Car unsteady on the road

batman2000

Looking for some advice. This may take a little to explain to please bear with me. I had to get two new tyres (passenger fr and r) after hitting a pot-hole that I didnt see. Now since then, whenever I drive over uneven road surfaces, or man-hole covers the car feels like it 'skips' or 'steps' out from the rear, but only on the nearisde. I've had the car tracked checked a few times and its good, also had the bushings checked and suspension checked.There is no damage to the shocks (no leaks) and everything it tight incl the steering. At 120kmph, the car does not shake and goes straight, there are no vibrations throught the wheel...


Any ideas what might be wrong....Thanks

(Skoda Octavia 17'' 225/45/17 @36psi Factory fitted wheels )

biko

Hm, maybe bearings? Is there a noise at all?
I'd assume at the tracking they checked the tyres for play (the tyres wiggles a bit).

batman2000

Biko, there is no noise from the the wheels at any stage, I presume they checked for 'play', could I tell by pushing it !!?

The stated on the fuel cap is 32psi (2.2bar), but the tyre garage said for size of the tyre 225/45/17'' wheels 32psi is too low, he suggested 36psi. (Standard saloon may have 205/55/16) I have used both figures and some in between and neither pressures change this feeling. I am using a digital gauge and cold tyres

Anan1

Are the LHS tyres the same as the ones on the right? Are wear levels similar L to R?

smokin ace

sounds to me like a rubber bushing going or on the way out

batman2000

Yep, tyres are the same. The tyres were only 2 months old !!:eek: when I got them replaced

batman2000

smokin ace wrote: »

sounds to me like a rubber bushing going or on the way out

But I've been told (by two different garages) that the bushings are sound

Ferris

Could be a busted shock.

batman2000

Ferris wrote: »

Could be a busted shock.

Even though there is no sign of any oil leak???

jayok

As stated the 36psi seems high, if you lower the pressure to say 32psi to test, does it still bounce on you?

batman2000

batman2000 wrote: »

Biko, there is no noise from the the wheels at any stage, I presume they checked for 'play', could I tell by pushing it !!?

The stated on the fuel cap is 32psi (2.2bar), but the tyre garage said for size of the tyre 225/45/17'' wheels 32psi is too low, he suggested 36psi. (Standard saloon may have 205/55/16) I have used both figures and some in between and neither pressures change this feeling. I am using a digital gauge and cold tyres

Above

jayok

Sorry - scanned the post rather that read it.

To be honest anytime I've had anything like this, it's been tyre related. As an experiment, have you tried to rotate the tyres? (I assume it's not a staggered setup?). That is take the Rear Near side and move to the front. Take that front and move to the near-side rear.

Alternatively move the near-side tyres to the offside in a swap. This you could probably do at home without incurring too much cost. If it bounce on the offside then it is probably the tyres.

KoNiT

Whats you are saying is when car is weighted on suspension normally then it is OK, but when weight is lifted the car wanders.

Shock could leak internally perhaps?

Top shock mountings are OK?

Spring could be broken/cracked near top or bottom behind the mounting.

furtzy

Might be worth checking the track rod ends. Had this vagueness on my last car and initially thought it was something gone on the rear turned out to be a worn track rod end.

bijapos

If the tyres are different brands it won't help. For safety you should put the same brand on the same axle, not the same side. i.e. if you had Conti tyres and the two you bought are Michelin, you should change the tyres so they are the same brand on the front or rear axle.

Different brands act differently, the car might not brake properly if the tyres are different on each side, although ABS tends to help here a bit.

batman2000

Bijapos thanks....

batman2000 wrote: »

Yep, tyres are the same. The tyres were only 2 months old !!:eek: when I got them replaced

jayok, the tyres are directional so it would involve getting them all changed.

furtzy, Thanks for the opinions of track rod ends,
KoNit, Yes, but it doesnt feel solid going around corners either (Im not throwing the car around them !), I dont know enough to check, I guess so, I might get new shocks for the rear and see if that helps

batman2000

Just wowndering if anyone has any more inputs on this for me thanks

Jonny303

you say you had the tracking checked. was this just toe that was check or did you have a ful 4-wheel laser/digital check done

batman2000

Is was the full 4 wheel digital alignment check

Nicholas46

It's must have being some pot hole to say you had to replaced two tyres
you must have done some damage to your suspension.
Press down on the car over the suspension and see how the car re-acts, if the car bounces in a controller manner (nice and slowly) shocks are ok, but if the car bounces quickly then problem with shocks.
Jack up the car and rock the wheel (tyre), there should be no movement this checks the bearings.
Put the newest tyres on the back of the car , even though you say the other two wheels are nearly new, it's better to have the tye/age/make on the same axle.
Try this
Get one of your friend to drive behind you and look at you wheels to see if they are jumping up and down (like shaking up and down), this will definitly tell you if your shocks are gone
Hope this helps

mayoman ngalway

have you checked the tracking rods, they could be bent?

happened to me, last new years eve, busted the alloy and bent the tracking arm, and end.

batman2000

mayoman ngalway wrote: »

have you checked the tracking rods, they could be bent?

happened to me, last new years eve, busted the alloy and bent the tracking arm, and end.

Ive had the car tracked and nothing was mentioned about track rods ends been damaged.

batman2000

Nicholas46 wrote: »

It's must have being some pot hole to say you had to replaced two tyres
you must have done some damage to your suspension.
Press down on the car over the suspension and see how the car re-acts, if the car bounces in a controller manner (nice and slowly) shocks are ok, but if the car bounces quickly then problem with shocks.
Jack up the car and rock the wheel (tyre), there should be no movement this checks the bearings.
Put the newest tyres on the back of the car , even though you say the other two wheels are nearly new, it's better to have the tye/age/make on the same axle.
Try this
Get one of your friend to drive behind you and look at you wheels to see if they are jumping up and down (like shaking up and down), this will definitly tell you if your shocks are gone
Hope this helps

yes it was some pothole, it bulged the sidewall of the tyres,

When I rock the car it seems to be Ok compared to the other 3 sides !!

slimjimmc

batman2000 wrote: »

Ive had the car tracked and nothing was mentioned about track rods ends been damaged.

I've had my car tracked and nothing was mentioned about worn trackrod ends but they were still worn. Many places don't bother checking or don't recognise wear/damage unless is obviously rattling. If the impact was enough to damage 2 tyres then I suspect you could also have bent the nearside track control arm (lower wishbone).

batman2000

Thanks guys, will mention this at the weekend to the guys at the garage

batman2000

Got the tracking rod ends checked, no probs found, Got two rear shocks and the car feels great again.....Huge difference. Cheers lads