Hi all,
Just after I got my Mondeo in February, I had a small incident on my drive. I have a steep drive and was rather suprised to have it covered in sheet ice one evening, something I only noticed once I was driving down it. The car slid down the drive and came to rest when the nearside front tyre, which was on full lock, struck a gate-post at under 5mph.
Inspections revealed no noticeable damage and the car didnt really feel any different. A few weeks later whilst on a trip on the Motorway I noticed a faint vibration but put it down the road surface. My Dad then borrowed the car, noticed the same thing, and immediatly realised there was an issue, becuase the same vibration did not exist when the car was bought.
I took the car to a local garage and had them have a look to see if they could find the problem. He road tested the car with me, returned to the garage, and then jacked the car up and showed me that my nearside front tyre was not perfectly circular - it was slightly oval shaped. This, he said, was the problem.
As I was due new tyres soon anyway, I left the problem until it was time to replace my tyres. I did this at the beginning of last month, and had 4 Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 fitted to the car. Suprisingly, this did not cure the issue at all.
Basically, from about 30mph onwards a vibration is noticeable when driving. You can feel it through the steering column but passengers have commented on it as well so clearly it isnt just through the steering. Sometimes I don't notice it, sometimes I do. On the way home today at 45mph I could really feel it, and I'm now fed up with it and want it sorted.
The car passed its MOT last week, first time, with no advisories. I was half hoping it would fail on a damaged suspension component so I could have it replaced and have the issue resolved, but alas no. I've also had the tracking checked, and it's apparently perfect. I've had all 4 wheels balanced as well. I have also had the nearside front wishbone/lower arm/whatever it's called (The thing with the bushes which wear out lots) replaced becuase this was picked up in the service I had with Ford just after I bought the car.
What else could I try and what else is this likely to be? The problem is finding somebody to have a look - Ford want paying just to have a look and see what it is, and I dont relish the idea of throwing money at a multitude of different fixes, none of which do anything.
Other than this irritating vibration, which for the most part is often so slight it makes me think its merely a bad road surface (Which it clearly isnt), the car drives perfectly. It's a V plate 2.0 Ghia X.
Thanks!
-- Michael Rodgers, Plymouth UK