Skittish ride from cheap tyres?

[BurnyC]

I bought my 182 this time last week, and noticed the handling was skittish and there was steering wheel shake etc. so took it to get the tracking done at Powerstation. They set it up for road use and also managed to sort the rear tracking out (in a way - moved the axle round to line up properly etc. etc.). They also gave all the suspension components the all clear while they were at it, besides a slightly leaking CV boot on the front.

The wheel shake went away and the steering at low speed felt much improved. It goes round smooth corners/roundabouts like it's superglued to the road, but the second it gets to some slightly rough/uneven/bumpy road (90 percent of the roads around my way!) and it still feels really skittish, skipping and jumping around all over the place. The main feeling of instability seems to be coming from the rear, but the whole thing generally seems a bit 'nervous'. This isn't even when pressing on, just at normal speeds.

It has Cup Pack splitter, spoiler and darker alloys, but not verified the suspension (can only assume it has at the minute), so stiffer suspension could have a hand in it, but the only thing I can think it can now be is the super-hard compound Nankangs that the previous owner fitted all round (for some unknown reason...!). Would these tyres cause the majority of my problems? If it seems that is the problem, then I'm tempted to try out two slightly more high performance tyres on the rear...would this have any noticeable impact, or do I have to risk it and go all four?

Thanks guys!

 

[Wick]

Mine is very similar over uneven surfaces. I have just changed from a mis-match of tyres to Uniroyal RS2's on the front and Bridgestones on the rear and I still have the skittishness, so not sure if it would simply be down to tyres...

I am going to get the alignment and suspension checked over at the next service, but you have clearly just had that done!

 

[E11OOT]

knackered rear shocks are a common cause for dodgy handling, check them first nice easy and cheap place to start.

 

[BurnyC]

Wick - yup, they took an hour over it getting it perfect too, driving around etc. so I know that is bang on!

E11OOT - They said everything else was fine, but having not watched them 100 percent of the time can't be sure if they tested shocks...what's the deal with testing these? I know about the classic 'bounce test', but assuming a more conclusive test would be taking them off...? Is there a guide for that/easy to do?

 

[jack_kemp]

Rear shocks would be my suggestion too... my car was exactly like you describe. Have a look see if there's any fluid run down the shock.

 

[BurnyC]

I had a look, and the rear shocks look bone dry....one of them has a rusty coloured pattern on that looks like it could be dried liquid however. Also I'm sure Powerstation would've picked up on any liquid coming out of them, but I understand that they don't necessarily have to be leaking to be gone...how can I tell without getting them on a shock dynamometer?

 

[jack_kemp]

I had a look, and the rear shocks look bone dry....one of them has a rusty coloured pattern on that looks like it could be dried liquid however. Also I'm sure Powerstation would've picked up on any liquid coming out of them, but I understand that they don't necessarily have to be leaking to be gone...how can I tell without getting them on a shock dynamometer?

It's difficult tbh, I just knew by the way it felt to drive, so i changed them.

They're not expensive, I'd just change them anyway tbh. Unless they've been done before, they will almost certainly need changing soon anyway.

 

[BurnyC]

Fair enough...I'm assuming then that skittish-ness over rough ground isn't really normal, stiff suspension combined with cheap tyres or not...I personally think it feels wrong for a car thats supposed to be so planted and 'chuckable'...because if it were normal, I'm fairly sure no one who drives in the UK would rave about its handling!

 

[E11OOT]

if they look bone dry then maybe they are not the problem, when i took mine off one was covered in fluid. I felt something was wrong i.e. very light unstable handling so the rear shocks were my first point of call and a very common problem.

I'm not sure the best way to test them other than the bounce test, I'm sure someone else will come along and suggest something

 

[BurnyC]

Thanks guys. My symptoms seem exactly the same. Light, unstable handling mainly at the rear.

As I say, I only bought the car a week ago, and there is no mention of shocks ever being replaced in the fairly large history, so it may have been like it for some time!

 

[jack_kemp]

if they look bone dry then maybe they are not the problem, when i took mine off one was covered in fluid. I felt something was wrong i.e. very light unstable handling so the rear shocks were my first point of call and a very common problem.

I'm not sure the best way to test them other than the bounce test, I'm sure someone else will come along and suggest something

There's not necessarily going to be fluid.... mine were dry, but they were properly FUBAR.

Thanks guys. My symptoms seem exactly the same. Light, unstable handling mainly at the rear.

As I say, I only bought the car a week ago, and there is no mention of shocks ever being replaced in the fairly large history, so it may have been like it for some time!

Just change them mate, it's a simple job and they're ~£43 ea. from Renault. May even find some on here.

 

[E11OOT]

They are cheap to replace, might as well start with them and then see what is what....

Another thing would be to check you tire pressures, I'm sure you have but i thought i would mention it just incase.

 

[BurnyC]

Thanks. Yeah I'm tempted to go ahead and do it anyway.

After today I see nothing else it can be. Alignment is bang on, nothing is visibly bent, snapped, damaged etc. as Powerstation had a very good look around. I assume they couldn't have tested shocks thinking about it as they didn't take anything off the car or anything, just gave it a good going over when it was up in the air. They also checked tyre pressures too, as did I, and all is fine.

 

[BurnyC]

Just a quick update...took a quick picture of the shock that i'm suspicious of having gone a long time ago...

The other shock is clean, and there are no splash marks on the surrounding area to suggest this is just splash marks...also, it definitely looks like a drip down pattern than a splash up!

 

[BurnyC]

EDIT: Double post...

 

[BurnyC]

EDIT: TRIPLE post...my bad.