2007 Corsa, strange vibration

nerobert

I have an 07 Corsa 1.2. When I drive it at 100 KPH the whole car vibrates and you can hear a strange noise almost as if the engine is struggling. You can even feel it in the passenger seat. I’ve been in the tyre shop twice and had all the wheels balanced and aligned and the rear shocks and springs have also been replaced recently due to being overly worn and the issue is still there.

It’s only when driving at 100 KPH, if you do 1 - 2 KM over or under 100 it stops. I know it’s an old car and they have their niggles but this is driving me mad. I drive on the M50 every day and the limit is 100 so it’s pretty annoying.

Any help on what this would be would be helpful, cheers.

Atlantic Dawn

How does the steering wheel feal when this happens, sounds like wheel tracking issue if only occuring at certain speed.

con747

Sounds like a wheel balancing problem.

nerobert

Honestly steering wheel feels completely fine, it’s a weird sensation. It’s almost like the feeling you get when a cars about to stall at low speed, the whole car shudders and rattles but only lasts a quick second if you accelerate through 100 KMH. If you stay at 100 KMH it’s constant.

I have been twice to the tyre shop and first time they replaced front tyres and balanced and aligned them all. The car went for a service in the mean time and the report after said rear shocks and springs busted so got them sorted and issue still there. Went back to tyre place and explained issue and they had a look and said they have no idea. It’s a relatively small issue and the cars in good health but this one really annoys me.

con747

Check the weights are still on the front rims, because that is classic imbalance issues. Now it could be something else, but if you ever had wheel balance issues before you would know it kicks in above 80kph and goes around 100kph but gets it's worst at around 100kph. Possible it wasn't balanced correctly as well.

Pekarirska

There could be nothing wrong with the car. Wear and tear and/or poor design can cause mechanical resonance.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315999806_Considerations_of_Vibration_Fatigue_for_Automotive_Components

Check out what happened to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940. Vibrations in the car are a minor nuisance ;-)

Dr. Steve Brule

I'd go with this course of action, moving to each next step if it isn't resolved:

Get tyres checked for wear/tear or damage, replace accordingly

Follow up with Wheel Balancing, whether tyres changed or not. Test drive car to see if symptoms have gone

If still vibrating, you'll likely need to get the track rod ends replaced. At this point however, you're best off getting the car checked by a good independent mechanic. Usually, track rod ends are the first culprit of vibrations like you've described. They'll know if they need to be replaced. If they don't, they're likely to diagnose any other suspension issue, causing the vibration fairly easily.

I realise you've done some of this already, so speaking from experience and having had the same annoying problem on a Citroen C4 years ago, track rod ends were the cause.

Hope that helps & good luck getting it sorted.

Mad_Mike

What happens if you clutch, or knock it into neutral when the vibration happens?
Wondering if its rev related, speed related etc
If you drive the same speed in maybe 4th instead of 5th, is it still there?