suein56 Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 I have a 1996 Citroen Saxo and it has developed a vibration at around 80kmph that I can feel through the steering wheel and through my car seat. It began after the car had its last service, when the brake pads (but not the discs) were replaced by our local Citroen garage. We have had the car checked and the front wheels balanced as they were very slightly out, but nothing unusual was found. The mechanic said to return when the vibration was worse - which didn't fill me with confidence.My OH thinks that a brake disc or discs might be deformed and so cause the vibration. Does anyone think this is at all likely? Has anyone any helpful suggestions as to what the cause might be? As I am becoming nervous of going any distance in the car I should be very grateful for any input. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 It's very difficult to diagnose without seeing the vehicle but in addition to what 'steve' says I would look at,Drive shafts, engine mountings, all suspension bushes, etc.A cheap initial check that I would try is to have the wheels swopped round, front to back.Warped discs are unlikely to cause vibration unless you are actually braking.Does it only occur at 80 k, i.e. does it disappear if you go faster or slower, does it disappear if you brake, does it stop when you are going around corners ?Hope this helps................................ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derf Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 It's not likely to be the brake discs, unless the vibration only happens when you use the brakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gluestick Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 If it only appeared after the service, it is probably a poor balance of the front wheels. Also possible that a weight simply came off within minutes of leaving the service station. It happens.Wheel "Shimmy" can be caused by a number of things: as already suggested a worn steering or suspension bush/joint amongst a number of other causes.Distorted disks create a vibration on braking and it is normally possible to feel the brake pedal kicking back, as the hydraulic system works both ways!I would have the front wheels checked for balance, again, as a starting point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted November 21, 2006 Author Share Posted November 21, 2006 [quote user="Bugbear"]Drive shafts, engine mountings, all suspension bushes, etc.A cheap initial check that I would try is to have the wheels swopped round, front to back.Warped discs are unlikely to cause vibration unless you are actually braking.Does it only occur at 80 k, i.e. does it disappear if you go faster or slower, does it disappear if you brake, does it stop when you are going around corners ?[/quote]Thanks to everyone for their ideas - just the feedback I was hoping for. The vibration only seems to appear at around 80kmph; doesn't happen when I brake or go round corners; if it is there when I am going faster or slower it is so slight as to be unnoticeable.As I am not happy with the car as it is I intend to take it to a main Citroen dealership in Vannes and I will ask them to check the suspension bushes, engine mountings etc as you have suggested.Right, now does anyone know the French for drive-shaft, suspension bushes, engine mountings - or where to look for them?Thanks again - I'm feeling a lot more confident already.Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 Drive-shaft = arbre de transmissionSuspension = suspensionBushes = douille/bague/coussinetEngine mounting = silentbloc de motor moteur/support Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Anglia Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 I'd also get a local tyre place to check ALL tyres for ovality.We had one go out of round on the rear of one of our cars, caused exactly what you describe. Final check was to replace it with the spare, at which point the vibration stopped. The ovality of a tyre doesn't show on a balance test.This would be MY first port of call, as Main Citroen dealers aren't known for doing things for little, or no money, whereas tyre dealers are.........at least in the UK[;-)]Get EVERYTHING to do with the wheels, tyres etc perfect before paying a dealer to do any other checks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted November 21, 2006 Author Share Posted November 21, 2006 [quote user="Ford Anglia"] I'd also get a local tyre place to check ALL tyres for ovality.We had one go out of round on the rear of one of our cars, caused exactly what you describe. Final check was to replace it with the spare, at which point the vibration stopped. The ovality of a tyre doesn't show on a balance test.[/quote]Good grief, that is something I have never ever heard of - could I ask how old the tyre was that went oval? Though age has probably nothing to do with it - just the luck of the draw. Just to add that I had all 5 tyres replaced before we came to France 18 months ago. Thanks for the info - I will certainly get the tyres checked out for ovality, as my car does sit around a bit.Also, in case it gets to that point, thanks to BugBear for his superb translations of the terms I might need.Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pads Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 We had the same problem after having our brake pads changed on our citroen, for over a year we took it to so many garages, where the pads/ disc/ and the other bit they sit in? were changed over and over again never made any diference , we ended up seling it in the end it cost us a fortuneSorry to be the voice of doom [:(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 Just after a garage fitted a new exhaust to my car my I discovered my daughter was pregnant!Guess what? They said it had nothing to do with them but it seemed a remarkable co-incidence to me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unknown Posted November 21, 2006 Share Posted November 21, 2006 Sounds like a wheel bearing on its way out, I have the same thing on my car and its not a Citroen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim_Quincaillerie Posted November 22, 2006 Share Posted November 22, 2006 [quote user="Dotty "]Sounds like a wheel bearing on its way out, I have the same thing on my car and its not a Citroen.[/quote]I agree Wheel bearing or incorrectly balanced Wheel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted November 22, 2006 Author Share Posted November 22, 2006 [quote user="Tim_Quincaillerie"][quote user="Dotty "]Sounds like a wheel bearing on its way out, I have the same thing on my car and its not a Citroen.[/quote]I agree Wheel bearing or incorrectly balanced Wheel.[/quote]OK, so that is something new to add to the list I am compiling. Now, how would I suggest to a garage that a worn-out wheel bearing might be the problem and ask if they could they check it/them out? But first a rebalancing of all the wheels. Thanks to all who replied, I cannot express how grateful I am - it is very helpful.Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunday Driver Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Wheel bearing = roulement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugsy Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 Given the symtoms, it's unlikely to be a wheel bearing. Wheel bearing failure is usually accomanied by noise that is consistant with the speed of the vehicle. Turning the vehicle left or right will usually identify which bearing is at fault as they go quiet under load. For bearing to be the cause of a vibration it would have to be well worn out, and thus noticeable, at any speed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford Anglia Posted November 23, 2006 Share Posted November 23, 2006 I assume the original poster will tell all when it's finally sorted? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted November 24, 2006 Author Share Posted November 24, 2006 [quote user="Ford Anglia"]I assume the original poster will tell all when it's finally sorted?[/quote]Certainly will; though after reading the post from the couple who had a similar problem, couldn't solve it, even after lots of effort, so eventually sold the car, I am sitting here with fingers and toes crossed.I have made a list of things to try, starting with the cheapest; so, today, have booked for all tyres to be balanced then swapped round as per Citroen manual ie Right Rear to Front Left etc. Strange thing though, the tyre place were insistant that they would not cross-swap the tyres like that only RR to RF. Anyway we will see when we get there. Sue [8-)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted November 26, 2006 Author Share Posted November 26, 2006 Further my post asking for help; we started with the cheapest option so my OH took the car to a tyre specialist who rebalanced all the tyres and swapped them all round the French way ie right-rear to right-front etc. Though he was shown the UK Citroen manual the guy insisted that he would not cross swap ie right-rear to left-front as demonstrated in the manual. Result a definite improvement - though I haven't had chance to test the car over a long distance yet. Fingers crossed here that this is the answer to the problem - time will tell.Thanks to everyone for their help.Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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