Steering Wheel Wobble at 80mph?

[tobycruse]

It may be just me or it may be something wrong but here goes!

When I had my new wheels fitted the problem first occured. When the car got to about 80mph the steering wheel you vibrate / wobble. It wasn't very much but it was still noticeable. It didn't do it at speeds lower and it would go away at higher speeds.

I took it back to the garage and found the front wheels were balanced incorrectly. They rebalanced them and I went for a drive. The wobble is still there but only on certain road surfaces.

Is it because the new wheels are lighter and pick up every single grove of the road or is the balance machine the garage are using faulty?

If the rear wheels were unbalanced would it make the steering wheel wobble at 80mph?

Any help is much appreciated!

 

[Staz]

Try getting it balanced elsewhere. Get a receipt and ask them to put any changes on it. If it's gone go back to the original place and complain.

 

[Khufu]

what size of wheels/tyres? Have you also got spacers fitted?

 

[10blazin]

id say the balancing is the fault go somewhere else get it put right and go back to the first garage for a refund....

 

[Cockney Boy]

If the balancing is ok, and they have new tyres on, then you may have a warped wheel(s).

 

[tobycruse]

If the balancing is ok, and they have new tyres on, then you may have a warped wheel(s).

The wheels are brand new.... Only 5 days old! They cant be warped can they?

Ill go to a different garage tomorrow morning, get it sorted! Will report back with findings!

 

[gixxer600k4]

it will be some sort of imperfection whether its incorrectly balanced, some sort of tire warp.

on a quiet empty road, take hands off wheel, floor it and then break hard, iff all stars stright then the alignment will be ok.

have you had new discs fitted?

 

[gixxer600k4]

do the wheels have any weights on them, if not then it is, more than likely, balancing, because a wheel usually always should have weights on it.

 

[pdv40]

FYI you feel rear tyres through the seat and front tyres through the wheel. So an all over vibration could be all four wheels.

You said the wheels are new, but what about the tyres? They could be unevenly worn, I've had a similar problem on the Range Rover.

I had the exact same problem with my A3, but it got progressively worse as speed increased from 65-100+ a re-balance all round and everything was fine.

 

[kaz219]

Hi mate - I'd firstly go about making sure the wheels are correctly balanced (also make sure the weights havent flown off).

If your 100% sure it happened after the new wheels, the fault is defo with the wheel/tyres. Might be worth putting the standards back on to make sure.

It could be a single wheel thats buckled so try switching them about (even with the standards) to see if it gets worse (one standard/three new alloys) and keep switching them about.

If the prob goes away by replacing the new alloy with a standrd one, the prob is wther with that tyre or wheel.

I had exactly the same problem with my type r and they balanced perfectly but it shook at 80mph but past 87mph, it was fine. After switching each wheel with the spare, it still shook then i bought another alloy off ebay and when i replaced one front with the new alloy and back with the spare, all was sorted. I then bought another alloy off ebay and alls been fine - i think 2 of my alloys were buckled even though they balanced up fine. As you can guess, took me months to figure it out but sorted it in the end!

HTH

 

[tobycruse]

Just been to a different garage and had my fronts rebalanced. They were out!

On the drive back @ 80mph no vibration! Result!

I have now booked the car into Audi to have all 4 wheels properly rebalanced. I am loosing faith in other garages fast!

 

[S3 HODGE]

Nice, Atleast you got it sorted!

 

[Scott]

Just been to a different garage and had my fronts rebalanced. They were out!

On the drive back @ 80mph no vibration! Result!

I have now booked the car into Audi to have all 4 wheels properly rebalanced. I am loosing faith in other garages fast!

If the vibrations have gone then surely you don't need to take it to Audi for rebalancing? It may have only been one front wheel slightly unbalanced if it's all OK now.

 

[tobycruse]

I don't believe it!

Took my car to Audi this morning to have the wheels rebalanced. When the car came back the technician reported that the wheels were out of balance by 90 grams, EACH WHEEL!

On the drive back the car is now smooth as silk! So don't go to Kwik Fit in Sevenoaks or Caterham! Both their wheel balancing machines are faulty.

 

[10blazin]

glad you got it sorted you should go get your money back of them that is ridiculas....

 

[pluves1]

Pleased to see you got it sorted.

I am very fussy on wheel balancing and there is only one garage that I trust to get it right first time.

I have a lease car and Kwik Fit have to fit the tyres. So every time I take it to the garage I trust to have the wheels rebalanced. I then send the receipt to Kwik Fit head office and each time get a refund!

Last time I got a letter saying that I should have gone to branch for refund but, earlier I had been and they only offered to rebalance. So definitely get a refund of what it cost you first time or ask them to foot the Audi bill if they put your tyres on - will only cost you a stamp!

 

[kaz219]

So don't go to Kwik Fit in Sevenoaks or Caterham! Both their wheel balancing machines are faulty.

Dont go Kwik Fit Full Stop!!!

They're full of 17 year old mechanics, managers who just sit and eat donuts and dont really know what they're doing.

There was a knocking noise on my mates car and they said its the shocks so we he had shocks fitted but as he paid, another mechanic who fitte it said the shocks are ok so why did you change but the drop links look pretty worn.

Glad its sorted though!

 

[Khufu]

well kwik fit employees are paid by bonus for the work they invent....

 

[jb0o]

and you'll be amazed at what they can do.