is fine and has plenty, no uneven wear etc

It’s also just the front left where it seems to be happening too, even when you are going round a corner etc and put some power down you can feel the front left just not wanting to play ball properly.

I’m going to get the tracking checked and ask them to swap the tyres round just to see what happens.

Even with the noise on the motorway, that’s literally started happening the last month or so