Advice with vibration....

[mingyar]

Hello, Im having a problem with my 2003 S3, Its only 40,000 Miles , so, when I drive at 75mph I have a vibration in the steering wheel, I think that its because my wheels need to be balanced, but also when I brake in speeds from 60 to 40 mph I also have a vibration in the steering wheel, but I dont have the vibrations below 40mph, this can be also caused by the unbalanced wheels?

Thanks

 

[JD09]

First point, don't drive at 75mph?

On a more serious note, sounds like tracking to me rather than wheel balance. You are more likely to get vibrations all the time if the wheels are not balanced correctly.

When was the last time you had the car setup/tracked?

Also, re the braking question, checked your pads/discs? That is the most likely cause I would have thought.

 

[DaveA3]

balancing i would say i used to get them bang on 80mph all the time when i had part worn tyres that couldnt be balanced. if ur tyre wear is even then definatly balancing. if your tyre wear is uneven then get the tracking done

 

[JD09]

Tracking will affect the car (with vibrations) regardless of tyre wear Dave mate. But camber would be the usual cause of uneven wear.

 

[Matt82]

tracking does not create vibrations

unblanced wheels will cause vibrations

as for the braking. warped discs perhaps

get the balancing done on the front wheels to start wtih though

 

[s3_stig]

Secound matt82 on this one

 

[JD09]

tracking does not create vibrations

unblanced wheels will cause vibrations

as for the braking. warped discs perhaps

get the balancing done on the front wheels to start wtih though

Of course bad tracking creates vibrations. If the wheels are not aligned properly, it causes exactly the same issue as an unbalanced wheel.

If your wheels are pointing in different directions, as the incorrectly angled wheel turns it will pull the car slightly to one side or the other. At the same time the other side will be doing the same.

 

[fingermouse]

first guess id get the wheels balanced,

 

[s3dave]

it could actually be both, if it is speed related usually tracking.....

tracking usually is steering wheel shake, vibrations can be any wheel and usually rear

 

[mingyar]

Thanks for the answers, I will take the car to balance this weekend, I was wondering if maybe it need new bushes?

 

[s3_kev]

Tracking will affect the car (with vibrations) regardless of tyre wear Dave mate. But camber would be the usual cause of uneven wear.

i have never experienced steering vibration due to tracking its always due to buckled wheels or balancing issues, ive seen lots of people mention tracking as a problem but ive never seen anyone go get tracking done and its fixed the problem also ive never done traking to fix the problem before either. the wheels would have to be massivly out of alignment to be a factor as in noticably out possibly due to accident/impact damage,
camber causes very little extra tyre wear also unless excessive camber is used its more to do with tracking as the wheels will scrub as your pulling away or braking more with them being either toeing in or out, i have 1.5 degree camber up front and tracking 2degrees out and my tyres have started wearing on the inner edges where as the rear setup is more camber at -2degrees with tracking parrell no tyre wear at all :icon_thumright:

 

[s3_stig]

It's not tracking if ur brakeing and it's pulling to one side than it could be tracking
get them balanced I had the same problem when I had a tyre changed they never balanced the wheel propley