steering vibration

[adam5363]

i recently had my tyres changed from pirellis to goodyear f1 eagles, and since then the car has been suffering really bad vibration through the steering wheel at about 80mph upwards and is worse on overrun, i have had all the wheels re-balanced but hasn't solved the problem, has anyone any ideas as to what this is, is it common

 

[Rocky Rocastle]

when you had them balanced again did you take it the same garage. This does seem to be a common issue with leons but a decent balancing machine overcomes the issue. I would still put the problem down to that

 

[kewe]

Does sound like a wheel balance problem. All the tyres look OK and no bulges or anything and if directional have they been put on properly? I've heard of people having to go back 2 or 3 times and sometimes to different garages to get the balance done properly.

 

[adam5363]

yeah took it to two different garages to check tyres were on properly(rotationaly) and to get balanced, thinking of taking to a dealer to look at cause they did the tracking aswell, but steering wheel is out of alignment and is doing my head in, when had the tracking checked it was bang on, had them re do it anyway to get the steering wheel back to centre, but now it is off in the other direction. when i complained they just said it could be worse, i've got to say that these garages were repuable garages too, not happy one bit,

 

[rob - 73]

I feel your pain,.. I'm going through the same problem. Got 2 new eagle f1's asymetrics fitted to the front and have had them balanced twice at different garages. Get a vibration at 80mph..ish. Got told that the machine only checks up to 70mph. I have even swapped the front and back wheels over, vibration replaced by a weird rumbling noise. Any ideas guys?

 

[dav3]

Have the beads popped properly on the tyres. I get this every day at work the tyre is fitted tyre beads make the popping sound but the bead doesn't quite seat itself on the rim as it should. Easiest way to check is to run a finger around the edge of the alloy and the edge of the tyre (rim protector egde of tyre). The gap should be the same all the way round, also do the same check on the inside as its normally the back beads that cause this problem.

 

[Makey_FR]

do the wheels have nock on weights or static sticky weights? and where abouts are the weights, eg on the outside of the rim, stuck on the inside or stuck in the middle of the wheel (just behind the spokes) balancing can be thrown out if they havnt been put in the correct place. I know its a pain in the back side but thats what it will be!

 

[rob - 73]

The weights are the stick on type, they are fitted roughly in the middle of the rim, about 3" from the edge.

The passenger side has 1No. weight

The drivers side has 3No. weights

 

[Makey_FR]

yeah i recon they havn't full 'zerod' the wheels when balencing, i work at a tyre house on a saturday so do my own, if its out by even 10g i ge wheel wobble at around 80. also if the weights are in a different location to the other side this doesnt balance them properly (even though the balencer says so )

 

[dav3]

also if the weights are in a different location to the other side this doesnt balance them properly (even though the balencer says so )

This makes no difference at all. In my 13yrs as a tyre fitter nearly every wheel I have balanced has always asked for the weights to be put in a different place to the otherside. For the best balance you need a machine that has been calibrated and the final tolerance of the weights as near to zero as possible. If you're a member at Costco or know someone that is get them to rebalance your wheels. I know their balancers are calibrated reguarlly.

 

[rob - 73]

Thanks guys,...I have it booked in at the dealers on Friday morning to check another matter (rough idle & noise start up - since last service, it was fine before the service).

I will get them to refit the front tyres and check the balance, tracking. I am also getting them to check the wheel bearings and dampers.

Just hope it nothing more serious, like a buckled wheel or worse....

Anything else you think it could be???

 

[Makey_FR]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Makey_FR
also if the weights are in a different location to the other side this doesnt balance them properly (even though the balencer says so )

This makes no difference at all. In my 13yrs as a tyre fitter nearly every wheel I have balanced has always asked for the weights to be put in a different place to the otherside. For the best balance you need a machine that has been calibrated and the final tolerance of the weights as near to zero as possible. If you're a member at Costco or know someone that is get them to rebalance your wheels. I know their balancers are calibrated reguarlly.

it does if the wheel has been static balanced and the weights on one wheel are on the inside of the rim , and on the other wheel the weights are on the middle of the rim. it does make a differance as i have found myself.

 

[rob - 73]

Well I've just got back from a test run with one of the technician at SEAT. Thankfully he also noticed the vibration at 80mph, he thinks it is either a dodgy tyre (new f1) or a buckled wheel. It is up on the ramp just now. I will let u all know the verdict. How much would a new 17" starfish alloy cost? Am i better getting 18" cupra R alloys all round? And again how much? Thanks

 

[Ruddmeister]

Well I've just got back from a test run with one of the technician at SEAT. Thankfully he also noticed the vibration at 80mph, he thinks it is either a dodgy tyre (new f1) or a buckled wheel. It is up on the ramp just now. I will let u all know the verdict. How much would a new 17" starfish alloy cost? Am i better getting 18" cupra R alloys all round? And again how much? Thanks

Assuming the balancing is correct and it's not that

And assuming the buckle should should up during balancing so I doubt it's that

Dodgy tyre is the best you could hope for

Otherwise process of elimination suggestes something else, wouldn't be the first leon with a dodgy damper. My rear N/s went pretty early in life, the sound at 80mph reminded me of the sound you get with a dodgy wheel bearing (but going straight not like a wheel bearing which normally gets louder when cornering)

 

[rob - 73]

Verdict is the front wheels were not balanced correctly, everything else was A okay.. I have had a blast on the motorway its back to smooth runnings again. Thanks for all the input, this forum rules.

 

[rob - 73]

Well here we go again..lol...funny that 1 year on, new eagle f1's on the front again same issue. Had them rebalanced twice at SEAT, 2nd time i thought they had fixed it. Good guy at dealership sorted it, no vibration at 80mpg now i get a very slight vibration at 90-ish. Don't get me wrong it is so much better than before.. its just not as smooth as it was with the old f1's. There is also about 5No. weights on each wheel.. Seams alot? Thing about going to yet another garage, any suggestions in the Glasgow or Hamilton area? Thanks

 

[dav3]

Well here we go again..lol...funny that 1 year on, new eagle f1's on the front again same issue. Had them rebalanced twice at SEAT, 2nd time i thought they had fixed it. Good guy at dealership sorted it, no vibration at 80mpg now i get a very slight vibration at 90-ish. Don't get me wrong it is so much better than before.. its just not as smooth as it was with the old f1's. There is also about 5No. weights on each wheel.. Seams alot? Thing about going to yet another garage, any suggestions in the Glasgow or Hamilton area? Thanks

Silly question but has the tyre bead popped on and seated it's self properly to then rim. Also mate do you mean 5 weights on each wheel or 5 gram weights?????

 

[rob - 73]

Dav3.. Alright mate..lol. I remember we talked about this last year. I will check the bead on the rear of the tyre in the morning. Yeah it looks like there is @5No. 10g weights on each wheel maybe 6. This is alot any thoughts?

 

[dav3]

Yeah I did get a mild case of da ja vu. Well my 18's have no more than 30 grams on either side of the wheel. When you check the bead mate make sure the gap between rim and tyre is same on outside aswell as inside. To be honest mate I'd say they haven't been balanced properly again. If you were closer mate I'd do it for you.

 

[rob - 73]

Lol tell me about it. I will try another garage. I have doubts about the calibration at the last place, close just not spot on, you know. What should i be asking the guys to do? Zero the wheels, weights location, tracking etc.. Yeah a run down south lol. Mind you I could meet up with D.K. to see his carbon mods lol. I will keep u posted on the outcome...again.