Mk3 Cavalier Owners Club | Vauxhall Cavalier Dot Com

Could be tyres.

I've had this on both my LS and CD manual where the tyres develop bumps in them.
In fact the CD manual's tyres had bumps in them when they were brand new.

I fitted new front discs a few years back that were out of balance - changed them and all fine.

Alan

Before I changed the discs I had this problem, so unlikely to be that. I noticed that around 60 - 65 there is little vibration, above that speed and it increases. I've always felt the steering feels 'light' and almost 'wooly' - is it possible the rack is on the way out? Perhaps there is some slack on steering arms...
I had new tyres fitted last year, again problem was there before they were replaced.

It could be any part where there is a pivot or rubber bush.

I used to get a wooly feeling if the tyres were a little down on pressures.
I have replaced every single bush on mine as part of the restoration.
It now feels very precise like a go-cart.

As for vibration (resonance)- usually I got this when my track rod ends were becoming worn / slack.
It would appear at about 68mph and disappear about 85mph.

Considering Archer is on 114k I would imagine some of the joints are a bit worn! I'll have the wheels balanced and aligned again just to make doubly sure then get a few more goodies together for a spree of replacement parts inc track rods. That should help matters.

Question is... will we be seeing Archer on the 23rd?

Loving this thread, Dave! Only wish I'd found it sooner. I'll be interrogating you on sources for parts and refurb/cleaning methods when we do meet again... be warned!

Have been over the front components, checking for wear and cannot find any, nothing moves that shouldn't - apart from the steering arms/rack which moves up and down a bit when I waggle it - is it supposed to do that?! I held it by the point the steering arms/inner tie rods join the steering rack.

Err, no they are not supposed to do that.
What end is moving?

- If it's the steering rack end that has the free play, then it's probably just the bushes that have gone. My diplomat has this and I'm replacing the whole arm. Mine also has a slight squeaking noise to it.

- If it's the other end then you may just need new track rod ends.

I grabbed the centre where both track rods join the steering race and it moved up and down a bit - I'll have to take a video and share.
I noticed when I turn from lock to lock, there is a sort of 'hiss' from the steering rack.

Cabletwitch wrote:Question is... will we be seeing Archer on the 23rd?!

Good question! I hope so...

Wobbly... (click on it to play)

IMG_0467 by Dave Kirwin, on Flickr

Reminds me of the rack on my mk2.

Looks like the internals of the rack is worn.

Cheers - I had a feeling it was going to be rack related. Now to hunt for a replacement.

Removed rear reflector panel and DA polished the rear paintwork just to try and remove some of the scratches. Replaced panel and added new reg plate.

Replacement steering rack being sourced.

All nice little rewarding jobs.

Indeed, slowly getting round to doing this and that to tidy it up. Managed to get a replacement electric pass. door mirror, so have been respraying that as well as rubbing down a CDX bumper I also got recently from the same seller. My eight alloys are still waiting for progress as I am currently in a delicate position with work. May be leaving.

Hopefully on your own terms?

Cabletwitch wrote:Hopefully on your own terms?

Absolutely. I'll be the one to tell them where to poke it.

With the drier weather appearing slowly, like a badger with a hangover from a particularly heavy session down the pub, I dragged one of my recent purchases outside into the light and started preparing it for the car. Although already handily bedecked in Satin Red I felt the adornment of many stone chips was not in keeping and as it was not yet attached to the car it would be easier to attempt some cack-handed repair work now. I employed some wet and dry (available from various hardware stores) and some water (available from your nearest tap/stream/ocean) and rubbed down the surface to remove dirt, old varnish, flies, the remains of my dignity and an area that had previously been resprayed to a quality level similar to the surface of the moon. After giving it a good rubbing (arf, arf), this is how it looked:


The dents, scars and nicks I wasn’t particularly keen on either, so a skim of filler was applied and rubbed down.



Have satisfied myself that the bumper was reasonable presentable, I gave it a coat of red plastic primer. There’s a gag about a ‘coat’ in there somewhere but I can’t be arsed to think it up.


This will be rubbed back and then a fresh coat of primer applied before I break out the Satin Red and paint it.


The bubble wrapped package arrived, but it was not the Afganistan hand-crafted gem encrusted bong I expected, it turned out to be a steering rack. Which was handy as I needed one. But as a filtration device generally used for smoking herbal substances its pretty crap.



A door mirror case was another recent second-hand purchase that had been waiting for the right weather and got the 'rub down, primer, paint, rubdown, paint' treatment and is seen here wait for a number 23…I mean, a coat of varnish.


That’s all. Go away now.

Amazing how the nicer weather can trigger us into action! Nice work.
Having not long ago painted front and rear bumpers on my mk4 Astra Estate I found them 'ungainly' things to do - made worse by my painting fixture - two garden chairs with bits of wood clamped to them!

Alan

Some progress this week.
Fitted passenger door mirror with it's freshly painted cover.
Alloys left with the refurbishers.
Front bumper given two coats of paint to dusting/key it in.

Tomorrow new steering rack and tie rods get fitted in an effort to iron out some of the softness/wobbling I get from the front.
The rumbling noise continues - as I drive - so I can only conclude it must be CV bearings. Will need to get them changed.

Just read this storybook from start to finish and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is quite obvious to me that you are a man who, when he starts a job there is only one outcome and that is to do the job properly, no messing about with half harrised attempts just get it done properly.
As far as your delivery of the story ? the information is delivered in a helpful and informative manner complimented by a sense of humour that brings the reader a real taste of the up and down sides of the joy/despair of maintaining and loving the whole experience of owning an older car. Well done to you for this presentation and entertainment and I will surely be reading your updates.

All the best to you,

Bob

Thank you Bob, most kind.

(The cheque is in the post)

bobthevoice wrote: It is quite obvious to me that you are a man who, when he starts a job there is only one outcome and that is to do the job properly, no messing about with half harrised attempts just get it done properly.

I take it you've yet to actually see any of his cars in person then?

Got a slight hot starting/idling problem which I'm pretty sure is the ICV - especially as the car starts when I unplug it!
The thing is, the ICV is a new 'autovaux' item, barely a few months old! It's clean inside and the connections are clean too, so not sure why it's playing up. Perhaps a new ICV? I will try using my old ICV first.