P38A Slow Speed Judder - 1997 P38a V8 Automatic

tank93 · Oct 16, 2019

Have an annoying problem on my P38 which I am struggling to diagnose so thought I would create a post to see if anybody has had the same problem before.

Issue is at slow speed, i.e. crawling in traffic (in D no throttle) there is a light judder from somewhere on the driveline. I would describe the concern as feeling like the handbrake is lightly applied. Then when I go to pull away I can see the judder transmit lightly through the steering wheel, not a heavy judder but I can visible see the steering wheel vibrate lightly. Seems odd that it only happens in crawling traffic slow speed.

Anybody experienced this before?

Thanks

Datatek · Oct 16, 2019

Check the prop shaft universal joints.

cornishboater · Oct 16, 2019

+1 on that, had the issue years ago, also happened when feathering the throttle, changed the UJ all gone

RangeRoller dt · Oct 16, 2019

tank93 · Oct 17, 2019

Thanks all for the comments so far, I should have stated that the UJs (GKN brand) were changed (and yes I did grease them) a few months ago so unless I have dodgy new GKN UJs it cant be that, the issue was there before I changed them and changing them has made no difference at all sadly.
@cornishboater - yep mine does it also when feathering the throttle at low speed so sounds similar to your issue but root cause of my problem is obviously different

It's really weird its as if the car wants to move but is being hindered by something, like the brakes are lightly stuck on (although they arnt as I have checked all the brake caliper pistons and slide pins and they are fine, not seized or partially seized.

Datatek · Oct 17, 2019

tank93 said:
Thanks all for the comments so far, I should have stated that the UJs (GKN brand) were changed (and yes I did grease them) a few months ago so unless I have dodgy new GKN UJs it cant be that, the issue was there before I changed them and changing them has made no difference at all sadly.
@cornishboater - yep mine does it also when feathering the throttle at low speed so sounds similar to your issue but root cause of my problem is obviously different It's really weird its as if the car wants to move but is being hindered by something, like the brakes are lightly stuck on (although they arnt as I have checked all the brake caliper pistons and slide pins and they are fine, not seized or partially seized.

Worth checking to see if the VCU has seized and I just wonder if the ABS could be playing up, are any of the wheels getting hot? Might also be a CV joint.

P38A Slow Speed Judder - 1997 P38a V8 Automatic

tank93

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Datatek

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cornishboater

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RangeRoller dt

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tank93

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Datatek

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