No, never, 0% of the time
sometimes has a hint of vibration, not really noticeable
noticeable vibration most of the time, but isn't uncomfortable
vibrates all the time and/or very uncomfortable to drive.
VX Commodore steering vibration - a 'normal' level?
Hello all,
The VX's steering vibration that I mentioned several months ago is back with a vengance.
On a recent road trip it had a very small vibration and was pulling to the left a bit. So I innocently booked it in for an alignment and balance.
Well, $44 later did not do a bloody thing for the vibration (for the record it did run straighter afterwards- if anything removing the excessive toe in amplified the steering vibration at highway speeds. It happens on all types of sealed roads about 70% of the time. starts off at 90, picks up and can get ver bad at 105-110.
I am going to assume the techie did their job properly and a) saw that the rims were fine (nothing was reported to me afterwards), b) balanced the wheels properly and c) did the alignment properly.
Assuming it is now front end wear related, wha would be the main areas to focus on? Parked on the ground the tension rods and tie rods seemed fine. For the record the mileage is not 54,500km. Tyres are under 12 months old, only have 14,000km on them. Tyres are reasonable quality bridgestone re92s, 205/65/R15.
Conversely, perhaps I am being too pedantic - do VT-VX period commodores, even when new, have generally 'some' vibration from the steering, be it feedback or whatever?
TechJunkie
Get your tailshaft checked out.I put my money on the centre bearing.
Ok, how does one inspect this? Just wiggle it about? See if it moves?Originally Posted by VTS5
As a thought bubble from this morning's drive; if I hold my wheel with a firm grip (as I normally do) problem basically goes away, I just feel 'feedback'. OTOH, loosen grip to fingertip; sometimes it vibrates with an amplitude (i.e. size of vibration) of about 1mm. This is the size of the problem I am talking about....
Exhaust Guru
It would be the tyres, once they get a bit of uneven wear they will never balance up 100%.
Just a thought, does it have hubcaps? Take them off and go for a drive.
No, has standard 15 inch alloys. Car did have a bit of excess toe-in so possibly tyres are a little cupped/feathered now.
Exhaust Guru
Did you have them rotated? Put them on the rear and the rears on the front.
As part of the service the tyres were rotated. Front went on the backs, so am assuming the backs went on the fronts.
As a thought; on a standard VX/VT how long should the shocks last? Am on 54K atm. Surely they should last a bit longer than this....
Exhaust Guru
They should last at least 40K, so yours are probably in need of replacement. But worn shocks won't cause the vibration you are experiencing, they will cause the wheel to shake only when hitting a bump.
Funny you should mention that; took it for a drive just now and it appears that when car encounters rough section of road wheel shimmys for 20s or so afterwards then stops. Anyway in tyre rotation they placed a tyre i remember kerbing on front; side wall is all sratched and scuffed up. Put the spare on front drivers corner; appears to have improved it....
UPDATE:
nup, wishful thinking, issue still therein the morning will look at passenger side wheel brg, tie rod end and ball joint (drivers side checked out ok when I had wheel off the ground). When VB is out of garage will try to get VX up on chassis stands and see if there is anything obviously wrong with tailshaft. Still exhibited vibration coasting in neutral at speed, which suggests it isn't an engine/transmission issue.
OK NOW....just now jacked up each front wheel so that the tyre was just touching the ground; spun the wheel fast, and noticed that the wheel/rotor assembly binded on the brake pads, and when the brake pad binded it co-incided with the tyre brushing the ground, binding on it.
So now, it would then suggest that it is a) warped/deformed rotor, or, b) a warped hub. No play suggests wheel bearings are fine.
Interestingly, shudder does not increase with braking. Above co-incides with the appearance of issue after getting factory brakes machined. Methinks new rotors/pads are in order....
PROBLEM SOLVED!!There was a bit of runout on the tyre; took it to mechanic found no issue; but got Bob Jane to re-do balance and they corrected the radial runout by remounting tyre on rim in different position. Did this free of charge (for I am loyal customer...) . Rebalanced tyres. Huge, huge improvement. Thanks BJ Orange
F O R U M W A R R I O R
Good to hear, just to clarify.
Centre bearing/tailshaft issues will not cause steering wheel vibration.
Excess runout in front brake rotors will only cause vibration when braking.
Silver Certified.
TechJunkie
If you dont know,just shut up.I dont think any1 wants the hear your bs.
F O R U M W A R R I O R
Im a Holden Mechanic idiot.
Tailshaft causes vibration through the whole car, not just the steering wheel which is what the OP complained about.
My point proven by the fact it was runout in a front tyre.
Last edited by RiCeY; 11-02-2012 at 10:47 AM. Reason: VTS5 is retarded.
Silver Certified.
Lol to me he sounded confident in what he said so where Did you get this from
I'm no mechanic and I even know that the tailshaft bearing wont cause steering vibration only lol it's apart of the driveline not steering!!
Customize your life.
I'm no mechanic myself and even i would say tailshaft wouldn't send a vibration through the steering as the op described his complaint. had a crack in my VP's tailshaft once and felt the whole car vibrate under hard power, never felt it rolling along without acceleration.
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