So left on a "weekend getaway" today, and I had an odd vibration take over the car at about 100 km/h. Speed up it got worse, drop just below 100, it disappears. Me being mechanically inclined I was very aware this wasn't an issue of something being loose. I was drifting last night so my first thought was tire damage, wear or dropped a balancing weight. Well, I was partially right...
I pull off the highway at the next exit to inspect. I check out the back wheels and I discover that there is a rather nice helping of snow in both rear wheels. Cleared as much out as I could and get back on the highway, sure enough the vibrations are gone at 100, bump up to 120 and they return, much less intense. Knowing exactly what it is now I carry on expecting the soft snow to sort itself out, sure enough a few km down the road they have faded away completely. Lesson learned, make sure ALL of the snow is gone...
This is something I've never experienced before, and perhaps I can save someone else a trip to the shop with this info.
TL;DR accumulation of snow in rear ties caused vibration at high speed, removing all snow rectified.
PS The snow was that heavy wet(almost slushy) stuff, enough ice would likely cause the same problem.
I pull off the highway at the next exit to inspect. I check out the back wheels and I discover that there is a rather nice helping of snow in both rear wheels. Cleared as much out as I could and get back on the highway, sure enough the vibrations are gone at 100, bump up to 120 and they return, much less intense. Knowing exactly what it is now I carry on expecting the soft snow to sort itself out, sure enough a few km down the road they have faded away completely. Lesson learned, make sure ALL of the snow is gone...
This is something I've never experienced before, and perhaps I can save someone else a trip to the shop with this info.
TL;DR accumulation of snow in rear ties caused vibration at high speed, removing all snow rectified.
PS The snow was that heavy wet(almost slushy) stuff, enough ice would likely cause the same problem.
