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Guys,
My MP lafer, as you already know, had been sitting at my parents for years and I finally got it going this weekend. All electrical problems aside (hopefully to be resolved shortly?see other post), now has a terrible vibration when driving over 20 to 30 mph. The vibration is coming from the front, left area.
The mechanic said that corrosion on the front area where the wheel meets the floor of body is to blame for the vibration and that he noticed that the wheel caved in (more than the others), when he took out the old shock.
He suggested for me to take it to a body shop to have the area welded.
This past weekend, I had a mobile welder come to my house and work on it for a couple of hours, but the vibration has not lessened.
Could it be something else? The tires (steel-belted) had been flat for years. I had to inflate them before towing it to the mechanic.
I noticed the ball joints also need to be changed. Could this be the culprit?
Any suggestions, ideas would be greatly appreciated. If it is the tire, why does it not vibrate on the other side or the back?
Thanks much for any help you can provide:O)
Hi, I’m thinking that if the tires sat flat for an extended period of time ,that they are in need of being replaced. A flat spot or breakdown in the structure of the tire is most likely the problem.It may not be visable from the outside.
I am assuming that the MP uses the VW front suspension,if this is correct ,I don’t understand how removing the shock could cause the wheel to cave in.
Hope this helps.
Combination of things. Definitely tires is one cause. The other is either worn ball joints, a worn out vibration dampner or both. I’d start with new tires and go from there. Keep us posted.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackI’m on board with the new tires being the first step!
First, because those tires are probably way past their useful life, even if they have tread left.
Second, a radial tire, sitting flat, will DEFINITELY be flat spotted (and no pun intended). and I doubt any amount of running will round it out again. even a properly inflated radial will develop a slight flat spot if it sits for a few months, although that will usually work it’s way out.
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
There was a thread here on maybe the General Forum that covered the dtae of manufacture for the tire using the tire code on the tire side wall. I suggest checking that out prior to spending your hard earned dineros on tires. That will give you the info to get the newsest tires there.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The Shackhere is the info on tire dating. from PMOSSBERG
- The first two letters or numbers identify the manufacturer of the tires.
- Prior to the year 2000, the last 3 digits of a DOT number represented the week (2 digits) and the year (1 digit) of production. So if the last three digits are 439, the tire was produced in the 43rd week of 1999.
- Tires produced after January 1, 2000, have a 4-digit date code at the end of the DOT number. The first 2 digits represent the week of production and the last 2 digits represent the last 2 digits of the year of production. So, 3500 indicates the tire was produced in the 35th week of the year 2000.
you might want to check out american tire store the prices are pretty good.
TDREPLICA Map
http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=7f9174ad614e43b680deba085b0abf48
Wow…I’m being quoted now.
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Thanks guys! And I thought all I had to do is find a new set of 165 sr 15 tires. Is there another size I should be buying? Also, once I get them what tire pressure should I be using? I hear 17 psi on front and 26 on back. Is that accurate?
Should I also think about changing the steering damper? Tie rods? Adjusts steering box? Thanks.
I’d wait to see if the tires fix the vibration problem first. But cleaning and adjusting the steering box certainly couldn’t hurt.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackI had the same problem on my ’81 Lafer TI, even after fitting four new tires. A new steering damper fixed it. Good luck.TexAg7140741.0070601852
1981 Lafer TI
1600 cc Type 1 engineIn all probability, COSTCO will NOT carry a 165/80R15 tire.
These tires are limited production by the manufacturers that make them. Nankang is the brand that most VW people use and they are available mail order.
Sometimes Kumho will have them and Tire Rack.com has limited supplies of them.
Go on http://www.thesamba.com classifed and search for ‘tires’ and you will find vendors that sell that size. I’ve bought Nankang tires from http://www.bugtires.com and was very happy with their service.
BTW: I used a Kumho P185/65R15 on my air cooled VW Beetles. It is the same diameter as the P165/80R15.
Pink MG40739.4358449074
A friend just gave me a catalog from Mid America Motorworks and they sell 165/80R15’s
I got mine at sears, if they don’t have it they will order even white walls and fairly reasonable
Gang, it was the tires. I got them from the Web. Also, found a great mechanic in the SW Miami-Dade area. He works on VW Beetles.
Thanks again fro all your help!
Vibration case closed!
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