VXR8 Woes... Exhaust rattle & wheel wobble..Lemon??!
Discussion
Hi all,
hopefully you guys can give me some help and advise!
Finally got my hands on an 09 R8 about 8 months ago from Vauxhall Brindley - obviously at the time of buying it I was like a kid at christmas and just wanted to get my hands on it - didnt have my sensible head on...
The dealer was 3 hours from home, but after a long search the one they had ticked all the boxes, low mileage, walky exhaust & power pack etc, so arranged finance and went up to test drive, pay final deposit and drive away..
So out for the test drive we go, straight away I got to about 50mph and the steering wheel was shaking like an angry rattle snake in my hands! I suggested it was most likely wheel balancing, the lady from Vaux suggested it was probably because there were two spare tyres in the boot (part of the deal)....really??!...
Being in the 'kid at christmas' mode, I agreed that as long as the wheels were balanced at a Vaux dealer closer to home (Brentwood, Essex) I would take it away. it was a Sunday so their workshop was shut, so no immediate checks done before I drove off.
I know, I know.. I'm an idiot and should have walked away, but had been looking so long etc etc... common sense did not prevail.
From there on (long story short)
1) took to Vaux Brentwood - wheels buckled, couldnt be balanced - not OEM wheels btw, deep dish ones fitted by previous owner
2) Brindley Vaux took car back for 2 weeks to fix wheels - I was on hols so agreed.
3) Car back from being 'fixed' - wheels still wobbling, however this time there was less from the front wheels (steering wheel shake), but also some from rears (vibration in seat/whole car..)
4) Agreed new alloys, Vaux Brindley paid for new alloys, fitted (same tyres), still wobble front and rear - far less, but still there
5) Agreed new tyres, fitted new tyres at Vauxhall Basildon (a VXR 'power dealer'..), also had other issues looked at at this stage - ill get to those)
6) drove away, immense wobble from steering wheel..grrrrrr.
7) took to elite tyres in essex (epic service there) - they checked balancing, massively out, but also advised me one wheel had a slight flat spot (the alloy, not tyre) - now ive crawled through all potholes etc, hit nothing hard, they suggested the car really needs forged alloys due to weight, low profile tyres etc - so theyre now on the list. But once I left there, after proper balancing, its way improved, but still ever so slight, mostly at about 50mph and 70-80mph.
Now am I chasing the wrong thing here, everytime something is changed wheel or tyre wise, there is a change in the severity of the symptoms, but still no ultimate fix.
Before I go and spend monies which could be going towards a supercharger, on expensive forged alloys, is there something else that is a common fault/known problem that I should check first?! Do these things really need forged alloys?!
Second problem - the exhaust rattle...and Ive searched the forums and read others who have the same problem, but of course, my problem differs slightly!!
So I have the mettalic rattle, BUT.. once the car is well warmed up, not when cold. When I first turn on (its the switchable walky) there is a slight mettalic rattle when in loud mode, put it in quite and, well it quitens a bit, but still there.
Once she is nice and warm and I push up through the revs the rattle becomes a lot louder, it almost sounds like there is a raspy noise coming from under the centre console/passenger footwell when I give it some beans.
When stationary the rattle is very loud and very, very annoying. It seems to only come from the drivers side exhaust as well, if I put her in quite its a lot lot quieter. to the point I will put it in quiet if sat still somewhere, so it doesnt sound like an old banger!
So this was raised with Vauxhall when the new tyres were being fitted and they fitted a new walky exhaust from the cat back.
New exhaust fitted -rattle identical, if not worse!! - so I now have a the old walky switchable catback spare, that im assuming has nothing wrong with it!!
They also did a shocking job of the install, drivers side tail pipe is about 30mm lower and sticks out about 30mm more than the passenger sides!!
The mechanic suggested it is just a trait of the exhaust, but from all reading this seems to be bull.
Obviously it will be going back again, but want to really ask you guys and experts what on earth could this be first?!
One thing to note is when its rattling, if I put my foot on top of the tail pipe and apply a bit of force, the noise seems to go, now I did mention the heat shield to the mechanic, he said not that, he even spaced it down a bit to avoid! But how do I check/what am i looking for? does anyone have a pic by chance?!
So theyre the two main problems - would love to meet with anyone local to me for another opinion?!
Aside from that, they also replaced the front discs and pads (had only done 15k!) because they felt a slight judder under braking - cant say I ever felt it at all, and I tested it quite a few times! So now also have front discs and pads going spare!!
Oh and i later found the car had a panel misalignment between the bumper and drivers wheel arch - turns out it is being held together there by a tek screw... they 'fixed' it while it was in having new tyres, new exhaust and new discs and pads. Strangely though it still has the same tek screw there.... great fix.
Well i've rattled on long enough - hope I havent bored you guys to much!
Overall though, love her to bits and couldnt be without her!! Would love to start coming to some meets as well to really pick some brains on upping the power and see some other R8s!
Oh and I forgot! when I drove away from Vaux in Basildon after all the work being done, I drove straight to elite tyres (20 mins away) - and they found one wheel was punctured...with a Vauxhall panel pin!!!!!! THANKS GUYS!!!
So far though, Vauxhall have footed all the bills - so good on that front - a lot of battles to get there though!
Cheers guys, hope you can help!
hopefully you guys can give me some help and advise!
Finally got my hands on an 09 R8 about 8 months ago from Vauxhall Brindley - obviously at the time of buying it I was like a kid at christmas and just wanted to get my hands on it - didnt have my sensible head on...
The dealer was 3 hours from home, but after a long search the one they had ticked all the boxes, low mileage, walky exhaust & power pack etc, so arranged finance and went up to test drive, pay final deposit and drive away..
So out for the test drive we go, straight away I got to about 50mph and the steering wheel was shaking like an angry rattle snake in my hands! I suggested it was most likely wheel balancing, the lady from Vaux suggested it was probably because there were two spare tyres in the boot (part of the deal)....really??!...
Being in the 'kid at christmas' mode, I agreed that as long as the wheels were balanced at a Vaux dealer closer to home (Brentwood, Essex) I would take it away. it was a Sunday so their workshop was shut, so no immediate checks done before I drove off.
I know, I know.. I'm an idiot and should have walked away, but had been looking so long etc etc... common sense did not prevail.
From there on (long story short)
1) took to Vaux Brentwood - wheels buckled, couldnt be balanced - not OEM wheels btw, deep dish ones fitted by previous owner
2) Brindley Vaux took car back for 2 weeks to fix wheels - I was on hols so agreed.
3) Car back from being 'fixed' - wheels still wobbling, however this time there was less from the front wheels (steering wheel shake), but also some from rears (vibration in seat/whole car..)
4) Agreed new alloys, Vaux Brindley paid for new alloys, fitted (same tyres), still wobble front and rear - far less, but still there
5) Agreed new tyres, fitted new tyres at Vauxhall Basildon (a VXR 'power dealer'..), also had other issues looked at at this stage - ill get to those)
6) drove away, immense wobble from steering wheel..grrrrrr.
7) took to elite tyres in essex (epic service there) - they checked balancing, massively out, but also advised me one wheel had a slight flat spot (the alloy, not tyre) - now ive crawled through all potholes etc, hit nothing hard, they suggested the car really needs forged alloys due to weight, low profile tyres etc - so theyre now on the list. But once I left there, after proper balancing, its way improved, but still ever so slight, mostly at about 50mph and 70-80mph.
Now am I chasing the wrong thing here, everytime something is changed wheel or tyre wise, there is a change in the severity of the symptoms, but still no ultimate fix.
Before I go and spend monies which could be going towards a supercharger, on expensive forged alloys, is there something else that is a common fault/known problem that I should check first?! Do these things really need forged alloys?!
Second problem - the exhaust rattle...and Ive searched the forums and read others who have the same problem, but of course, my problem differs slightly!!
So I have the mettalic rattle, BUT.. once the car is well warmed up, not when cold. When I first turn on (its the switchable walky) there is a slight mettalic rattle when in loud mode, put it in quite and, well it quitens a bit, but still there.
Once she is nice and warm and I push up through the revs the rattle becomes a lot louder, it almost sounds like there is a raspy noise coming from under the centre console/passenger footwell when I give it some beans.
When stationary the rattle is very loud and very, very annoying. It seems to only come from the drivers side exhaust as well, if I put her in quite its a lot lot quieter. to the point I will put it in quiet if sat still somewhere, so it doesnt sound like an old banger!
So this was raised with Vauxhall when the new tyres were being fitted and they fitted a new walky exhaust from the cat back.
New exhaust fitted -rattle identical, if not worse!! - so I now have a the old walky switchable catback spare, that im assuming has nothing wrong with it!!
They also did a shocking job of the install, drivers side tail pipe is about 30mm lower and sticks out about 30mm more than the passenger sides!!
The mechanic suggested it is just a trait of the exhaust, but from all reading this seems to be bull.
Obviously it will be going back again, but want to really ask you guys and experts what on earth could this be first?!
One thing to note is when its rattling, if I put my foot on top of the tail pipe and apply a bit of force, the noise seems to go, now I did mention the heat shield to the mechanic, he said not that, he even spaced it down a bit to avoid! But how do I check/what am i looking for? does anyone have a pic by chance?!
So theyre the two main problems - would love to meet with anyone local to me for another opinion?!
Aside from that, they also replaced the front discs and pads (had only done 15k!) because they felt a slight judder under braking - cant say I ever felt it at all, and I tested it quite a few times! So now also have front discs and pads going spare!!
Oh and i later found the car had a panel misalignment between the bumper and drivers wheel arch - turns out it is being held together there by a tek screw... they 'fixed' it while it was in having new tyres, new exhaust and new discs and pads. Strangely though it still has the same tek screw there.... great fix.
Well i've rattled on long enough - hope I havent bored you guys to much!
Overall though, love her to bits and couldnt be without her!! Would love to start coming to some meets as well to really pick some brains on upping the power and see some other R8s!
Oh and I forgot! when I drove away from Vaux in Basildon after all the work being done, I drove straight to elite tyres (20 mins away) - and they found one wheel was punctured...with a Vauxhall panel pin!!!!!! THANKS GUYS!!!
So far though, Vauxhall have footed all the bills - so good on that front - a lot of battles to get there though!
Cheers guys, hope you can help!
Exhaust first. It sounds like a few problems together. As you're in Essex, maybe Hayward & Scott would be a good place to go, for them to take the whole lot down and realign it, as I think you have more than one problem there. First, the buzzing in the middle could be a loose heat shield. Second, the misalignment at the rear could be that the rear hangers haven't been put through the rubbers correctly. Finally, the cold rattle could still be there, as I think that's going to be the valve butterfly that switches modes. Walkinshaw may help with the repairs, or know of a way to quieten the rattle.
As for the wheels, there used to be a lot of problems with them, a few years ago - mainly on a couple of cars, and most were cured by careful balancing and fitting. However, these were standard wheels, which weigh a ton. I would certainly have the balance checked again, somewhere else, and the wheels carefully bolted up by hand, rather than on an air ratchet. If the wheels are after market, are you using spigot rings to centre them before tightening?
As for the wheels, there used to be a lot of problems with them, a few years ago - mainly on a couple of cars, and most were cured by careful balancing and fitting. However, these were standard wheels, which weigh a ton. I would certainly have the balance checked again, somewhere else, and the wheels carefully bolted up by hand, rather than on an air ratchet. If the wheels are after market, are you using spigot rings to centre them before tightening?
007 - Not had a wheel allignment done yet - if I decide to not go forged yet, I will buy another alloy to replace one with flat spot then go for a full balance and allignment for sure - anyone know any good places in Essex?
Araf - that place sounds good and only down the road from me - i think ill see if I can get booked in there! thanks for the recommendation!
Yes to the spigot rings (assuming this is the plastic looking ring they placed on the centre of the hub before fitting wheel??
Thanks for the quick help guys!
Why did I not get on here sooner?!
Araf - that place sounds good and only down the road from me - i think ill see if I can get booked in there! thanks for the recommendation!
Yes to the spigot rings (assuming this is the plastic looking ring they placed on the centre of the hub before fitting wheel??
Thanks for the quick help guys!
Why did I not get on here sooner?!
neillvxr8 said:
007 - Not had a wheel allignment done yet - if I decide to not go forged yet, I will buy another alloy to replace one with flat spot then go for a full balance and allignment for sure - anyone know any good places in Essex?
Araf - that place sounds good and only down the road from me - i think ill see if I can get booked in there! thanks for the recommendation!
Yes to the spigot rings (assuming this is the plastic looking ring they placed on the centre of the hub before fitting wheel??
Thanks for the quick help guys!
Why did I not get on here sooner?!
Really, you may be at your wits end, but they're niggles that can be ironed out. Once they are, you'll take the car for a spin and forgive it. We all do. Araf - that place sounds good and only down the road from me - i think ill see if I can get booked in there! thanks for the recommendation!
Yes to the spigot rings (assuming this is the plastic looking ring they placed on the centre of the hub before fitting wheel??
Thanks for the quick help guys!
Why did I not get on here sooner?!
Yes, the plastic rings are spigot rings. I would check that they are an interference fit on the hub flange, and also check that they are tight in the wheel centre, when not on the flange. Maybe you could meet another owner, and swap a couple of wheels over, to see if the fault transfers to the other car? There's a few in Essex.
There's a couple of renowned specialists within a couple of hours of you, being Monkfish near Milton Keynes 01296 714009, and Walkinshaws at Chipping Norton 0845 402 0 402. Closer to home, some get work done by Neil at NWJ near Maidstone on the M2 01634 862532. He hasn't been in business on his own for a year yet, but has had plenty of our cars in, for one thing and another, as he used to look after them where he previously worked.
Had my R8 a little over a year now. When I bought it, it still had the standard exhaust system on, and it had a metallic rattle. Fitted a Walky catback, still had a metallic rattle. Fitted Walky headers and cats, STILL has a metallic rattle!! Definitely sounds like a heat shield thing - either that or something to do with the automatic transmission. It's not AS bad as it was but it's still feckin' annoying when it does it. Neither of the two main places have been able to cure it....so I just live with it, because I love the car - and asides from the rattle it sounds awesome!
Hi mate
Have had a few of these cars in over the years now
Have had exhaust rattles from the rear heat shields the valves the exhaust touching near the gearbox mount & also lambda sensors coming loose all are easy fixes
With the wheels get one off & measure the spigot rings then just buy a new set, they are really cheap & worth replacing, what size & brand are the tyres though as although vxr8's are nowhere near as sensitive to tyres as the monaros it can also cause an issue
Have had a few of these cars in over the years now
Have had exhaust rattles from the rear heat shields the valves the exhaust touching near the gearbox mount & also lambda sensors coming loose all are easy fixes
With the wheels get one off & measure the spigot rings then just buy a new set, they are really cheap & worth replacing, what size & brand are the tyres though as although vxr8's are nowhere near as sensitive to tyres as the monaros it can also cause an issue
As above, exhaust sounds something like heat shield or valve related.
I had the same issue on my monaro and it turned out one of the hangers had sheared off and was rattling against the exhaust.
If you have access to a ramp it may be worth getting it up there yourself and having a look around.
As with the wheels i would also check what make tyres you are running as i had some cheap wanlis on my golf which were terrible, changed to a more expensive set and all was cured.
Would also be worth having the wheels balanced again and then put on a hunters wheel alignment machine.
Im also happy to meet around Thurrock area to discuss.
I had the same issue on my monaro and it turned out one of the hangers had sheared off and was rattling against the exhaust.
If you have access to a ramp it may be worth getting it up there yourself and having a look around.
As with the wheels i would also check what make tyres you are running as i had some cheap wanlis on my golf which were terrible, changed to a more expensive set and all was cured.
Would also be worth having the wheels balanced again and then put on a hunters wheel alignment machine.
Im also happy to meet around Thurrock area to discuss.
There is a hunter extreme alignment machine at Kwik Fit near Billericay station, had my 8 on there a few weeks back after fitting new rear tyres, its spot on now and drives like its on rails.
Yes its kwik fit but their operator is hunter trained, all the specs for the car are on the system and they have had a few 8's on their machine.
Assessment is free also so if alignment is spot on it wont cost anything.
Is yours the red one Rachuk used to own EX09 ?
Yes its kwik fit but their operator is hunter trained, all the specs for the car are on the system and they have had a few 8's on their machine.
Assessment is free also so if alignment is spot on it wont cost anything.
Is yours the red one Rachuk used to own EX09 ?
Thanks for all the help guys - looks like this may not be a quick fix!
I think im going to replace the alloy with the slight flat spot then take to kwik fit in Billericay for the hunters machine! Thanks for the tip! - ill let you know what happens!
One thing I forgot to mention - im running 9.5j alloys with 275 tyres front and back (came with this setup originally) - any way this could be contributing as not standard spec??
The tyres are Toyo T1 sports - it had T1R's on it but Vauxhall replaced with the sports as R's no longer made... Have used the T1R's previously, but on fron wheel hot hatches, they were pretty good on them, what are they like on the R8?
Ill start tinkering with the exhaust and see if I can locate the rattle from all the suggestions - need to get myself down costso at lakeside - they had some nice 3 tonne ratchet axle stands in there a couple weeks ago, only £15 for a pair!
Does anyone know of somewhere local to Brentwood that has car lifts for hire?
Had quite a bit of interest in the exhaust as well - whats a sensible price for a walky cat back with 15k on it?!
Im not the red one im afraid, its an 09 in silver - although only the LS2 block! I managed to get a random one where it was made in 07 but not registered and put on the road until 09!!!
Any of you essex boys running a supercharger or cammed?
Oh and deff up for a mini Essex meet! where and when?!
Cheers
I think im going to replace the alloy with the slight flat spot then take to kwik fit in Billericay for the hunters machine! Thanks for the tip! - ill let you know what happens!
One thing I forgot to mention - im running 9.5j alloys with 275 tyres front and back (came with this setup originally) - any way this could be contributing as not standard spec??
The tyres are Toyo T1 sports - it had T1R's on it but Vauxhall replaced with the sports as R's no longer made... Have used the T1R's previously, but on fron wheel hot hatches, they were pretty good on them, what are they like on the R8?
Ill start tinkering with the exhaust and see if I can locate the rattle from all the suggestions - need to get myself down costso at lakeside - they had some nice 3 tonne ratchet axle stands in there a couple weeks ago, only £15 for a pair!
Does anyone know of somewhere local to Brentwood that has car lifts for hire?
Had quite a bit of interest in the exhaust as well - whats a sensible price for a walky cat back with 15k on it?!
Im not the red one im afraid, its an 09 in silver - although only the LS2 block! I managed to get a random one where it was made in 07 but not registered and put on the road until 09!!!
Any of you essex boys running a supercharger or cammed?
Oh and deff up for a mini Essex meet! where and when?!
Cheers
Edited by neillvxr8 on Thursday 11th December 07:42
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