Vibration through steering wheel :(

[NickT]

Hi all,

 

I keep getting an annoying vibration which doesn't seem to be repeatable and it happens at 82 and 88 (obviously on a private road!)

 

Car is a 2004 astra 1.7 diesel.

I have had new anti roll bar bushes on as part of the main dealer service as it is still under warranty.

I re-did the wheel alignment after and OK drives straight with the wheel in the centre (, thanks to Tony's advise on using a supertracker!)

 

I have had new tyres on the front, Firestone F700 fuel saver ones 195/60/r15's on standard vauxhall 15" alloy wheel.

I had the wheels rebalanced by the garage that put them on but was just as bad.

As the garage kept giving this job to the "new-boy" spotty lad, I took the car to a different garage.

I watched the tyres get balanced and made sure all old weights were removed.

I made sure that the tyres got a re-spin and that the machine read 00 00.

This time the vibration is a lot less but is still there.

 

I have had a look under the car and checked for loose/ split bushes/ anti roll bar drop down links/ loose wheel bearings etc. and can't find anything noticeable.

 

However, when the wheels were off I did notice that on the inside of the alloys, the tyres had a green circle.

Reading on this forum, this circle should be next to the tyre valve !

 

Would this be the answer to all of my problems?

Would I need to get the tyre re-seated back on to my rim at this point?

 

I would be grateful if anyone can recommend a GOOD tyre independant in the Wakefield/ Leeds or Sheffield area who can resolve this annoying problem.

 

If anyone knows any other suspension bush/ problem with this Astra car then could you let me know.

 

In the meantime I will swap my fronts to rears to see if this improves matters.

 

Many thanks for help in advance, it is a big anooyance to what is otherwise a v nice car.

 

NickT

[Tony]

The markings on the sidewall are rarely observed to be honest.... I feel your problem is balance!

 

I assume the centres are mounting the wheel on the balancer by using a dye in the rims centre hole.... That's no good. The wheels needs to be mounted using a "studded plate" so basically bolted to the balancer...

 

Studded plate

 

[NickT]

Thanks for the quick reply Tony.

Pity I live so far from you I'm sure you could have done it right first time.

 

I will let you know the outcome of my wheel rotation.

 

Why don't the tyre fitters use the stud plates by default?

Surely it would save the number of repeat balances.

 

Thanks again,

 

NickT.

[Tony]

Thanks for the quick reply Tony.

Pity I live so far from you I'm sure you could have done it right first time.

 

I will let you know the outcome of my wheel rotation.

 

Why don't the tyre fitters use the stud plates by default?

Surely it would save the number of repeat balances.

 

Thanks again,

 

NickT.

They cost £450 each and you need a 3 stud 4 stud and a 5 stud..... To note any place that can balance solid centre wheels like Pog 205 can balance your wheels.