KV6 vibration when accelerating

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seamist32000

New Member
Posts
12
Location
Devon
Hi everyone I hope you can advise me please.
I introduced myself in December when I joined the forum.
My FL is vibrating as I accelerate; not very noticeable at 30mph in the lanes and town but when I accelerate onto the dual carriageway and on open roads it is very evident (to me) at 50mph. When I can coast downhill at this speed, it is not present. I became aware of it a couple of weeks back after it had been used by my husband for a while, so I can’t be specific as to how long the problem has been there. Not blaming him btw!
I have had the wheels balanced twice in the past 2 weeks which has helped slightly but not resolved things. The garage has identified the rear bushes as being a bit loose and also a rear wheel is slightly misshapen apparently. In the 3 years I have had the vehicle I am not aware of any big impact to any of the wheels.
The nearside rear tyre tread is more worn than any of the other tyres (all winter tyres) as is the spare. None of these have been replaced in the past 3 years. I am just wondering about getting all four tyres replaced and using the spare wheel if that is sound, also getting the bushes done. Might this solve things or am I looking at the wrong solutions?
The vehicle has done about 40,000 miles and last year we replaced the cooling system, a cracked head and the two gaskets (although the HGs were fine). This was expensive so I want to make sure that any further money is spent in the right places! Driving the FL only minimally, to the garage and back as am scared stiff after reading about tyre problems, IRD and VCU.
Thank you
 
If it's worse under hard acceleration, it's quiet likely to be the front drive shaft inner joints. Mine did the same thing at around 37,000 miles. The V6 does appear to be hard on drive shafts.
Also it's really important to make sure that the tyres with the most tread are fitted to the rear!!
 
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If it's worse under hard acceleration, it's quiet likely to be the front drive shaft inner joints. Mine did the same thing at around 37,000 miles. The V6 does appear to be hard on drive shafts.
Also it's really important to make sure that the tyres with the most tread are fitted to the rear!!

Thank you for your reply.

I am sure that the current situation is that there is more tread on the front tyres unfortunately. Worth swapping them before it is driven again?

The garage say that they did check the joints but I will be specific when I next speak with them.
 
Are all the tyres the same make and size?
Are the ones with most tread at the rear?

does the tread have a "sawtooth" pattern?

Thank you for the reply.

Just been out to look at the tyres:

All same make (Michelin) and size although front nearside is a different tread pattern.

Sorry but I am not sure what you mean by the "sawtooth" but on the three other tyres there is a little wiggly line over each of the tread blocks.

It looks like the better tread is on the front but hard to tell and am going by that particularly worn rear tyre.
 
Yes, MadHatMan this is what I have now read. Any new tyres predate our ownership of the FL so I suspect this may be what has happened. Hoping to rescue situation before serious damage but we may be too late.
 
Yes, MadHatMan this is what I have now read. Any new tyres predate our ownership of the FL so I suspect this may be what has happened. Hoping to rescue situation before serious damage but we may be too late.

When I got my current V6, all the tyres were the factory make, type, size and same tread depth. I've since found a receipt for 2 new front tyres of the same type. So I'm presuming that those front tyres had worn down to match the rears. This will undoubtedly caused damage to the VCU which is now stiff. It looks like the diff and IRD have survived. However I did have to change my front drive shafts at 37K miles (possibility connected to wrong tyre fitting?)
Be warned, tyres on the wrong end are very damaging to the 4X4 system.
 
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Thank you for the help so far.

Have had a good look at the tyres and there is no evidence of "sawtooth" tread wear - I am assuming that is good news?

Nodge68 - It is interesting to read of your experience with your tyres and sorry to hear about the VCU being stiff now. I assumed that all this affected cars with much higher mileage so just goes to show how important it is for even the simple things to be right. What can one do to be certain apart from always buying four new tyres at a time?

I have the full service history of this FL (it used to belong to my mum) and can only find a receipt for a single tyre, which I assume is the odd one on the front.

I mentioned the rear bushes in my OP so is this just a red herring for now?

We think we will swap the wheels around at the weekend just to see if this makes any difference as it sounds as if it needs doing anyway.

When I go back to the garage I would like to have a clear plan of action.
 
Thank you for the help so far.

Have had a good look at the tyres and there is no evidence of "sawtooth" tread wear - I am assuming that is good news?

Nodge68 - It is interesting to read of your experience with your tyres and sorry to hear about the VCU being stiff now. I assumed that all this affected cars with much higher mileage so just goes to show how important it is for even the simple things to be right. What can one do to be certain apart from always buying four new tyres at a time?

I have the full service history of this FL (it used to belong to my mum) and can only find a receipt for a single tyre, which I assume is the odd one on the front.

I mentioned the rear bushes in my OP so is this just a red herring for now?

We think we will swap the wheels around at the weekend just to see if this makes any difference as it sounds as if it needs doing anyway.

When I go back to the garage I would like to have a clear plan of action.
Best swap your tyres asap. The largest to the back.
I got my V6 a couple of years ago. Sadly I've had to undo some bodges a series of ill educated garages have performed. This includes an engine change at 31,000 miles!!
I've pretty much got it sorted now, except for the bonnet that had a small tree fall onto it on Christmas eve :(
Good luck with your V6
 
Thank you for all input on this :)

I will continue not to drive the FL until we have swapped the largest tyres to the rear. Also, we will see if we can have a go at the VCU test.

After we have done this I shall report back.

Garage bodges: One of the local LR dealers neglected to refill the coolant in this FL having drained it for a scheduled service :eek: It has not been back to them since then - my mum said there wasn't even an apology after she had broken down. They must have known about the future problems it would create!

Nodge68 - bad luck about the tree and a good job it was a small one as some mighty ones have come down since then. Always a shame about dents though; I mainly collect these from people's doors at the supermarket, no matter how far away I try to park.
 
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Sorry for the delay in updating following your suggestions.

We changed the tyres around but decided some were just too old anyway - one was 14 years old! So I have had two new tyres fitted to the rear and the other best two are on the front.

My husband reckons this has sorted the problem so we have not checked the VCU as I need his help for this. It is still on my agenda though as I can still feel something is not right. Unfortunately it didn't go on the ramp at the garage so we couldn't tell if the VCU was hot.

The new tyres have helped the situation and maybe I also need to get another two. As I have done only about 100 miles max since tyre change would it be safe to put these on the front? I don't want the local garage to think I am mad!

Also, I am raising the subject of the rear bushes again as these were identified as loose - could these give that kind of vibration wobble thing I can detect?

Thank you
 
what make of tyre have you had on the rear and if they were 4 years old they may be the old syncrones by Michelin if you have had new Michelin they will not be syncrones more likely latitudes and these should not be mixed with the former I know they might be the same size on the tyre wall but they are not I nearly learnt the hard way except for the boys on hear I would have done.
 
what make of tyre have you had on the rear and if they were 4 years old they may be the old syncrones by Michelin if you have had new Michelin they will not be syncrones more likely latitudes and these should not be mixed with the former I know they might be the same size on the tyre wall but they are not I nearly learnt the hard way except for the boys on hear I would have done.


Thank you for the reply teddywood.

The two I have on the front are Michelin (2005 I think) and the two new ones on the rear are Hankook. I am concerned about the fact that they are not all the same make. The ones on the rear had also been Michelin, one of which was 14 years old.
 
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ALWAYS put the newer/larger tyres on the rear and get that VCU checked as a matter of urgency - or expect a very large bill. It us your choice!

Thank you, I now feel confident to have them change the tyres around again when I get the new ones. I was just concerned that I might look a bit too pedantic about it.

I do get the message about the VCU (I am so worried about it that the vehicle is barely driven) so will get it checked at the garage if that is the only way it will happen.
 
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