Front end vibration?

[Meatball]

Im getting a vibration through the steering wheel between 60 - 80mph, Ive got new gaz shocks the wheels have been checked and balanced and the geo was done about a month ago. Where do i start looking for the cause?

[slideways]

if you can drive through it it probably balancing. check your weights havnt come off

[Meatball]

slideways said:

if you can drive through it it probably balancing. check your weights havnt come off

Its just been re balanced about 20miles ago
cheers anyway

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

If it's been balanced that recently, was the problem there before? Have you checked the wheel nuts have been correctly tightened?

It's a very cheap option: take it somewhere else to check the balance?

[bigdods]

I have had this exact problem twice with the chim, two different causes.

First time it was the UJ on the propshaft. It should be lubricated at every service but when checked (I had only had it a few months) this joint was bone dry. Joint dismantled, packed with grease and put back together, all vibration ceased. I make sure I ask for it to be greased at every service now

Second time was a wheel balance at the rear. Had it balanced at 2 different drop in type places , didnt fix it. Went to a specialist who balanced the wheels properly and problem solved. When I say properly I mean they mount the wheel on a 4 stud fitting on the balancing machine, same way as the wheel fits the car. The usual places just mount the wheel through the hole in the middle which often isnt central so you dont get a good balance

[schmokin1]

if the above doesn't fix it then try and borrow someone else's front wheels/tyres for a quick blast to eliminate the possibility of buckled wheel/knackered tyre?

[absolutely]

Bearings?

[GreenV8S]

bigdods said:

When I say properly I mean they mount the wheel on a 4 stud fitting on the balancing machine, same way as the wheel fits the car. The usual places just mount the wheel through the hole in the middle which often isnt central so you dont get a good balance

The wheel is supposed to be located by the center bore; the studs just pull it sideways against the hub and don't actually locate it.

[chim666]

Meatball said:

Its just been re balanced about 20miles ago
cheers anyway

It doesn't mean they did it right though. I had the same problem, and after getting them re-balanced, all was ok.

Edited by chim666 on Monday 28th July 16:29

[HRG]

What tyres have you got fitted? Some can go out of round

Fit a temporary pointer to the chassis and make sure they run true.

[bigdods]

HRG said:

What tyres have you got fitted? Some can go out of round

Fit a temporary pointer to the chassis and make sure they run true.

good point, when I had my Omega Geo'd and balanced a few weeks back they found a vibration at ~70 was caused by one of the alloys being egg shaped. A well known high street tyre fit company didnt spot that two weeks earlier...

[Meatball]

bigdods said:

HRG said:

What tyres have you got fitted? Some can go out of round

Fit a temporary pointer to the chassis and make sure they run true.

good point, when I had my Omega Geo'd and balanced a few weeks back they found a vibration at ~70 was caused by one of the alloys being egg shaped. A well known high street tyre fit company didnt spot that two weeks earlier...

Thanks for your ideas chaps
Ive got the car booked in at Dulfords this saturday for a full geo and suspention set up
Hopefully that will be the end of it.

[Red V8]

Meatball said:

Im getting a vibration through the steering wheel between 60 - 80mph, Ive got new gaz shocks the wheels have been checked and balanced and the geo was done about a month ago. Where do i start looking for the cause?

How old are your tyres... tread wear affects balance... doesn't take a lot!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Meatball said:

bigdods said:

HRG said:

What tyres have you got fitted? Some can go out of round

Fit a temporary pointer to the chassis and make sure they run true.

good point, when I had my Omega Geo'd and balanced a few weeks back they found a vibration at ~70 was caused by one of the alloys being egg shaped. A well known high street tyre fit company didnt spot that two weeks earlier...

Thanks for your ideas chaps
Ive got the car booked in at Dulfords this saturday for a full geo and suspention set up
Hopefully that will be the end of it.

Was it?

[Meatball]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Meatball said:

bigdods said:

HRG said:

What tyres have you got fitted? Some can go out of round Fit a temporary pointer to the chassis and make sure they run true.

good point, when I had my Omega Geo'd and balanced a few weeks back they found a vibration at ~70 was caused by one of the alloys being egg shaped. A well known high street tyre fit company didnt spot that two weeks earlier...

Thanks for your ideas chapsIve got the car booked in at Dulfords this saturday for a full geo and suspention set upHopefully that will be the end of it.

Was it?

Spooky (just fitted my new racing reds today)...it turns out my 6 month old front gaz shocks had leaking valves.Ive just got to play with the settings now 

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Meatball said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Meatball said:

bigdods said:

HRG said:

What tyres have you got fitted? Some can go out of round Fit a temporary pointer to the chassis and make sure they run true.

good point, when I had my Omega Geo'd and balanced a few weeks back they found a vibration at ~70 was caused by one of the alloys being egg shaped. A well known high street tyre fit company didnt spot that two weeks earlier...

Thanks for your ideas chapsIve got the car booked in at Dulfords this saturday for a full geo and suspention set upHopefully that will be the end of it.

Was it?

Spooky (just fitted my new racing reds today)...it turns out my 6 month old front gaz shocks had leaking valves.Ive just got to play with the settings now