Handbrake drum balance vs vibration

Where could I get my handbrake drum balanced, or for what it's worth - just buy a new one?

I took off my rear prop today and rebolted the drum back on. Stuck the car in gear and felt for vibrations, which I had problems with previously.

The vibration off this set-up was heavy and from the rear while I revved her stationary.

Took the drum off, revved her and no vibration - save the engine kind which you can't bloody avoid!

The drum is obviously well out of balance and must have got banged up at some stage - then showed up when I got all my transmission virtually repalced with new bits. The rear output flange is fine - no leaks and the merest fraction of a mm of play with a a very hard tug at it.

What say you, Sages of the Zone? No - I am not getting an x brake!

Oh, tis a Defender 90. 300tdi.

Check engine/gearbox mounts and bell housing bolts before getting new drum.

did you refit prop when drum was off to try it,there should be no end float on flage at all if there is speedo housing brg needs replacing,i never had drum causing vibration but not saying yours isnt ,ive alot of good second hand ones if wanted ,frc3502 drum number you can get for £20 new

Hi Tottot and James Martin

Just had a new galvo chassis professionally fitted and picked her up yesterday. All the mounts are new. Gearbox new recon, t box new recon. 300tdi phased prop front - looks to be 30 degrees. Double carden rear. New OEM springs all round.

My old vibration problems were to do with a 2 inch lift i got - did not help that the guy who originally fitted the recon engine in Stoke angled the engine on washers up towards the front rad which increased the front prop angles even further. Weird, I know, and not clever.

The lift is removed to standard now. I always felt the dreaded vibrations at 35 and 55mph - coming through the front of the vehicle. On way home last night I got vibs at anything from 45 to 65, though not as clear cut as before - and they seemed to be coming from the rear of the vehicle. No vibs on overrun or at same speed range in neutral. Only on acceleration in that speed range.

Removed the rear prop this morning and also checked every part of the driveline which was fine. I've got two basically new axles fitted also.
I did note that I could avoid the vibs by changing down gear from 5th to 4th, especially around 55mph. Yet at 70mph it disappeared in 5th. It's a disco t box.

When I put that drum back on without the prop today, it made serious vibrations. I will need spacers to try it with the prop without the drum which I will try tomorrow and also check those mounts and bolts you mentioned.

without prop drum will make vibrations,i wolud try with both props of in turn ,shouldnt double carden be on front,dont rule out t/box output shafts and or brgs

Hi James

The wheels have been rotated since the chassis swap which can happen I guess. One has lost three weights on the rear driver side and one has lost one weight on the front passenger side. I will run my prop tests tomorrow to narrow this out - got a couple of nice prop spacers to try the no handbrake drum version. Also have a set of new wheels which I was going to put on anyway and that will be helpful.