Xantia Wobble

BonceChops · Unread post by **BonceChops** » 17 Mar 2004, 00:24

I know I am not going crazy [:D] so my Xantia must really be wobbling.
It feels like it is comming from the back end when travelling slow, maybe 10 to 20 mph. At motorway speeds I am getting vibration. The vibration cannot be felt in the steering. It feels like the driving seat is vibrating [:I].
Anyone any ideas please?
Any common wobblely Xantia faults?
Thanks in advance,
Neil.

edd001 · Unread post by **edd001** » 17 Mar 2004, 00:30

it could be several things. wheel bearing though unlikly unless it is falling off. tyre problems ie: boulge in tyre or wheel not balanced. or the obvious loose wheel nuts.

David W · Unread post by **David W** » 17 Mar 2004, 00:33

Have a look at this thread Neil.
http://www.andyspares.com/discussionfor ... erms=tyres
David

paranoid · Unread post by **paranoid** » 17 Mar 2004, 03:11

Had excatly the same symtems when I bought my xant thought it was something major, had the rear wheels balanced because it was the cheapest option, they were only 10 grams out either side, but it cured it. IT seemed like a shimmy that rose up through the seats got really annoying at 70-80mph steering wheel didn't wobble at all, 3 months on and lots of motorway miles and its still good
Apparently xants are really sensitive to out of balance wheels, tyre guy who I trust says it would not have made a difference to any other car,

stuartb · Unread post by **stuartb** » 17 Mar 2004, 14:58

I've recently had the same problem with my wife's ZX 1.9D. It turned out that the rear tyres were getting rather old. Although they had plenty of tread left, they had gone slightly out of shape!
New rear tyres cured the problem completely. Hope this helps.
Stuart
'95 ZX 1.9D Aura 153000 miles.

Unread post by **RichardW** » 17 Mar 2004, 15:01

Better get the wheels balanced on my Xantia then as it does a good impression of the percussion section between 60 and 80 mph - and worst on overrun passing back through 60. Got those nasty Tigar jobbies on the back, but can't afford any new ones this month (year?).

David W · Unread post by **David W** » 17 Mar 2004, 15:29

Richard,
As a matter of interest at a service I always spin each wheel against an axle stand placed almost touching the tyre. I look for any tread variation and either record or notify the owner if it's bad.
Tigar and the like are consistantly worse for tread variation faults, they are often "flat spotted" from new.
Of course this can be balanced out on the machine but once the tyre is in contact with the road it doesn't always feel smooth.
It's hard to explain but this type of tread variation produces a sort of harsh drumming rather than a light vibration that imbalance alone causes.
I see the Venturas are getting hard to source in my Xantia size (14") but aren't yours 15"?
PS. Just changed my clutch last weekend, what a difference! What a job!
David

Unread post by **RichardW** » 17 Mar 2004, 15:50

>As a matter of interest at a service I always spin each wheel against an axle stand placed almost >touching the tyre. I look for any tread variation and either record or notify the owner if it's bad.
Another job for the weekend then...!
>It's hard to explain but this type of tread variation produces a sort of harsh drumming rather than a >light vibration that imbalance alone causes.
Yep, harsh drumming, feels like the front, but I suspect the rear as nothing felt through the steering
> but aren't yours 15"?
Yep - perhaps I should bite the bullet and try and get some whilst I still can! I think Goodyear are releasing a new 'wet' tyre soon though, which is probably why the Ventura is going away.
>PS. Just changed my clutch last weekend, what a difference! What a job!
Don't - I am dreading it getting bad enough to need doing! Couple of fluffed gear changes last week and I started getting paranoid about it! Arrrgghhh....!

David W · Unread post by **David W** » 17 Mar 2004, 16:04

I took notes and digital images this time and I'm writing up the procedure for the Xantia clutch job soon. I'll make it available to you. I think it will be better than Haynes and helps avoid a tray of "spare" nuts, bolts and clips!
I guess you haven't got ABS? Lucky as that is the last straw with the valve block, ECU and pipework being tight above the gearbox mount that needs to come off, and right in the way of where you need to lift from. The amount of dismantling to just get at the gearbox on these cars is very time consuming.
I kept a record and it took me 10.5hrs single handed, bit slow but doing every step 100% properly.
David

Unread post by **RichardW** » 17 Mar 2004, 16:42

Thanks David, I shall look forward to reading that, and doing the job. NOT!!
You were right about the seat BTW - somebody had been there before me though and fitted M4 bolts through the captive nuts (eh?) both of which had sheared off. Fitted a couple of proper sized bolts I had lying around with some loctite and no more sinking feeling. A 5 minute Xantia job - WOW!!!!

paranoid · Unread post by **paranoid** » 17 Mar 2004, 17:56

When I had the wheels balanced I noticed that the back tyres were either re-mould or budget kwik fit jobbies, tyre guy said if the wobble kept coming back this could be the reason, but so far so good.

BonceChops · Unread post by **BonceChops** » 18 Mar 2004, 22:50

Thanks everyone. I took the car to have the rear wheels balanced this morning. 1st off the rear passenger side had a flat spot on the center of the tread, so I replaced it. I think it feels OK now.
Thanks again.
Neil