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[OmegaRich]

Hi, my 2.5 V6 Auto Elite runs well but at a certain speed on the motorway (around 80-85mph) there is a distinct vibration coming from underneath the car / through the wheels and not through the steering wheel. I can feel it through the accelerator pedal and my left foot that is resting on the mat.

Given that this normally happens at this approx. speed but then goes when I go faster (i.e. 90) and slower (70) it seemed to be an obvious wheel balancing issue. But when I had it checked the offside was perfectly balanced and the nearside was only 5 grams out.

Is there anything else that could be affecting the car, with vibrations at this speed coming noticeably through the floor rather than the steering wheel?

Thanks in advance,

Rich

[Kevin Wood]

Propshaft balance, rubber couplings and security of the centre support bearing perhaps?

I would expect it to give vibration at lower speeds, though.

[OmegaRich]

Nothing at all at lower speeds, all quite normal. It is only at this particular speed (80-85) that it seems to occur. When I go faster the vibration stops, when I go below 80 it doesn't happen either...?

[amba]

If its coming from the back of car try swapping the front wheels for the back.

I had a similar problem and traced it back to Avon ZV5 tyres which I had fitted in Sept last year to the rear.They have given the same symptoms you described and when I swopped wheels around it went....well it wasn,t felt at the rear end any more.

How old are the tyres and what make are they...assume they have no buldges or lumps on the inner edges you can,t see...have a good look.

[Darth Loo-knee]

So you have had your four wheels balanced then? I had the same sort of problem so I had all the wheels balanced, afterwards no wobbles at all. . Made the motorway trip very enjoyable.

[OmegaRich]

If its coming from the back of car try swapping the front wheels for the back.

How old are the tyres and what make are they...assume they have no buldges or lumps on the inner edges you can,t see...have a good look.

Good advice, I'll take a look at them when it's not peeing down like it is right now!!

[OmegaRich]

So you have had your four wheels balanced then? I had the same sort of problem so I had all the wheels balanced, afterwards no wobbles at all. . Made the motorway trip very enjoyable.

Well, I had the front wheels checked and balanced but not the rear ones. Didn't think at the time that I would need to as the vibrations were coming from the front (still are). I think I'll take it to my local tyre place at the weekend to have all four checked again. If it sorts this out then that would make my motorway drives very enjoyable as well!

[VR4Dave]

I once had a bent rear wheel that caused vibes through the floor.
Rear wheels out of balance often cause vibration through floor / body.

[feeutfo]

Buckled wheel, had very similar on mine.
Out of round tyre
Use a five stud balancer, that uses the wheel nut holes as opposed to single hole cone balancer that uses the centre hole which is not used to locate the wheel on the hub or may not be quite central to the stud holes. A wheel can be perfectly balanced to the centre hole, but still be out if balance to the five stud holes.

[OmegaRich]

Thanks guys, really helpful advice all round there. I'll have it checked on Saturday using the 5 stud balance (I imagine that most tyre places would do this?) and see how it comes out. Hopefully it will be a simple solution!

[OmegaRich]

Problem solved. Turned out that the offside rear tyre had "high points", which I believe meant that it was slightly deformed / bulging.  The previous owner had put a pair of Acceleras on the rear, which were now 3 years old, so had both replaced. Zipped up the motorway aftwerwards and the vibrations have all gone!

[vomega51]

check your wishbones for play on the bushes, i had a similar problem and it turned out to be wishbone bushes, i replaced both and now its sweet, hope this helps

[Lazydocker]

Problem solved. Turned out that the offside rear tyre had "high points", which I believe meant that it was slightly deformed / bulging.  The previous owner had put a pair of Acceleras on the rear, which were now 3 years old, so had both replaced. Zipped up the motorway aftwerwards and the vibrations have all gone!

Yep, must admit that they are prone to it. I've had 2 full sets and have another pair on now as I find them a very good compromise between performance and price but have noticed that, towards the end of their life, they are prone to very slight deformation