st220kyle

Car drives smooth around town but once up to about 70mph get a constant vibration which can be felt though steering wheel and accelerator pedal, even passenger in front can feel it. Any ideas of places to start looking? Im thinking tyres/ wheels
car is a 09 focus 1.6 petrol

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Could be a mis shapen tyre, wheel balance, worn bushes, cv joint etc. The bearing on the back of the subframe that the driveshaft runs through is fairly common too.

smiley

Check wheels for dents usually on the inside I had this clipped and kerbs pot holes?

Fil

wheel weights? Check if have they come off

st220kyle

Thanks for all replies chaps,
tbh its been like this for a good few months, but as i rarely use it Ive forgot about the issue, My wife however uses it everyday, not at motorway speeds admittedly. but she doesnt seem to ever notice anything.

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

I dont know if it a woman thing in general, but I don't think my Mrs would know if a wheel had come off.

st220kyle

I was going to write the very same thing but didn't want to jinx anything.

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

I think drive shafts are common for causing vibrations.

st220kyle

Still haven't got round to looking at it yet due to weather,
tyres are fairly obvious what to look for but what would i expect to see on a drive shaft thats causing a vibration?

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

Make sure the outer drive shaft spider joint that goes into the inner shaft is ok. The inner shaft also has a bearing which sits in a bearing carrier which is bolted to the engine. Make sure the bearing is ok.

Have you had the wheels balanced?? This might be the cheaper option too.

st220kyle

Well had a proper look yesterday, front drivers side was slightly more worn on the inside but the drivers rear is totally fucked, the inside edge is like a 50p coin! have to wait till the weekend again now to vet them changed.
how does this happen? most fords i have had seem to destroy tyres before they actually wear out. My old mk2 Mondeo did it, my fiesta mk5 and old sportka have both made the rear tyres '50p'

cossynut2

Most people look for all sorts of reasons for tyre wear but how often do people have a proper wheel alignment done? I had'nt had one on my 2wd Saff for a very long time and I was shocked at how far out everything was. Felt much better afterwards.

st220kyle

Thats the thing, i would like a PROPER wheel alignment done, but i think most of the places around my way don't know what there doing. You end up with a steering wheel pointing off centre when the car is driving in a straight line and things like that.

cossynut2

I was lucky as I took mine to a specialist in Southampton who has all the latest equiptment for wheel alignment/corner balancing etc and that is all he does.Was not a quick 10-15 minute basic job as he took the time to do everything properly. On the walls of the workshop he has loads of photos of different cars that he has worked on including race and rally cars and now my Saff as well!
If you want to come to Southampton I can give you his details.

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

There is also a place near to me in melksham that isn't too far from you. I've never used then but they are supposed be very good at alignment and have all the latest gear. I can get their details if you like.

_Jimmy_

When you say 'like a 50p' do you mean it has flat spots on the tyre?

cossynut2

Off the subject for a minute, Melksham is where Spec-R used to have their factory, not sure if they are still there. Years ago when I bought my group A air box off them for my Saff I took it there as I had a problem fitting it and they sorted it out.

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

They had a big fire a few years ago which destroyed the building. They are just up the road in devizes now.

cossynut2

Thanks for the information.

st220kyle

Inside edge of tyre is all uneven, outside edge feels nice and round. Not really flat spots, the tread looks like it hasn't been wearing evenly, its all lumpy.

st220kyle

So I went to the tyre fitters today.......
they said the wheel / tyre which is worn unevenly is slightly buckled. So not worth replacing tyre on a buckled wheel until I've got it repaired or replace the wheel.
I'm assuming the buckled wheel has cause the tyre to wear this way.
this sound right to you ?

ajamesc