2.0 FSI Vibration@90-120km/h

[VWR36Fan]

Currently driving a Golf 2.0FSI Auto that has developed an intermittent vibration that is felt around 90km/h, and seems to be worse at around 120km/h. Vibration is felt more through the floor / front seats of vehicle rather than steering wheel, and is a pain when your cruising on a smooth highway.

Original tyres fitted are 195/65 15inch GoodYear NCT's, which I've noticed have sidewalls with small depressions that seems like a manufacturing fault. Dealer says that this appears normal for this tyre.

Currently running different set of wheels tyres which has improved things, but still noticing vibration at certain times on highway.

Has anyone else had similar problem with their Golf?

[Creniac]

wheels are out of balance, wheel alignment is out or a combination of both....

[Transporter]

Tyres are not a circle take it to tyre shop and have it checked, make sure that they aren’t oval. We had the same problem with our Golf.

[VWR36Fan]

Had the latest tyre / wheel set balanced and aligned by dealer, but problem, although improved, is still noticeable. Strange.

Transporter, what did you end up doing to fix problem on your Golf?

[Transporter]

Had the latest tyre / wheel set balanced and aligned by dealer, but problem, although improved, is still noticeable. Strange.

Transporter, what did you end up doing to fix problem on your Golf?

Bob Jane called on Good Year rep. and after he checked it they replaced 2 out of 4 tyres.
They have to slowly spin the tyre in balancing machine and just watch it from the side.

[VWR36Fan]

Nice work. Im still testing this new set of tyres/wheels but concerned the dealer will try and tell me original tyres not coverd by warranty

[Transporter]

Nice work. Im still testing this new set of tyres/wheels but concerned the dealer will try and tell me original tyres not coverd by warranty

As long as your tyres have legal tread depth, you have the tyre warranty and Good Year should replace them.

[methylnick]

This has happened to by Mk5 Gti but at slower speeds more like 30-40kph. I too thought it was the tyres, didn't see anything out of the ordinary and there were no big bolts stuck in the tyre,

took it to the dealership and told them about the problem, the found that the wheel bearings had failed and it was replaced under warranty, could it be the wheel bearings?

[Umai Naa!!]

Front and rear wheel bearings are known to fail on the MK5. Although, it's a very obvious rumble that can be heard through all speeds.

If the wheel bearings are ok, then I would be going back to the tyres. The NCTs are prone to scalloping on the inside edge, moreso on the rear. If you're not feeling the vibration through the steering wheel, then the rear tyres would be the best place to start looking.

[gregozedobe]

This is a less likely possibility, but may be worth checking if you are running out of other explanations:

The hub or the wheel might be out slightly (or there might be some corrosion in the critical places). The net result would be that your wheel isn't concentric with the axle. If you have any hub spacers these should be your prime suspect.

The way to test would be to (safely) jack the car up (and put it in neutral to test the front wheels), then slowly rotate a wheel while it is on the car with some kind of pointer fixed in a position so it is just skimming the tread. If there is a significant change in clearance between the pointer and the tread something is out of round (could be tyre, wheel, wheel/axle mounting or axle itself). You could also check for excessive play in the wheel bearings while you've got the wheel in the air.

Please be careful doing this, make sure the car is safe and secure while it is jacked up. Do NOT use the std jack that is in with the spare wheel, they are potentially very dangerous.