Well, as most of you know Emma has a lovely CC at the moment, its a 1.9dti 08 astra SRI

Im not going to say I love it, because I don't (as a euro box goes however, I'm impressed)

What it has shown me however is just how sloppy my coupe is handling wise....something needs to be done!

one of the pain pi** off factors of my coupe is the general shaking and vibration I get fed back though the steering wheel when on a motorway. Were not talking wheel balancing here. The steering wheel seems to vibrate and shake over every change of surface.

Does any one else get this, is it just down to the age of the car and its old design or is there a way to damp down just how much feedback I'm getting though the steering rack (its not like its shaking my hands off, its however bloody annoying)
I'm running at the correct PSI but it feels far to harsh for my liking...and what can be done?

Also with out going for a break neck ride. how would you lovely lot go about making the car a little more flat and positive in the corners? (spring/shock combo)

Bilstein shocks and an uprated rear arb would probably be a good investment assuming all the other parts are in good order.

As above ... plus a set of camber bolts (at -1deg) makes a startling distance on cornering.

I know what you mean about the vibration at motorway speeds, mine does it when turnining very slightly like a tiny wobble, ive changed the droplinks arms and rod ends!

annoying it is

and please dont insult my inteligence by saying balancing people

......is it the balancing?



Sorry couldn't resist

I have changed every bit of my front suspension at least once so if you haven't there's a good chance it is a bush somewhere that is knackered and original/on its last legs. I don't get that sort of feedback and never have. I even have had a new steering rack about 10k miles ago just as I have a habit of replacing parts!

i get bad shaking after balancing. So going to give the hubs a bloody good clean, check all the bolts and get it balanced and tracked. I'll get back to you sam.

Something is worn if it's that bad. Which parts of the suspension system at the front have been replaced?

About handling...

I'm in the same boat as you! My wife's Ford Puma handles so much better than my coop.

I assume that Ford Puma is even better than a DTI Astra but for what matters... I remember to watch a TopGear episode where Stig goes round the circuit with a beemer E30 M3 and a Lancia Delta integrale 16V

They were separated by a marginal 100th of a second but guess what car was above (fastest) the 2???!!!!

For what I remember... A freaking Mitsubishi Colt!!!! Yes! That's true! You can't beat all that "crap" like ESPs, active suspensions, traction controls and so on and so on...

Yes, the coop is very front heavy, the Tipo platform doesn't help, neither the awful shock/spring combinations out there. But turn all electronics off on a 911 and you probably are going to miss that next corner.

Same on almost other crap new cars out there. The big difference is that there isn't any button to turn off electronics. So everybody SEEMS to be michael schumacher these days!

Mine is ever so slight thats the problem, and it only does it when you are barely turning at 70 mph plus, motormech said to wait till it gets worse so its easier to find, but im a perfectionist and expect 12 year old cars to drive like new!!

I cant really be arsed changing everything on the of chance it may be that???

after using the astra, the coupe feels very raw, Dont get me wrong, its bloody great you just know when you have been out in it compared to the astra!

wishbones and drop links, and soon track rod ends, I know I need to do engine mounts next, Im thinking next month ill do shocks, springs and top shock mounts.

problem is, it all very well may be in vain as I have NO idea what the car was like to drive new! any one got a coupe with delevery miles i can *borrow* to check

yeah there are some in malaysia......

I know what you mean Sam. In comparison my mere Stilo feels far more composed on the road and with greater conrol.

That said, it pales in comparison to the Coupe for enjoyment. I put it down to age and parts.

Remember, under those lovely curves of the coupe is the hi-tech Fiat Tipo floor pan with a couple of different sub frames at the front and rear so it's never going to compare to a modern cars chassis.

You can give it a freshen up and replace wishbones, drop links, track-rod ends and top mounts. This does really tighten it up and makes it feel like a new car.
I also replaced the grey/brown powersteering fluid for some nice fresh red fluid and I think that makes the steering feel slightly better (all in my head probably).

Do you have a front strut brace? It makes a lot of difference to how the steering feels going over bumps and joins on the Motorway...

^^^ agree with that. just had it the above done (along with ARB bushes) and it feels much better.

yep got the le, its only the the tiniest of wobbles and only when turning very slightly but it really gets on my tits and really puts me off going long distances in the coupe when i went to motormech it did me head in all the way home....

Makes me hate the car

Oh I agree too. Sadly.
When I switched from my (new) Punto 2001 this spring I could not believe how old my Coupe felt.. A little sloppy, creeks and noisy.
I suppose it didn't help I recently soundproofed my Punto. That little car is quiet, but also very stiff and sound. Really!

I too think it helps a lot with Sparco strubrace but even more so - the lower front brace. No more torquesteer!

The general shaking & vibration could be what is known as 'scuttle shake' something that mainly affects older cabriolets with fabric roofs.

Over the years this term has been mentioned on a few reviews of the coop ive read.

My old standard 20vt used to suffer from it to a degree even replacing most front sus parts it was still evident, id say the strut braced kept it at bay the most.

My woman used to comment on it as well until she drove my plus with coilovers...she nearly bit her tongue off (would of silenced the cakehole tho its like a minigun! ) joke..sort off

Even if I've read a lot about shaking from many members I still think it can't be a "factory defect" though, just because I've never experienced it on my standard 97 20vt.

It feels rock solid on motorways at any speed, despite some - more than I appreciate - rollover, even with billies/eibach springs.

So IMHO coops suffering from juddering or shaking of some sort must have some bit or bob not working properly!

Mine is also very lively in the steering wheel, which can be tiring on longer distances. Almost every suspension component has been replaced though, so wonder where it comes from?

And after driving a BMW e92 m3 for a day last week, my coupe felt very dissapointing indeed :-( Although probably not really fair to compare the 2.

Do you mean unstable on motorway? Mine has become really loose at the back, a pain in the *ss on the motorway pulling left and right. Now I've realized it must be a worn rear right trailing arm bearing, the front being totally checked and in order. I do have 1 deg extra camber rear right.

I've just replaced mine. It felt like there was a massive slack in the steering rack on motorways yet it checked out fine. Took ages for me to realise it was the rear trailing arm bearings.

If doing it yourself there's a 'how to' now that hasnt made it to the index yet.

i have the same vibration and at my MO~T the guys said it would be my worn rear trailing arm bearings as everything on the front has been changed

It could well be from the rear, I noticed that when I lower my rear tyre pressures it becomes less noticable (but handling suffers obviously)

I plan on some new wheels and tyers next month with a refresh on shocks and springs. I may be looking to replace the rack as well

Hi Sam,

Right, I think I can help here. I get the vibration through the wheel you are talking about, and I've gone to some lenghts to get rid of it.

I rebalanced my wheels about 8 times, I tried various different sets of tyres, I replaced EVERY suspension component at least once, I've tried Bilsteins, old standard new standard shocks, anti-roll bars, braces, the lot...

My advice to you would be

a) Avoid Bilsteins on standard springs. The idea that they will improve your ride/general feel of the car is (when you have STANDARD springs), in my view, a myth. I've just replaced my Bilsteins for standard shocks, and I can tell you that the ride and general virbation etc is superior (but yes, the Bilsteins do improve the handling noticably). I think a lot of people may have gone from worn standard shocks to new Bilsteins and experienced an improvement, but I've tried both NEW and I think standard is better for standard springs.

b) make sure you have good quality tyres - changing from Toyos to Goodyears noticeably improved the driving experience on my car

c) avoid the uprated rear ARB (at least the 24mm one anyway) - yes the handling is improved but I find it tends to make the rear end a little 'twitchy' over bumps etc - leave it alone or go for the 22mm.

d) Check you steering column bushes - Rog at PF found some bushed in the steering column that can wear, causing vibrations to be transmitted through the steering wheel. Reuben changed them on his coupe and Rog says this stopped his vibration.

e) upper and lower front braces make a noticable difference

f) changing rear radius arm bearings can turn out to be expensive, and might make no difference (didn't for me).

HTH

Scott

Thanks Scott, thats more of less exactly what I wanted to hear.
Does any one have any info on replacing these bushes, and how much of a pain in the bottom of a job is it?
Part numbers would be welcomed

Well, I had mine replaced and it ended up costing me about £400 because one wouldn't come out.

You could buy a set of arms (Joe has some atm) have the bearings fitted while they are off, and then have the arms fitted to your car? That's what I would do if I did it again.

New arms are £250+, but I may as well have just bought new ones!

Sorry I meant option D

d) Check you steering column bushes - Rog at PF found some bushed in the steering column that can wear, causing vibrations to be transmitted through the steering wheel. Reuben changed them on his coupe and Rog says this stopped his vibration.

The rear trailing arms have been done already!

Oh sorry. In that case ask Rog, and then tell me! (I need the numbers too so I can change mine!).

Scott

Oh, and check your wheel nuts and your top-mount upper nuts (top of the strut under the bonnet).

I had the Alfa 147's complete rear suspension replaced last year (dampers - links - wishbones - arms). I noticed pumping from the suspension as well as some seemingly left-right drifting. I drive the car for a while like this to try and feel what it was (I don't like going to a garage and telling them a problem and ask them to diagnose and sort out - I rather tell them "replace this" it keeps you from being disappointed). Result: the entire car felt like new: no more pumping. Asked to see the parts they replaced and noticed most bushes were starting to wear (read: completely worn on some places) and some links would have had play (wear marks).

Why I went to replace EVERYTHING? Well... just because you know 2 months later something else will break in that region and you'll need work again. Better to get the parts in one go and replace it all while you're at it.

Next year I'll be doing the front.

I can get them £80 a side

Ben