Front end feels loose

[Bramley]

I've just bought a 172 and was going round a roundabout today and the front end felt so loose like it was on ice. It has some falken tyres on the front.

Anyone know what could be up or is it the pants tyres?

 

[theduck]

Tyres.

 

[Bramley]

I think im going to put PE2's on then!

Any other problems other than tyres?

 

[clio_luke]

any movement in balljoints etc?
the falkens will be ok in the dry, shouldnt feel that loose until really pushing it. will feel loose in the wet tho.

 

[Gaz_]

Rear shock, check them, when they are fooked they will frighten the life out of you!. I'd put pretty good money on them tbh

 

[Bramley]

The car has only done 13k so I dont think it would be anything suspension wise?

It went round the corner ok but didnt feel very confident in it!

 

[Gaz_]

age my friend age..... even the last 172 's are 7 years old


You'd be surprised, the rear shocks are made from chocolate, very very common

 

[Adz172]

mines the same! 53plate 59000 172 was under the car last night and couldnt see anything loose or broke, confused abit about what it could be!

 

[Bramley]

age my friend age..... even the last 172 's are 7 years old


You'd be surprised, the rear shocks are made from chocolate, very very common

How can I tell from vision that the shocks are gone?

 

[Gaz_]

Quick nose underneath, sometimes they can be covered in oil. If not whip them off and check there is resistance in them, its a straight forward job really! Obviously check tyre pressures before had lol!

 

[mat-nos]

if they have signs of oil leaking out, you may have to remove the bump stop and look for wear on the shock piston that is sign the seals may be perished!!!

 

[Bramley]

if they have signs of oil leaking out, you may have to remove the bump stop and look for wear on the shock piston that is sign the seals may be perished!!!

So there you will be able to tell by compacting them by hand?

 

[mat-nos]

pull the shock to full extention and look for scaring/pitting on the piston...........

 

[Bramley]

thanks.

This is the first time I have driven the car properly aswell, it obv could be that I am not used to it but it did feel loose. My last car a Fiesta Zetec S felt alot tighter, it was wrapped in Exaltos!

Ill check the shocks tomoro

 

[Bramley]

Checked the shocks and they are fine.

Pretty sure its the Falken ditch finders

 

[franx]

sometimes there is oil on the road

 

[Bramley]

sometimes there is oil on the road

It seems there is oil everywhere I go then

 

[Gardus]

How old are the tyres?

 

[Bramley]

500 - 1000 miles old so I was told when I bought the car. They look pretty new aswell.

Also the fronts are 195/40/16 and backs are 195/45/16

 

[Gardus]

If they have few miles but are old they can be slippery, look at the production week on the sidewalls.

 

[Bramley]

Was out in the wet this morning and they were pretty horrific, will be going as soon as I get paid!

 

[Jonff]

Recently put Falkens on the front tyres on mine. At 1st they were horrifically bad. But now they've scrubbed in, they're pretty decent, not bad for a budget tyre anyway. Chris (W17GLE) runs them all round his Vectra and that thing certainly grips well.

 

[twingors]

I bought them for my twingo and i think there as good as conti 3's which i had before.. in the wet maybe different but hey ho!

 

[Jonff]

I bought them for my twingo and i think there as good as conti 3's which i had before.. in the wet maybe different but hey ho!

Even in the wet, mine haven't been to bad. Although I never push it in the wet.

 

[Bramley]

I will leave it a week or so and see if it improves. Like I say its a new car so might not be use to it. The tyres are like rubber bands