Rear Wheel Wobble - Why?

Berty

There is something amuck with my rear passenger side wheel - It feels like that side anyway.

If I hit a bump in a straight line doing 80km/h or slower when going around a bend I can nearly feel the rear of the car wobble slightly. It is very un-nerving because on the M7 at 120km/h I had to grab the wheel tight because I thought the car was going to spin.

The Nuts are tight.
The suspension has not collapsed.
The tyres are correctly inflated.

Is it balancing, tracking, bearings? Multitude of unknown things?

George Dalton

Sounds like a problem with the shock absorber on that side. What make/model/year car is it?

Berty

George Dalton wrote: »

Sounds like a problem with the shock absorber on that side. What make/model/year car is it?

2010 passat

christmas2012

you could be another casualty if you dont get that looked at

Tropheus

I would check the wheel balance first. Are you getting a wobble at speed - at 80 kph+? If so, you could have just lost a wheel balance when you hit the bump. Either that or you buckled an alloy.

I would doubt you have shock problems on a car that young unless you hit a crater.

Berty

ksimpson wrote: »

I would check the wheel balance first. Are you getting a wobble at speed - at 80 kph+? If so, you could have just lost a wheel balance when you hit the bump. Either that or you buckled an alloy.

It is not a permanent wobble. I only get the wobble, highly noticable(wheel grabbing noticable) when I hit a bump doing 80+

The Alloy is not buckled otherwise I would have felt a nearly consistent wobble from it.

The pressure in the tyres is to factory/tyre specifications.

I did have a rattle coming from the rear quarter(same wheel I'd say) recently which has not transformed itself into an intermitent wobble.

dvae

i had a similar experience with a v.w. before.
turned out to be a bush, but i cant remember which 1.
its funny how something so small and cheap can make
the arse of your car feel like its got a mind of its own
when going around a bend.

Nissan doctor

Beer Baron wrote: »

It is not a permanent wobble. I only get the wobble, highly noticable(wheel grabbing noticable) when I hit a bump doing 80+

The Alloy is not buckled otherwise I would have felt a nearly consistent wobble from it.

The pressure in the tyres is to factory/tyre specifications.

I did have a rattle coming from the rear quarter(same wheel I'd say) recently which has not transformed itself into an intermitent wobble.

Sounds like a shock absorber or a suspension arm bush is gone.

Tropheus

It's odd to have rear bush problems, especially in such a new car. Get the balance checked.

Nissan doctor

ksimpson wrote: »

It's odd to have rear bush problems, especially in such a new car. Get the balance checked.

Wheel balancing would give a constant vibration at a certain speed, a wobble felt over a bump at speed couldn't be anything to do with wheel balancing.

The wobble + the knocking noise the OP reported points towards a suspension component failure.

George Dalton

Have a look at the rear shocks and see if one (or both) of them looks wet. Have seen them leak on a good few Passats although 08 was the newest so far.

It sounds like something you should get checked out ASAP anyway if the symptoms are as bad as you describe.

Berty

George Dalton wrote: »

Have a look at the rear shocks and see if one (or both) of them looks wet. Have seen them leak on a good few Passats although 08 was the newest so far.

It sounds like something you should get checked out ASAP anyway if the symptoms are as bad as you describe.

Car is going into VW tomorrow. Yes, the rear passenger side has oil leaking from it rather slowly but leaking nonetheless.

Assuming VW will only change BOTH absorbers in pairs what do you think costwise I'm looking at here?

€120 an absorber maybe
and god only knows what for labour. :eek:

George Dalton

Cost wise you are probably looking at 50% more than an independent garage.

The parts themselves are approx €90 each ex VAT IIRC.

Berty

George Dalton wrote: »

Cost wise you are probably looking at 50% more than an independent garage.

The parts themselves are approx €90 each ex VAT IIRC.

I'm aware VW are more expensive but I'm not asking that. I'm only curious about the costing because it must be serviced in a VW dealership. Company car.

Berty

Rear Passenger side perished. Rear Drivers side nearly as bad but had not failed by leaking fluid.

As they are designed to expect some wear and tear(non warranty) they are not expected to literally fail altogether within 2 years.

Whole lot covered under warranty and replacement car(not today- none left so rental but I can pick one up tomorrow)

mickdw

IS the car still under warranty?

Berty

mickdw wrote: »

IS the car still under warranty?

For about 2 weeks.

Leonard Hofstadter

Beer Baron wrote: »

For about 2 weeks.

Just as well so - we all know how brilliantly made Volkswagens are these days:D!

Mar4ix

my mate has 08 passat, changed all 4 shock absorbers... hence mileage 200k kms., but about quality have some comments, like old shock absorbers made in turkey, on engine (1.9tdi) head written "made in Poland ", and some other bits was from God know from where. seems to be vw order different parts in different factories , and bolt together in Germany.