Topic: Headaches after accident repair

[vdk]

In the little accident I had this summer, one of the front wheels took a hit. Insurance replaced the tire, and 'refinished' the rim. This refinished rim with the new tire was put on the back, and the rims & tires that were previously on the back were switched to the front.

So at the end of the day I had 1 new tire on a refinished rim on the back, 2 worn tires on the front with straight and true rims, balanced etc. Steering wheel vibrates BAD at constant 105-115 and gets worse when accelerating from those speeds.. WTF? These tires have been on the front before, never experienced the slightest hint of vibration. This was so bad the armrest was shaking.

I decide to take the car in after a month or so, because one of the front tires developed a bulge. On my own, I source the same new OEM tire that's on the car, and ask them to install it and place the 2 new tires on the front. They install the tire on the rim, and balance both tires that will sit on the front. So the refinished wheel with the new tire goes on the front.

The wheel vibrations are much better now but still there. The dealership uses Hunter GSP9700, so IF the tires are perfectly balanced, can the vibrations come from the 'refinished' rim? Can it be something else, they replaced the right side of the front axle as part of the repair.

' annoying! 

[articsteve]

I would move fronts to back and of course back to fronts  (same side).  If no significant change, then you have a huge PIA.

Potential trade in situation. 

[rrocket]

Potential trade in situation. 

Because of a dented rim??     So I guess your deer crash merits a trade in immediately then, eh?

The car may need an alignment.  It's possible the little shunt the wheel hit knocked your alignment out of location.

[articsteve]

Because of a dented rim??

I don't think it has anything to do with the rim, but he can switch to the rear.

So I guess your deer crash merits a trade in immediately then, eh?

I haven't got it back yet.  But it drove better just after the hit. 

The car may need an alignment.

That would have been automatic for any shop after that kind of damage.

No, this is a very nasty issue.  VDK is on his own.  On his own dime.  No one is going to rip the car down again and rebuild it again.  Nobody (other than VDK) gives a hoot about "vibration".

Could be the half shaft.  Whose is gonna eat that for free over a "vibration".  Not the Insurance Company I can assure you.

[articsteve]

Now that the Ravens have fallen short  ;   I was thinking more about this and one of the difficulties with a Golf is that it's "front end" is above average in build design so any little thing that is off, even slightly, is more difficult to isolate.  Difficult being an understatement.

[rrocket]

Because of a dented rim??

I don't think it has anything to do with the rim, but he can switch to the rear.

So I guess your deer crash merits a trade in immediately then, eh?

I haven't got it back yet.  But it drove better just after the hit. 

The car may need an alignment.

That would have been automatic for any shop after that kind of damage.

No, this is a very nasty issue.  VDK is on his own.  On his own dime.  No one is going to rip the car down again and rebuild it again.  Nobody (other than VDK) gives a hoot about "vibration".

Could be the half shaft.  Whose is gonna eat that for free over a "vibration".  Not the Insurance Company I can assure you.

Yea, but how do you know the extent of the accident?  I didn't see all the details.  Did you?  Did I miss it?

[articsteve]

... some idiot will decide to run a stop sign.

 hell!

Engine's leaking oil and the transmission won't get in gear (D acts like Neutral). Write off? Most likely not, but I'll keep my fingers crossed regardless

What ya think RR, maybe an issue or two.      Plus he's had it a month.

I see trade next spring.  What should be get?   "TT" and get you to tune it. 

[rrocket]

^^Oh !  I thought he just bunged a curb!  I must have missed that thread!

Yea...that might be a more severe issue.  But if he took it to one of their preferred places he MIGHT be able to get it fixed since they guarantee the work.  Would not hold my breath though...

[tortoise]

I'd say it's entirely plausible that the refinished rim is causing the vibration.  Perhaps when balancing the shop said "F-it, close enough".  I have to imagine a GTI is more sensitive to balance issue than... say... an Impala.

[aquadorhj]

same exact issue i'm having.    

feel your pain man.

my steering wheel still vibrates at indicated 110km/h and over.

somebody at the body shop said to try the rears on the front..    i was like, WTF, SIZES ARE DIFFERENT!!  after talking to insurance again, they are taking it to bmw dealership.  again.

i would say it's probably the rim...  and/or balance.. (if i were a betting man, i would say the refinished rim) 

[vdk]

The black car is the old Rabbit that was written off last September. This wasn't so bad, the young blonde hit me going maybe 20 clicks, but hit the wheel straight up. Sorry no pic of the car or the blondie.

In all honesty, the car was fixed at Don Valley VW, and that's where I took it back to have the wheels rebalanced, headlights adjusted etc. I didn't pay a dime for rebalancing, and the technician mentioned it could be something else... I mean they repaired it, if they did a shitty job it's not my fault, I'm not gonna pay more to have it fixed properly.

Wouldn't this vibration fall under warranty anyway? I'm changing to winters tomorrow, I guess we can isolate one potential cause then.

[blur911]

It's possibly still the tires, you can't balance out radial force variation, it's basically a "hard spot" in the tire.  The wheel may be balanced but still vibrate at speed.  Can feel like a flat spot.

[vdk]

It's possibly still the tires, you can't balance out radial force variation, it's basically a "hard spot" in the tire.  The wheel may be balanced but still vibrate at speed.  Can feel like a flat spot.

Even with new tires on the front?

[blur911]

It's possibly still the tires, you can't balance out radial force variation, it's basically a "hard spot" in the tire.  The wheel may be balanced but still vibrate at speed.  Can feel like a flat spot.

Even with new tires on the front?

Especially with new tires on the front.

[articsteve]

You need to either place the fronts on the rear, rears on front and see if the vibration "moves", OR get someone to swap on 4 wheels/tires from another unit.

However, 2 things against this being a simple fix.  Hunter Road force unit has already been employed plus they replaced a half shaft which means something nasty happened in your front setup.

As for warranty    What year car is this?   In any case, this issue is between you and the dealer, not VW.

You did look at the work order?

An alignment is listed?

[vdk]

I'll put the winters on which are on different rims , if that doesn't fix it than it's not the wheels right?

An alignment is in the work order, but did they do it? I'm not sure... The car pulls right.

It's an 08 bought in May 08.

[vdk]

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[airbalancer]

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I completely understand

[articsteve]

An alignment is in the work order, but did they do it? I'm not sure... The car pulls right.

Good point.  They won't know either because the aligment tech could have dogged it that day.

I think this is your "in" or starting point.

If it were me, I'd go in and say" listen, ever since I got this car back it pulls bad to the right".  and then say "BTW, lots of wheel shake too.  You've got to do something."

Just going in with a general vibration complaint is a harder starting point because that is such a common nebulous complaint heard by all service departments.

[vdk]

Good point Steve, thanks for the insight. I booked an appointment for tuesday. Told them what you said exactly