Wheel Vibration

[Dean]

I am having some trouble with wheel vibration when getting to speeds over 50mph.

Recently I have had my front brakes (pads and disks) replaced and also front struts and mounts. I have had all my tires balanced and the tracking set.

All lower ball joints seem to be OK and nothing seems to be loose, the bearings seem OK.

The question I am asking, is what else could cause this, as it is starting to seriously annoy me.

The car is a 1986 Mark II golf GTi 8v.

Any help would be gratefully apreciated as this is starting to get to me, and I do not want to stick it in a garage for them to just start changing things for no reason.

I have had the car for about 4 years now, the car was off the road for 2 months during may and June, and I can't remember the steering vibrating as it does now, before it was garaged. This is why I am at a loss as to why this has suddenly started happening.

Regards.

Dean.

[pipworks]

I once did an engine swap on a fiesta, took the drive shafts out etc. got it all back together and found I had the very same problem as you're getting, got to me in the end, took it to a garage, felt a plank when he took it up the road for a bit, came back and told me I'd not tightened the wheel nuts up enough  

It's worth checking them?

[VWnut]

I had the same problem, turned out to be the big hub nut. If this is loose it'll need to be replaced as it is a self locking nut and is a non-reusable part.
Also, check the cv joints.

[Dean]

@pipworks,

I have had the wheels on and off that much for the last 3 weeks it is driving me mad.

@VWnut,

I haven't checked the hub nut, but the CV boots look fine, the boots were re-booted about 18-24 months ago.

Still driving me mad.

Regards.

Dean.

[VWnut]

Is there any play in the wheels when you shake them by hand?
That would be the first thing to check. As i said before i, i had the same problem, you could also feel the knocking through the steering wheel. Check that the hub bolt is done up really tight.  Failing that, check the cv joints and drive shafts.
Let me know how you get on mate.....

[Dean]

Just had the tracking double checked, minor adjustment made to the tracking and camber, but nothing seems lose.

If there was any play in the front bearings or if the hub nut was lose, it  would have failed it's MOT (wouldn't it)?

I have a feeling it is a warped alloy(s) (and I don't have any old steelies to put on to rule that out), badly deteriorated tyres or drive shafts (bent or knackered cv joints).

At slow speeds (ie less than 50) you can feel the steering wheel, pulling from side to side. At 70 it is a vibration and above 85 it is almost un-noticable.

What symptoms would I get if my top mounts were too soft?

It was after I changed one that this seemed to start, then when I changed the struts, I changed both top mounts to rule that out (so drivers side has had 2 new mounts put in place).

This is really starting to nag at me, as I do not want to spend too much money on the thing. I only want a few more months out of it.

Thanks for the replies.

Dean.

[Lee]

Hello

Swap your front wheels with the rear ones and see if it still does it.

[Dean]

I only noticed it after replacing the fron discs and pads, drivers side top strut mount and nipping up the rear bearings.

The more I think about it, it has to be something to do with the discs, but I cannot feel anything odd when braking.

I am going to take the brakes off again this weekend and get a micrometer on the discs and measure everything, nothing seems lose, the wheels seem OK, the tyres seem OK, at a bit of a loss really.

Regards.

Dean.

[ajh]

I've got EXACTLY the same problem mate.

It all started when I lowered my 89 8v by 40mm put new shocks on all round and put some new alloys on it...

I still haven't found out what it is yet... I'll let you know if I fix it.

ajh

[Dean]

I have had the discs off and cleaned up the hubs, and replaced.

My next task is to measure the thickness of the discs around where they fit to the hub, I will also check for distortion, hopefully I will be able to do this later this evening (if work is quiet).

I hope I find a problem, otherwise I am absolutely stumped. It will then have to go in a garage.

Regards.

Dean.