Vibrations?

[Exclusive BV]

Been having quite a bad vibration for some time now. Had the wheels balanced 3 times (different garages) with no improvment. Swapped the wheels front to back earlier and made a big difference but there is still a slight something there.

Checked all my springs and they are fine.

Dont know about the drop links they look ok and i did the pull check with no clunks

what else could it be?

It almost seems like something at the front is loose and vibrates on rough road.

And these vibrations can be felt through the steering wheel

[m8internet]

What sort of speeds and conditions?

If it is only between 60 and 70mph then it is most likely to be the front wheel balancing
Ask for the fine settings to be used

If it is whilst accelerating between 30mph and 60mph then it may be the steering arms

Failed drop links give knocking noises and imprecise steering
However, on braking they can give horrendous vibration through the steering, especially when braking from 40mph to 20mph

[Exclusive BV]

I cant really narrow it down to certain conditions.

It just seems random but more often it happens when the road is a bit rough.

Thinking about it, it may not even be vibration any more, i think the main issue is that i can feel every part of the road through the wheel. it seems like i can feel every little stone i drive over.

Could something be worn or loose?

What can you feel through your steering wheel?

[m8internet]

What can you feel through your steering wheel?

Nothing now and back to normal

When the wheel balancing is out the steering wheel can have a vibration between 50mph and 70mph and in extreme cases can also be seen
Equally, if swapping the front and rears causes a slight change, then have ALL four rebalanced
I usually find the older wheels swapped from the rear to front can do this, so it is just the two fronts that need rebalanced (as the rears are new)

With worn front steering arms the steering wheel can be felt vibrating

The worn front drop links give the steering wheel such a vibration that it can be seen moving vertically when braking

[Exclusive BV]

I had all 4 wheels balanced to fine settings last month on a new machine and there was little difference in them.

mmm, it does seem like its up and down movement rather than side to side. But it's only very slight now, since i did the front to back swap it's improved a hell of a lot.


So am i right in saying that worn drop links would transmit road vibrations through to the steering wheel or is there something else like bushes that i should be looking at?

[m8internet]

it does seem like its up and down movement rather than side to side. But it's only very slight now

That pretty much confirms it is suspension and not wheels then

The reason you get vibration on unbalanced wheels is due to one wheel pulling up and down on the suspension as it rotates, more than the other, which then pushes and pulls the steering (the weakest point)

With correctly balanced wheels the next weakest point will pull up and down on the suspension
Normally this is the drop link and anti-roll bar member, and typically the lower bush will show signs of play first
Once this has worn this results in a longitudinal vibration along the steering, hence why it appears to vibrate up and down in front of you

I would therefore suggest you arrange a full inspection of the front suspension, ask for advisories on any play even if minimal
That is how mine was found, monitored for three months and then advised the one with play had finally worn, with the other side showing signs of play

[Exclusive BV]

i'll change the drop links then cheap and easy job, then see if it gets better

Cheers m8