Vibration from drivetrain when driving at 50+

Haha.....shouldn't be too expensive, if I remember for a kit containing two it's around £15. That a lot less then driving down the road and watching your wheel overtake you and running into a VW Beach Buggy....exactly what happened to me!!!

You're right, I wouldn't want that embarrassment

I have exactly the same on mine.

So far I've replaced all the brakes and wheel bearings, A Frame BJ and it's not long had new track rods, steering box, etc. Also adjusted all the swivels, had new props, and it's better but still there. Not had me wheels balanced tho.

I'll try the tyres next, see if that cures it.

I'm hoping mine is just the wheel bearings. They could do with being replaced anyway I guess but I wouldn't know what else to look at if its not . My TREs are fine, a frame balljoint is relatively new, wheels and tyres don't need balanced, brakes are a-ok as far as I'm aware, no issues came up on the MOT in December but as I said it only started recently when I fitted those new wheels and tyres but that's probably just coincidence. Still have the same tyres on but I've had these exact same tyres before and they've been brilliant.

Getting my new wheel bearings in today but I thought I'd add a bit more information here. When sitting at 60 and its vibrating if I go around a right hand curve the vibration becomes a lot more pronounced whilst I've got the steering wheel turned and lessens off when I bring it back to centre. It doesn't seem to be as bad when turning left but is still slightly more obvious.

Hoping to have the bearings fitted tonight and will see if that sorts it

the_wolf said:

Wheel bearings will be getting bought today lol the last thing I want is a slight mishap on the motorway

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You mean like the mishap I had one the m6 on Saturday night, bearing failed, skewed across lanes 1 to 3, luckly it was v quiet at 1 am

Yes that kind of mishap lol

Changed the offside front wheel bearing last night but didnt have time to do the rest. Driving into work the vibration is still there although not as pronounced. Still more obvious when im steering to the right. Old bearing didnt look particularly worn at all but then it was dark. Also the symptoms im getting dont seem to hint at a wheel bearing but i could be wrong, will still replace the other three and see how it goes. Any other ideas on what it could be?

Bent axle tube? Does it wander on the road or is that fine?

Nope steering is spot on and actually much better since I did the one bearing last night. Got a heavy duty track rod and I've replaced the drag link at some point. Steering guard is bashed to buggery after my last outing but it did its job lol.

Ahh fair enough. Somthing else to check off the list!

Right I'm still at a loss with this. Bearings are spot on at the front, cleaned everything, regreased and reassembled with new seal and new bearings on the offside front. I haven't done the back ones yet as I've got a very strong feeling that the problem is at the front. Front bearings I removed were perfect though, replaced them nevertheless Vibration is not as bad as it was but its still obvious at 50+. Prop and UJs are ok, steering and general driving is spot on up to 50mph but after that it starts vibrating and that's pretty much it. Continues to vibrate and shudder when not under load. All that's left is half shafts, cv joints, diff . Any ideas at all please, before I smack my head off a wall

radious arm bushes, panard rod bushes, steering ujs, drop arm ball joint, other ball joint, steering damper????? all worth checking

top-cat said:

radious arm bushes, panard rod bushes, steering ujs, drop arm ball joint, other ball joint, steering damper????? all worth checking

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Would these cause such vibration though? And only at motorway speeds? Worth checking as you said. Panhard rod bushes are relatively new but ill have a look at them and the other ones. Steering damper as been done for a while now so could do with replacing but its not coming from the steering. When its particularly bad it can be felt through the steering but when vibrating and shuddering consistently it is felt through the gear stick most and will vibrate the spare wheel on the bonnet

Anyone else? Still can't figure out what this is caused by. If it helps it brakes nice and straight, no pulling to any side, steering is alright if a little light. Movement on the front wheels is perfectly fine, no notches when turning or steering, both wheels rotate perfectly fine. Pretty much drives brilliantly up until it hits 50

Consider wheel bearings pre failure, heat marks on stub axle if you can't find anything external or low oil levels inc levels in swivels

top-cat said:

radious arm bushes, panard rod bushes, steering ujs, drop arm ball joint, other ball joint, steering damper????? all worth checking

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the_wolf said:

Would these cause such vibration though? And only at motorway speeds? Worth checking as you said. Panhard rod bushes are relatively new but ill have a look at them and the other ones.

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the_wolf said:

Anyone else? Still can't figure out what this is caused by. Pretty much drives brilliantly up until it hits 50

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Have you checked all of 'em ?

or swopped for known good uns

It may be a resonance thing, a combination of small wobbles adding to be a pain in the bum

Axel alignment can also effect the running of the chassis.

Swopping tyres front to back can change the effect also.

Well I've changed one of the rear wheel bearings and its still there. Everything else is spot on so I asked the new VM (vehicle mechanic) at work and he has said that it sounds like the swivels. He suggested jacking up the front, sticking the brakes on and checking for play. If there is any it will be a case of removing a few shims. Seems the most plausible explanation so far so will be looking into that at lunchtime

Snigger, you want me to save them swivels for you ?

I'll just get a rebuild kit. The actual balls themselves are fine but ill remove a few shims for now, see if that sorts it and if it does ill buy a rebuild kit and sort it properly