Van woes

[Lee]

so I bought a camper from a trusted dealer that opposite end of the country to me.

Love the van but had some issues the last couple of days, started after a 200 mile drive to family, father in law noticed the tread was shockingly bad, pretty much down to the wire, embarrassed to have not checked it.

Anyway, we changed the back left wheel with the spare, did the journey back home which was fine until the last 30 miles, had a strange issue where the van started juddering, not major juddering, almost like your in the wrong gear, which I wasn't.

The van has been lowered on coils (by the camper company) and has 20" low profile wheels.

Don't suppose anyone has any ideas, the father in law thought the alignment of the wheels was out a fair bit, not sure if that was caused by me curbing it, but the strange juddering, not sure what that is is.

Finally, I wondered what sort of warranty a converted van would have, am I still covered by a manufacturers warranty? The van was registered in September 2015.

Appreciate any help.

 

[xpfloyd]

Was the juddering from the wheel you put on? If so it may be that your spare needs balanced.

Usually if a wheel is incorrectly balanced it's fine at low speed and then judders the steering wheel at higher speed

 

[xpfloyd]

Just re-read your post and noticed you said you kerbed it. Check the kerbed wheel for damage and also check the spring isn't broken

 

[Lee]

We cruised nicely at 60 for the majority of the journey, i then pulled on to a slip road and started to break, as I did it just didn't feel right, wasn't so much through the steering wheel, the whole van really, the mrs in the passenger seat noticed it too. It wasn't a drastic judder but definitely not normal.

 

[Lee]

The curbed wheel was replaced a few months ago, i just wondered if the alignment was knocked out?

 

[DaveyB]

If it has been lowered you need to get the alignment checked. Go for a four wheel laser set-up, because I highly doubt that the dealer will have done it.
Mine was originally lowered on Eibach 30's from the main dealer. I noticed the fronts were scrubbing, so got it done and they were way out. Got to get it done again now having dropped further on coilovers.
As to the shaking the things that come to my mind are:- buckled alloy if you kerbed it hard/ a wheel that has shed a balance weight/ the wheel nuts were not tightened up fully after changing the wheel (I did this in my youth and that shook rather well - pulled over got the wheel brace out and one was rather loose - I'd taken them all off the day before to polish the inside of them).

 

[Lee]

Thanks for that, I did pull over and check the wheel bolts, they were nice and tight.

Thanks for the advice on the laser setup, that's exactly what my brother in law suggested.

Cheers

 

[former member]

Definitely get it aligned and balanced.
If the bash was REALLY bad, it's possible to damage the hub or even axle but that takes quite a whack.

 

[Roadrunner]

If it has been lowered you need to get the alignment checked. Go for a four wheel laser set-up, because I highly doubt that the dealer will have done it.
Mine was originally lowered on Eibach 30's from the main dealer. I noticed the fronts were scrubbing, so got it done and they were way out. Got to get it done again now having dropped further on coilovers.
As to the shaking the things that come to my mind are:- buckled alloy if you kerbed it hard/ a wheel that has shed a balance weight/ the wheel nuts were not tightened up fully after changing the wheel (I did this in my youth and that shook rather well - pulled over got the wheel brace out and one was rather loose - I'd taken them all off the day before to polish the inside of them).

Did that to my wifes Mini not once but twice after the second time she was convinced I was trying to kill her. Stood over me after that making sure Idid the wheels up tight.

 

[Lee]

Straight to the garage tomorrow then.

 

[Jonny]

We cruised nicely at 60 for the majority of the journey, i then pulled on to a slip road and started to break, as I did it just didn't feel right, wasn't so much through the steering wheel, the whole van really, the mrs in the passenger seat noticed it too. It wasn't a drastic judder but definitely not normal.

Check the inside of the tyres. I had some really bad uneven wear on the insides and it became so bad I shook the oil filter loose. I never saw how bad the tyres actually were until the motor was up on a lift.

(I was a new driver at the time and incredibly unaware of how dangerous my tyres were)

 

[T6 Dave]

Could be an oval tyre, or one with a bulge in it or de lamination, but unlikely..