Wheels/Tires - Vibration While Driving
Retailer Technical Journal 19624
Wheels and tires, vibration fault tracing
Date 12-8-2008
Reference: VIDA
Note! If using a printed copy of this Retailer Technical Journal, first check for the latest online version.
THIS DOCUMENT SUPERSEDES THE PREVIOUS VERSION OF RETAILER TECHNICAL JOURNAL 19624 DATED 10-6-2008. C70 and XC60 have been added.
AFFECTED VEHICLES:
DESCRIPTION:
This fault tracing is based on the vehicle having Volvo original rims, hub caps, as well as Volvo recommended tire types.
This document presents fault tracing of vibrations that are connected to the vehicle's speed. The suggested method in this bulletin only applies to vibrations that are connected to wheels and tires. Some vibrations that are generated by the driveline can be mixed up with vibrations connected to wheels and tires. This document is used to differentiate between wheel vibrations and the driveline/chassis vibrations.
SERVICE
Test driving the vehicle, fill in the fault tracing card together with the customer and allow the customer to drive if possible. Use the check list to identify the origin of the problem.
Safety precautions:
All corrective action requires the safety precautions to be followed, which prevent damage to materials and people. The test drives described in this document must be carried out with regard to the local, state, and federal road & traffic regulations.
Possible sources of imbalance
Hub caps
^ Foreign object on or inside the hub caps (dirt, snow, asphalt, etc)
^ Damaged hub caps
Rims
^ Foreign object on or inside the rim (dirt, snow, asphalt, etc)
^ Deformed rim
^ Not Volvo original rims
^ Tightness of the wheel
Tires
^ Tire pressure
^ General status of tire wear, out-of-round etc
^ Volvo recommended tire types not used
The vibrations may come from a manufacturing defect in the tire's internal structure. This fault is not visible. To find this, a test drive must be performed.
Note! In the event of structure problems with tires, large balancing weights on the rim are often found from a previous attempt to eliminate a vibration.
Note! In the event of too high tire pressure, the vehicle feels jerky and can cause vibrations.
Note! The brakes are a source that can affect the analysis of the wheel balance. Ensure that all brakes work correctly.
Start from the remarks of the customer, regarding the type of fault (see the fault tracing card that the customer filled in). If possible, confirm during a recreation of the fault, e.g. the speed at which the vibrations occur (as near as possible). Compare the speed with the one in the table.
*NOTE: Observe all traffic rules including local speed limits and drive safely. The driver is
responsible for safety at all times.
The table above shows the values that are directly connected to wheel imbalance. If the vibration or imbalance occurs at about half the indicated speeds, the wheel is probably defective or damaged.
Remarks regarding the Wheel imbalance table.
If the customer has not indicated a speed, but the vehicle is included in the table, perform a test drive and fill in the fault tracing card.
THE FOLLOWING ARE JUST EXAMPLES FOR YOUR REFERENCE:
EXAMPLE 1 - Describes imbalance Customers with a C30 complain about vibrations at 110 km/h (68 MPH). This speed corresponds directly to the speed in the table for wheel imbalance and must be rectified.
EXAMPLE 2 - Describes probable defective/damaged wheel or tire Customers with a C30 complain about vibrations at about 55 km/h (34 MPH). This speed corresponds directly to half of the speed in the table for wheel imbalance and must be rectified.
TEST
Note! Perform test drives according to Road traffic regulations.
TEST 1 - Test drive to characterize any faults
1. Recreate the fault by performing a test drive. Check that the vibrations are connected to the vehicle speed.
2. Note within what speed range the vibrations occur and the speed for the highest vibration stop.
3. Read off the speeds that correspond to imbalance according to the.
ACTIONS
Checking for damage Wheel sides
Check:
- that no foreign objects are on or inside the hub caps (dirt, snow, asphalt etc)
- that the wheels sides are intact.
RIMS
Check:
- that no foreign objects are inside or on the outside of the rims (dirt, snow, asphalt etc)
- that the rims are not deformed
- rim type (Volvo rims are used?)
- tightness of the wheel.
TIRES
Check:
- tire pressure (follow the recommended air pressure values in the vehicle's user manual)
- general status of the tires, wear etc.
- tire type (are Volvo recommended tire types).
Check the vehicle's wheel balance. Perform wheel balancing on all 4 wheels and test drive again.
If the imbalance remains, replace all the vehicle's wheels with reference wheels and test drive again.
Reference wheels:
Wheels available at the workshop for checking purposes. Rims and tires must meet all requirements regarding roundness, balance and force vibrations. This wheels must be tested on a similar vehicle and must not cause any vibrations.
Alternatively, the workshop borrows four wheels from a problem free vehicle.
If the vehicle is now OK, replace one wheel at a time until the faulty wheel can identified.
If the vehicle no longer seems to have a wheel imbalance, but some form of vibration remains, during the test drive disengage/engage neutral and note any changes.
If changes occur, the fault source may trace back to other rotating parts in the driveline.
FAULT TRACING CARD