rocking like a boat - Troubleshooting - VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

• rocking like a boat by juleshs on 05 Apr, 2009 10:02
• help, i have a 1990 mk2 golf with a mk3 19td as i am driving it rocks side to side, it is running on 205/55/15 tyres, need help fast am getting sea sick
• #1 by burn_your_money on 05 Apr, 2009 10:45
• Are all your lugs tight?
  
  Jack the car up and try and rock the tires back and forth. Grab them at 12 and 6 o clock. If you feel play, it's a wheel bearing
• #2 by juleshs on 05 Apr, 2009 11:03
• all new bearings and ball joints
• #3 by burn_your_money on 05 Apr, 2009 12:20
• You should check them anyways
• #4 by Vincent Waldon on 05 Apr, 2009 12:30
• If you jump up and down on the bumpers at the 4 corners does the car keep bouncing after you leap off, or right itself quickly ?
  
  My money's on blown shocks...  :wink:
• #5 by rallydiesel on 05 Apr, 2009 12:33
• Sounds like your sway bar snapped or the bolt came loose and fell out.
• #6 by jtanguay on 05 Apr, 2009 14:06
• could also be the sign of bad strut bearings and badly worn bushings.  how are the tie rod ends???
  
  on my old '87 golf i couldn't go past 80km/h or the rear would vibrate quite violently... new shocks cured that  :lol:
• #7 by the caveman on 05 Apr, 2009 15:00
• Are the wheels oem VW, or are they generic Can tire or other replacement wheels. Because they are for lots of models [VW honda, etc] the center is large and doesn't sit tight on the hub. If you aren't careful and don't tighten the wheel bolts slowly, the wheel doesn't sit centered and runs completely out of round.
• #8 by jtanguay on 06 Apr, 2009 06:39
• Quote from: "the caveman"

  Are the wheels oem VW, or are they generic Can tire or other replacement wheels. Because they are for lots of models [VW honda, etc] the center is large and doesn't sit tight on the hub. If you aren't careful and don't tighten the wheel bolts slowly, the wheel doesn't sit centered and runs completely out of round.

  
  
  thats a very good point.  i had to 'smack' a friend for just torquing the bolts one at a time to their full tightness...  :roll:  :lol: best to do the star pattern with a 5+ bolt/lug, or opposite corners with the 4 bolt/lug and get them real nice and snug if not a little bit tight, and then do the final torque.  kinda hard to explain the reasoning behind it to someone who's had about 10 beers though  :roll:  :lol:
  
  speaking of which my dads van has an awful drag to one side... right after he changed the tires.  i might just loosen the nuts and re-torque in sequence.  its real good to have a torque wrench!  i don't believe in over tightening the wheel bolts/nuts.  because when you're at the side of the road trying to get them off, Murphy jumps in and hands you the smallest wrench possible, and then laughs at you while you're out in the rain/mud/slush/snow.   :lol:  and i also put a fair amount of anti seize on the bolts as well.  best part is that it sticks to the threads so usually one application lasts about 2-3 times taking them off.
• #9 by steve6 on 06 Apr, 2009 07:51
• Quote from: "juleshs"

  all new bearings and ball joints

  
  
  Heh... i've seen the bearings come apart when not installed properly wrecking the hub(I've done it, lol)... check them!
• #10 by 8v-of-fury on 06 Apr, 2009 08:08
• Quote

  how are the tie rod ends???

  
  
  These could also be a problem allowing both or even one front tire to switch from +/- toe causing the vehicle to simulate a rocking motion.
  
  Have you felt any ... looseness in the turning?? in anyway?