Shuddering Van

[Thomass45507]

was driving the van this morning along the motorway when it started to shudder like it was going over cobble stones (I wasn't) then started to buck like a bucking bronco, i turned around and started home very slowly as the van shuddered and splutter along the motorway, after about 20 minutes the Van started to drive normally and allowed me to get back to 70mph, when i got it home there was a horrible burning smell (like burning plastic) and the drivers side front wheel was way too hot, much hotter than the engine compartment or off side front wheel.

any ideas what happened? so far google has told me its DPF regen, Dodgy Calliper. wheel bearing, oil leak etc...

anyone else had this happen?

 

[lohr500]

Check the wheel bolts first. If they are loose, replace the wheel with the spare (if you have one) and get the removed wheel inspected. If the wheel was loose, the bolts may have damaged the rim and enlarged the holes.

If the wheel bolts were tight, jack up the wheel and rotate the wheel slowly, feeling for any play top/bottom and left/right.

It could also be a faulty ABS sensor or ABS system, causing the traction control to keep kicking in on that wheel. That might explain why the wheel was a lot hotter. The braking effect would heat the disc and rim. But I think if the traction control kicks in, you get a yellow light flashing on the dash. I could be wrong about this.

A DPF regen shouldn't affect just one wheel, or cause the bucking bronco affect.

 

[vbk1975]

was driving the van this morning along the motorway when it started to shudder like it was going over cobble stones (I wasn't) then started to buck like a bucking bronco, i turned around and started home very slowly as the van shuddered and splutter along the motorway, after about 20 minutes the Van started to drive normally and allowed me to get back to 70mph, when i got it home there was a horrible burning smell (like burning plastic) and the drivers side front wheel was way too hot, much hotter than the engine compartment or off side front wheel.

any ideas what happened? so far google has told me its DPF regen, Dodgy Calliper. wheel bearing, oil leak etc...

anyone else had this happen?

Most likely a stuck caliper, was the steering pulling to one side when not braking? It could be either brake pad, i would have a look on both sides of the disc, see if there is sign of heavy wear, perhaps even a blue-ish colour. I check if the pads look intact, there should be a brake pad wear warning, but often they are only on one of the pads and are really for even wear rather than an issue with a specific pad. You might find the caliper has freed off or the pad worn to the point of not touching and hence appears recovered.

Bearing is a possibility but they tend to start making a noise before any form of overheating,

A

 

[Azteccamper]

Most likely a stuck caliper, was the steering pulling to one side when not braking? It could be either brake pad, i would have a look on both sides of the disc, see if there is sign of heavy wear, perhaps even a blue-ish colour. I check if the pads look intact, there should be a brake pad wear warning, but often they are only on one of the pads and are really for even wear rather than an issue with a specific pad. You might find the caliper has freed off or the pad worn to the point of not touching and hence appears recovered.

Bearing is a possibility but they tend to start making a noise before any form of overheating,

A

Agree. Brake calliper. Get it sorted asap as I think it can warp the disc. Had it last year.

 

[flying banana]

those symptoms point to a stuck brake caliper to me. sounds like it has freed itself up. what happens on a hill parked up ? release the brakes,does it roll ?

 

[Thomass45507]

those symptoms point to a stuck brake caliper to me. sounds like it has freed itself up. what happens on a hill parked up ? release the brakes,does it roll ?

Yes it rolls back down the hill

 

[Thomass45507]

Most likely a stuck caliper, was the steering pulling to one side when not braking? It could be either brake pad, i would have a look on both sides of the disc, see if there is sign of heavy wear, perhaps even a blue-ish colour. I check if the pads look intact, there should be a brake pad wear warning, but often they are only on one of the pads and are really for even wear rather than an issue with a specific pad. You might find the caliper has freed off or the pad worn to the point of not touching and hence appears recovered.

Bearing is a possibility but they tend to start making a noise before any form of overheating,

A

I didnt think it was bearing as i Had the rear left one changed only a few weeks ago so kind of knew what the sound and feeling was for that, im assuming its the calliper, got a mobile mechanic coming next week as im to nervous to drive it

 

[Wish]

I didnt think it was bearing as i Had the rear left one changed only a few weeks ago so kind of knew what the sound and feeling was for that, im assuming its the calliper, got a mobile mechanic coming next week as im to nervous to drive it

I’d be cautiously driving it down to my local (trusted) independent garage for a once over…

 

[sbmcd]

I've had exactly the same issue on my T5.1, definitely a sticking brake caliper. It was intermittent at first so it did free itself, just arrange to have a new caliper fitted to the problem side and new pads while it's apart of course.