Yesterday i got stuck to this pile of snow. I put it in reverse and tried to get out (i had to back out) the pile in front of me was a lot bigger. i had to get on it to slowly get her out. the passenger side wheel was smoking while the driver side wheel was turning at around maybe 5-10mph. Anyway 2-3 minutes of wheel spin, revving high, i got her out. i got on the highway this morning, MAJOR vibration from the rear passenger wheel (or it felt like it was coming from there). almost couldn't drive it at anything over 60mph.

I got to work and i saw bunch of snow stuck between the wheel and the fender also just little chunks inside the wheel. Here is a pic of what i cleaned.

Image074.jpg

What do you guys think? i hurt something or it was just bunch of snow piled up and got me off balance?

I will not be able to drive her for the next 9 hours to see. I am wondering if the wheel bearing got messed up..

Thanks in advance.

 

Sounds like you have snow stuck to the wheel throwing the tire out of balance.
A day in Arizona will cure that.

 

You should have no wheel bearing problem but all that extra snow inside the wheel, will cause the wheel to be off balance, which will cause vibration due to the weight being off centered in the wheel, cleam your rims out real good and then drive it and see if the vibration goes away.

 

Make sure you didn't loose any wheel weights, I've seen that happen.
I have to be honest the Crossfire is one of the better rear wheel sports cars I've driven in the snow but I just leave mine at home when its bad out, you may not have that luxury. My only advise is to go it slow, especially in a lowered car. My son has his car lowered and he lost it last night in the snow. Fortunately it skidded in a straight line and didn't hit anything. My best advsie would be to take your car in an empty lot over the weekend where there is snow and practice, get a feel for the car. You just got it and you can't "know " the car yet. We want you around in the spring. Keep in mind body parts are hard to come by these days.

 

I would say with 95% certainty that it was the snow that made your tire feel incredibly unbalanced.

Same thing happened in my Jetta with BBS alloys in 2003. Driving at highway speeds made an ungodly thumping - a violent, rhythmic whacking.

Hmm...that just sounded dirty.

Anyways, clearing the snow fixed the issue and there were no long term problems with the car (at least as far as the wheel was concerned.)

 

I will attest with almost 100% certainty that the snow pack in the wheel was the problem. had that happen to me last march, felt like the weels were coming off at 50MPH. Scared the bejeebies out of me!!!! The wheel shelf is huge and carries alot of weight if snow and ice is on it-doesn't take much-trust me on this. When you get stuck in a snowbank, you need to turn off the traction control to keep both wheels turning at the same speed, back out as slow as you can, and work with somebody if needed to get some traction spot.

I don't think you did any damage, clean the wheel shelf off and you'll laugh at it after the fact.

 

The manual says that the ESP should be turned off in these situations. Failure to do so can lead to transmission and axle overheating.
I would think that if the brakes are being applied to the spinning wheel (ABS) then the pads and rotors would suffer as well.
High revving is not what you want in these situations, easy does it is the best method. Drive backward and then forward, turning the steering wheel side to side to clear the snow away from the front wheels at the most forward point you get, then go back and take another gentle run at it, repeat. Do not get too much snow under the car as it will take weight off the wheels.
You could have snow or ice stuck to the inside of the wheels, throwing them of balance.
Carry a shovel and sand in the trunk and if possible get snow tires.
The best advice is stay at home.

 

Thought that I had accidently clicked on the "Does Pizza Guy have any hope? - As the Pizzaguy Turns" thread!

 

Or move to Arizona!

 

Awesome!!!! Man i feel great now. I have been imagining myself underneath my car working on it at a snowy, cold parking lot because i was almost sure that i broke something

Thanks a lot

Edit: I see more responds. I would like to thank to those as well.

P.S. i had the TC off while attempting to get out of the snow. With TC on, it wouldnt go anywhere and almost stall so it was no help.

 

That's what we're all here for!

 

OMG! With all that going on IN your Jetta, How did the car handle

 

Were you about 15 at the time?

 

NOW THATS FUNNY

 

muscle, when you spin over 30 mph, the TC will over-ride...it was on...keeping your tires cool when stuck, and rocking back and forth gradually will usually get you rolling...spinning getting them hot, just lets you burn down to pavement, but kills your tread, and can damage the drive line...its a ***** to get stuck, but patience should prevail...I've proved this to my sons many times...I agree with the other, snow in the wheels throws them out of balance...pray for spring....

 

You are supposed to be the car expert... tell us what it is!

All joking aside... it is snow. It could be stuck inside the rim. A lot of flat surface in there.

Slow it down in bad weather and you won't even notice it is out of balance.

 

Confirmed it was the snow as I suspected. it was smooth as usual on the way back home. Thanks a lot!!!

Lol, I am not really a car expert but i know a couple things here and there. I just want to learn more Yeah it was the rim!

Doc, thanks for the advice and it really is true.

 

When you consider the tire place uses weights as light as .5 ounce to balance a wheel/tire, imagine what a few ounces of ice stuck to one side of a rim does to the balance.