Defender 90 Vibration

I'm pretty new to this so bear with me. I've had a bit of work done on my 2005 TD5 90 recently including rear calipers, discs, pads, wheel bearings, stub axles and everything on the front axle inc calipers, discs, pads, diff, wheel bearings, swivel housings, shafts. Now I've got a quite severe vibration on acceleration, before the work was done there was a rumbling/vibration on deceleration. Any ideas? Propshafts have been checked and seem ok.

Did this get checked out in the garage on a rolling road. Bit surprised not noticed after repairs.

It was fine when I had it back a week ago. Problem has only just come back today. I've done 400miles since work was done no problem. Hard to put on a rolling road without removing propshaft.

The 'common' issue here is the propshaft, often this cannot be seen when on the car but off one the UJ's has a little play which is the cause of the vibration.
My 300tdi did exactly what you are saying, I checked the propshaft and it looked good, under acceleration there was a wobble. I thought it was wheel balance, bearing all sorts of things.
I took the rear shaft off and there was movement in one of the joints. New propshaft and problem gone.
I'd checked it on the car at least twice and thought it was good.

+1 to @miktdish

@Sii7 , if not propshaft UJ's and/or shaft spline, go back under the front end and re-torque every nut & bolt to the steering and suspension. Q? did you fit a new steering damper...same with suspension & panhard rod bushes? If not, take a really close look at each component.

I didn’t do the work myself, it’s being looked at tomorrow by the guy that did it. He’s a top bloke, only works on defenders, knows his stuff. I was a bit concerned that a new/exchange diff on the front would put a strain on the rear diff or transfer box. It went in originally cos the half shafts were floating in and out of the front diff. They were seized in the hubs, had to be cut apart. I’m just disappointed that the problem seems to have come back.

Did the "top bloke" install new bushes all round + new steering damper?

+ when were your wheels last balanced?

I totally agree about the prop shaft comment. Before the work was done I took the front prop off, ran the car, problem still there. Refitted it, back one off, ran the car, problem still there. So I’m not too confident on that one. Problem seems to occur after about 20mins or 10 miles from start up.

Not sure about steering damper, I’ll find out tomorrow. There’s no wobble through the steering wheel, it’s the whole car that’s vibrating. Wheels balanced about three months ago when the new tyres were fitted.

Okay, when hubs rebuilt were new bearings fitted? If so, 1. what make of bearings, 2. did the mechanic settle in bearings, 3 what end float at dti? It's not unheard of for new bearings, even Timkin, to not quite settle especially if not pulled up correctly before end float set...and then torqued and locked off. This results in post build lateral bearing movement and will cause front end wobble - this can be tested for by lifting front end and checking for any in/out movement of wheel. As you're suffering slight death wobble I'd get your garagiste to re-check end float with dti.

Sii7 said:

it’s the whole car that’s vibrating.

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The whole car, really? If so, take a close look at your engine and gearbox mounts.

Cheers for your input. It’s a difficult one cos it doesn’t happen all the time. Like I say, for the first 20 mins, no issues, then it starts. Since having all the work done on the front last week, I’ve done about 400 miles (300 on motorway) and it’s driven perfectly. It was on this morning the wobble “came back” . Not sure if it’s a new problem or the old problem that’s hidden itself for a week.