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[Mack]

Just wondering if anyone has any advice on the following, whether it is anything I should worry about or get fixed. I've got an Omega estate which presumably has the self levelling suspension. I drive it pretty much every day on the motorway and the car is smooth and relaxed as you would expect.

I've been in France for the last week and when the car is heavily loaded (i.e. boot is full of stuff and back is full of kids) there is a slight vibration from around 70mph upwards. the vibration feels as if a rear wheel is un balanced as it does not affect the steering. I don't understand how this could be the cause, however, why would a wheel become unbalanced just because is was carrying more of a load?

I did change the tyre pressures before the trip (but haven't changed them back yet and the vibration is gone again). And before you say, I have checked it isn't my eldest kicking the back of my seat

Strangely I also recall the same effect from my previous 2.5 estate (this is a 3.2 Elite, the 2.5 was a bit economical!!).

Since it is off to VX soon for an MOT and service (still getting them to do it as it has a quite young 36K miles) I thought I'd ask in case there is anything I should get them to do........

Great forum, always interesting, thanks in advance.

[ians]

Just wondering if anyone has any advice on the following, whether it is anything I should worry about or get fixed. I've got an Omega estate which presumably has the self levelling suspension. I drive it pretty much every day on the motorway and the car is smooth and relaxed as you would expect.

I've been in France for the last week and when the car is heavily loaded (i.e. boot is full of stuff and back is full of kids) there is a slight vibration from around 70mph upwards. the vibration feels as if a rear wheel is un balanced as it does not affect the steering. I don't understand how this could be the cause, however, why would a wheel become unbalanced just because is was carrying more of a load?

I did change the tyre pressures before the trip (but haven't changed them back yet and the vibration is gone again). And before you say, I have checked it isn't my eldest kicking the back of my seat

Strangely I also recall the same effect from my previous 2.5 estate (this is a 3.2 Elite, the 2.5 was a bit economical!!).

Since it is off to VX soon for an MOT and service (still getting them to do it as it has a quite young 36K miles) I thought I'd ask in case there is anything I should get them to do........
Great forum, always interesting, thanks in advance.

That sounds like you are asking for a big bill and no fix.  They will no doubt charge you 50 quid to 'investigate' it and not find anything or tell you you need a new wheel bearing/disk/tyre etc ...

I also wouldn't get the MOT done there at the same time as service - they are bound to find things that 'need doing' in order for it to pass.

Sorry sceptical mood today..

I would replicate the problem and try moving tyres front/back and see if the vibration moves to the front.  You may have a tyre deformation which is more noticable when the tyre is compressed more?

[jonathanh]

had a similar problem with a mate's parents car.  they'd driven over from Germany and i drove the car for a couple of miles.  Found out that the rear tyres were through the inner reinforcement and about to blow.

Also, old tyres can cause all sorts of problems.  Parents veccy was noisy and vibrating on old rubber.

Try doing s front to back swap to eliminate tyres: go frm there

[Mack]

I understand the scepticism on the dealer front, mine normally try the new disks trick when they are fine..... hence asking here, because if you give a more definate diagnosis you are more likely to get the issue resolved. Probably won't mention it if no clues here.....

Tyres are fine, all relatively new and no visible damage, checked them before the trip. Might try a swap but will have to load up the car and go to the motorway to check!

[ians]

But really you would to load it up for Vx to replicate it as well wouldn't you?   At least that should eliminate the tyres and wheels.

I've had the disks one as well...  and on one of my cars they were changed (by previous owner) at 30k miles which IMHO is ridiculous on a car mainly doing motorway work which he did.

[Richard A]

I have never known a car more sensitive to 'wheel balance' problems than the Omega, tip, find a good 'tyre fitter' and get the wheels rebalanced with knock-on weights ie the outside edges of the wheels, also ask them to 'balance down to zero', most machines show 'zero' but are at a '5 grams' limit. Also punchure repaired tyres can cause 'rolling' balance problems under load conditions. As already said VX dealers are good for current models ie replacing units that fail, but are not good at free thinking analysis.
regards
richard a  

[cem_devecioglu]

I have never known a car more sensitive to 'wheel balance' problems than the Omega, tip, find a good 'tyre fitter' and get the wheels rebalanced with knock-on weights ie the outside edges of the wheels, also ask them to 'balance down to zero', most machines show 'zero' but are at a '5 grams' limit. Also punchure repaired tyres can cause 'rolling' balance problems under load conditions. As already said VX dealers are good for current models ie replacing units that fail, but are not good at free thinking analysis.
regards
richard a  

agreed..full balance on a good shop will solve most of problems..

And also have the wishbones checked..

[iainb]

Hi, whilst I suspect the problem to be tyres and or wheels,it is worth checking out the drive shafts as they may have some play in them that is only apprant under heavy load condition. Oh my 2.5 estate has viberation at 80,so I just lift off a bit

[feeutfo]

as an experiment, (i am being a bit mean here, if your are going to take it to vx dealer for a service, and i really  do wish you would not, its a complete waiste of money imho unless you intend to sell the car with a full service history to the unaware,but  it does not cut much ice with folks on here) let vx try to diagnose the problem, see what they say. Then take the car for a 5 point wheel balance(not a single point cone balancer, they are not accurate for the mig)and see if the problem is cured. I bet you vx dont tell you/ diagnose the  correct info,i bet you, only a pound mind. That is assuming that 5 point balance has not already been done and that that is the issue. When the mig is waited, it is my understanding of the geometary that the wheels will camber in considerably and run on the inside edge more than normal. There may be an issue with uneven wear or damage on that inside edge.
It does not sound like wish bones from what you have said as in my experience you would feel the vibe through the steering wheel but thats not to say you should not check them anyway. You may also want to weigh up how much time you spend driving fully loaded to warrant further investigation/cash spending. Hope helps.

[lpgelite]

Also experienced this on a 98 V6 saloon and 99 V6 estate. Sadly saloon now retired (gearbox + ABS  FUBAR)

Definitely agree with comments about balancing, but I have found other things which could cause or aggravate this problem.

Fitted new tie rods and set rear wheel alignment to minimum toe-out tolerance on the estate which seems to have cured it. Both ball joints were a bit worn and the bushes soggy at 170k - not bad really!

What size tyres do you run on your mig, and more important what pressure do you keep them at?

IMHO the standard pressures are too high. I run 225/55 R16 at 28.5psi unladen and 32psi laden on the rear of the estate. Fronts at 32psi all loads (and non standard camber setting).

I arrived at these through experience of excess centre tread wear and feathering of the inside edges of the rear tyres.

Since adjusting rear toe-out to minimum and dropping pressures I now get even wear across the whole width and vibration free motorway cruising.

There is also a chance you could have a dry or worn CV joint on one driveshaft, but unlikely with such low mileage.

With the reputation these cars have for bad wheel alignment, I'd recommend checking the rear toe-out at the very least.

[Mack]

Thanks all, great help! Chrisgixer, if you think I'm going to bet even a pound on the competance of my local VX dealer then you are mistaken   - the majority of the time they seem adequate at best - yesterday they had trouble understanding the difference between a heated rear window and electric rear windows....... and the fact that there might be a software upgrade for the car available seemed like an alien concept to them......

I think I'll get the wheels properly balanced as a start, try again and then investigate alignment after that. Afterall, even wear on tyres can send them slightly out of balance, perhaps they are just more sensitive with load. If it still happens I will indeed weigh up the time and money spent investigating further against how often the car is full.

For the record the tyres are the standard 235/45/R17s and I put them to near the fully laden specification for the trip (the kids are quite small!). I'll reset them this weekend when I get a chance. Definately a great car for a long continental trip, especially on those empty French motorways.....

All comments much appreciated, I don't get much time to do anything to my cars these days (hence the use of the VX dealer) but I do like to have other opinions than my own before talking to them as, as was mentioned in one of the posts, they can follow a procedure but not diagnose an unknown issue from the symptoms.

Cheers all.

[Entwood]

Going by your given location ... I'm guessing your Vx dealer is one of the 2 branches of Skurray's in Swidnod ..

The ONLY good thing I can say about either branch is that the older guys in the parts deptartments are pretty good and helpful - especially out at Hillmead - and they take the ABS trade card readily

My only contact with the workshop guys nearly cost me £800 in parts for a £150 job ..

Touch and barge pole come to mind ..

BTW If you ever need your engine codes reading/resetting contact me first .. I have an ELM 327 and several other bits and bobs  ... we can't be that far apart ....  

[FYS]

My 3.2 Saloon has a rear end vibration at between 75 & 80 mph, wheels all balanced, etc - think it may be a bent wheel, but all look round.

Strange that yours has now stopped that it unloaded....  very random.

I agree with comments above regarding VX and MOT/Service - take it for an MOT yourself  and then find a reputable/reasonable/recommended independant to do your work for you. There is little value in a full dealer service history these days.....

[feeutfo]

My 3.2 Saloon has a rear end vibration at between 75 & 80 mph, wheels all balanced, etc - think it may be a bent wheel, but all look round.

Strange that yours has now stopped that it unloaded....  very random.

I agree with comments above regarding VX and MOT/Service - take it for an MOT yourself  and then find a reputable/reasonable/recommended independant to do your work for you. There is little value in a full dealer service history these days.....

If your not already aware.
I have seen posts on here re bent mv6(most police models where mv6 afaik) wheels as being very week and bend easy, vx dont make them anymore, from what i have read. Maybe repairable tho? Worth a search for you, mate.

[Hog]

Have you had the brakes done recently, I got vibration once but only at speed from a semi seized caliper piston.