When you are bumbling at high speed, “Wheel balance?” or “Poor suspension?” Many people are confused.
Both cause shaking and vibration, but there are distinct differences in the way symptoms appear and the range of velocity.
If you misjudge the cause, it won’t fix no matter how many times you adjust the balance… That’s what it means.
In this article, we have summarized the checkpoints for “separating poor balance and poor suspension only by symptoms”.
This content applies to Volkswagen in general, so it is useful for checking if you feel uncomfortable.
▼Driving problem diagnosis guide▼
👉Comprehensive summary of causes of poor running
- Common symptoms
- There are two main causes (by structure)
- Cause (1): Poor wheel balance (the most typical high-speed vibration)
- Cause (2): Poor undercarriage (lower arm, bush, joint shock, etc.)
- Points that can be checked in DIY
- Is it okay to drive? (Urgency)
- Approximate repair cost
- Related parts to check at the same time
- Conclusion
- Defect details by vehicle type
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Common symptoms
- Boom only at high speed
- The steering wheel trembles finely
- Strong vibration in a specific speed range
- Shaking changes depending on the road surface
- When you cross a step, you hear a strange noise.
- It doesn’t fix even if you adjust the balance
There are two main causes (by structure)
- Poor wheel balance (due to misalignment of the rotating body)
- Undercarriage rattle and bush deterioration (due to mechanical rattle)
Cause (1): Poor wheel balance (the most typical high-speed vibration)
When does it happen?
- Shaking occurred immediately after changing tires
- There is a vibration peak between 80 and 100 km/h
- The steering wheel trembles “finely”
- Almost no shaking at low speeds
Why do I have that symptom?
Wheel balance is the work of correcting the “weight imbalance” between tires and wheels.
If this is off, the rotation will be “eccentric” and vibrate at a constant speed.
- The weight is off
- The centering is a little off.
- Individual differences in tires
VW has a severe undercarriage, so even a slight deviation can be transmitted to the steering wheel.
What happens if left unattended?
- Vibration worsens
- Uneven tire wear
- Increased burden on the steering wheel and suspension
Cause (2): Poor undercarriage (lower arm, bush, joint shock, etc.)
When does it happen?
- There is a slight shaking even at low speeds
- The way it shakes changes depending on the road surface
- There are “kotokoto” and “sizzling” sounds on the steps
- The handle flows even if it is straight
- Balance adjustment does not improve
Why do I have that symptom?
When the undercarriage parts deteriorate and rattle,
the car body is always in an unstable state.
Representative examples:
- Lower arm bushing: Straight fault and micro-vibration
- Tie rod end: the handle is restless
- Shock Relief: Fluffy + Shaking
- Stabilizer: Clattering sound on steps
While poor balance is “shaking according to rotation”,
poor suspension is characterized by “shaking changes depending on the road surface and body posture”.
What happens if left unattended?
- Abnormal noise in the undercarriage worsens
- Reduced straight-line stability
- Progression of uneven tire wear
- Loss of alignment
Points that can be checked in DIY
Checking for wheel balance failure
- Vibration only occurs at 80-100 km/h
- The shaking is almost the same when the accelerator is turned on/off.
- Occurred after changing tires
- Only the steering wheel trembles (the body does not shake easily)
Checking for Defective Undercarriage
- There are crackling and squeaking sounds on the steps
- The way the shaking occurs changes depending on the road surface
- Steering wheel center misalignment
- Unstable posture during braking
- There is a sense of discomfort even at low speeds
*The final decision is required to be inspected at the maintenance shop.
Is it okay to drive? (Urgency)
| Situation | Risk level | Is it possible to drive? |
|---|---|---|
| Balance slight misalignment | Medium | Be moderate at high speeds |
| Clear vibration at 100 km/h | High | High speed driving is not allowed |
| Suspicion of suspicion of suspicion of suspension rattling | Very high | Inspect as soon as possible |
| Set of abnormal noise + vibration | Very high | Driving NG (Dangerous) |
You can scroll
When a driving problem occurs, it may be necessary to tow the truck depending on the situation.
In these cases, it may be covered by road assistance or riders of automobile insurance, so it is safe to lightly review the contents of your current contract.
If you may not have a proper understanding of the coverage, you can use a comparison service to check the coverage details and premiums of multiple companies at once. Since you can get a complete picture in a short time, many people use it for repairs and inspections.
👉 Free Car Insurance Bulk Quote Service
Approximate repair cost
| Work Description | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| Balance adjustments | 2,000 to 5,000 yen/bottle |
| Alignment Adjustment | 10,000 to 20,000 yen |
| Lower Arm Bushing Replacement | 15,000 to 40,000 yen |
| Stabilize link replacement | 10,000 to 20,000 yen |
| Tie Rod End Replacement | 10,000 to 25,000 yen |
| Diagnosis fee | 5,000 to 10,000 yen |
You can scroll
👉Summary of maintenance and custom costs & working days of VW specialty store Nile Plus
Related parts to check at the same time
- Tire degradation and uneven wear
- Lower Arm Bushing
- Around tie rod rack
- Hub Bearings
- Alignment
- Shock absorbers
▼List of individual pages about undercarriage repair and maintenance▼
You can scroll
Conclusion
There is a clear difference between “vibration only at a specific speed” for a poor wheel balance and “shaking changes depending on the road surface and posture” for a poor suspension.
Especially in VW, the rattle of the suspension can easily affect straight-line stability, so if discomfort persists, it is safe to check it as soon as possible.
If the shaking cannot be corrected by
balancing adjustment, be suspicious of the undercarriage.
Even if the symptoms are similar, the causes vary from vehicle to vehicle.
Even if there are similar abnormal noises and malfunctions, there are various causes such as turbo belts and sensors.
If you are unsure, it is safe to have it inspected at a maintenance shop without overdoing it.
Defect details by vehicle type
Although the “way of getting out” the defect is similar, “which model has many problems” is slightly different for each car model.
Trends by vehicle model and common breakdown cases among other owners are summarized on the following page.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is it confirmed that vibration only at high speed is a bad balance?
A1. The probability is high, but I can’t say for sure. Vibration at a specific speed is typical of poor balance, but similar symptoms can occur with light rattling around the undercarriage.
Q2. Can you identify a defective undercarriage yourself?
A2. It is difficult to make a complete diagnosis, but if there are characteristics such as “sound on steps”, “discomfort from low speed”, and “change in the way it shakes on the road surface”, it is likely that it is an undercarriage.
Q3. Why does the shaking remain even after adjusting the balance?
A3. There are two possible cases: the adjustment itself is incomplete, and the cause is on the undercarriage side in the first place. If it doesn’t fix after repeating, I suspect mechanical rattling.
Q4. Is it dangerous to drive at high speed with vibration?
A4. It is dangerous if there is a clear vibration. In particular, if the suspension is caused by a rattle, the behavior while driving is easily disturbed, and there is a possibility that you may lose control on bumps.
Q5. In what cases is the repair cost high?
A5. If the undercarriage bushing deteriorates or multiple joint defects are progressing at the same time, labor costs tend to overlap and costs are high. In many cases, if you just adjust the balance, you can do it lightly.
コメント