Hi, Every so often when making a right turn or more a right bend like a long sweeping bend onto of off a motorway, I get a noise/feeling through the steering wheel as if I have a puncture in the nearside tyre, that sort of bump bump bump type noise/feeling.
Have checked the joints etc doesn't seem to be any wear/play and the tyre looks fine, it doesn't happen all the time but when it does it feels similar to running on a flat tyre.
Fiat Ducato 2005 2.8JTD 16inch alloy wheels 4000kg
You have to have the suspension unloaded to check the joints - they probably won't show any play with the van on the floor. Also, if it's front wheel drive, check the CV joints.
As above but i would also check the drveshaft itself for in out movement if you get me, sometimes on the ducato the inner drive shaft retaining circlip(the part that goes into the gearbox) under heavy steering it breaks hence the noise you described when steering.
Hi, Thanks for the suggestions, it has only just passed its MOT a couple of weeks ago and they never reported anything, but I will double check your suggestions
It's quite likely to be the nearside front wheel bearing, most noticeable when you go round a long sweeping right hand bend. The weight of the vehicle will be more on that front wheel and consequently you can hear/feel it. It will usually go away as you straighten up and the weight becomes balanced again.
The fact that it has recently passed it's MOT, when wheel bearing play would be checked, does not rule it out. They do not always loosen when they are on the way out.
CV joint failing would more likely be noticeable as a cracking noise on full left/right hand down. Best tried in supermarket car-park at night or when quiet, you will hear it if it is that.
Google 'fiat ducato driveshaft' to read of others woe and solutions, but hopefully it will just be the wheel bearing.
Id go for the bearing as well. Had it on a car once. There was no play to be felt with it up in the air, it needed the weight of the car to expose the play.
We had the front wheels checked and balanced today just in case there was any wall damage etc. but couldn't find any problem,
We checked for any free play in the bearings also there was no undue noise from the bearings either,
We rechecked the lower swivel joints and the steering ball joints all were OK.
We checked the drive shaft for any undue play in and out or signs of damage to the gaters etc but all seems fine
You can put it on full lock in either direction and drive around in circles with no undue noise.
But the problem still persists, it doesn't always do it but on some roundabouts you can get the judder back through the steering and the bump bump bump, but you can drive around the same roundabout and nothing.
Its really getting annoying, that it doesn't happen all the time, the only consistent thing is its always only when turning right or on a bend to the right never when turning or on a bend to the left, and while I'm not certain it really does seem like its coming from the nearside front.
I take your point about the bearing only giving a problem when under load, but there really isn't any noise or free play from it even when the bump bump bump judder starts it really isn't noisy ?
It feels like a puncture or a buckled wheel but only when turning right, no problems in a straight line or turning left
Replace nearside front wheel bearing should be a cheapish first try if you're stuck.
When you see 'we checked' do you mean a mechanic in a garage? The list of things you think are faultless really only leaves the steering rack, which might be responsible for the bumping feeling. But good that all your tests have been fine re cv joints.
It's hard to replicate a faulty wheel bearing noise with the van up in the air, if it only happens when 2 tons of weight move on to it going round the corner, they are not always loose or noisy up in the air on the ramp.
And it's hard to diagnose without driving it or at least hearing it. I'm a motor mechanic to trade btw.
Hi, Few cloudy, thanks for your input it really is appreciated
Yes it was a mechanic we checked all the possible mechanical items together while they were balancing the wheels , sort of double checked what the MOT guy had already checked
Wouldn't the bearing make some noise when the bump bump bump and wobble starts, only even with you head out of the window there is no noticeable extra noise over and above the normal road noise and engine etc. albeit it is difficult to hear while going along.
I'm not adverse to replacing the wheel bearings but it really feels more like a buckled wheel or damaged flat tyre.
I may be exaggerating the problem as we drove back from Austria without any problems as it only happens now and again, but its just one of those niggling things that while I don't think its going to break any time soon, I would just like to know what it was ?
Hi again, as a last advice, check the strut mounting bearing, they do get rathet noisy if when they get dry or worn, i had an audi that did exactly what you are suggesting, it took ages to sort out and like you i was having bits and pieces replaced as i was going along until a mate at work suggested the strut mount bearing. After that no more bloody noise.
Sometimes you have to wait for these noises to get a bit worse before you can come up with an accurate diagnosis.
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Quote: Originally posted by mattlad on 12/10/2012
Sometimes you have to wait for these noises to get a bit worse before you can come up with an accurate diagnosis.
This +1.
Also it's been going for a long time and/or a lot of miles.
Thanks everyone for your inputs its really appreciated,
We have swapped the rear tyres to the front and the problem appears to have gone, well I can't make it do what it was doing, so I can only think it must be one of the front tyres, but they look perfect and the the tyre fitter who rebalanced them earlier couldn't see any surface problems with them, albeit they are worn down not illegal but worn.
I will take it out again for a longer drive tomorrow or Monday and if the problem doesn't arise again I think we will bite the bullet and replace both (what were the front tyres) next week as it really seems that's where the problem could be on one of the tyres.
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Topic: Noise from Front Nearside Tyre ?
