Propshaft Vibes?

[JonathanC]

Hi all

I have started noticing a vibration, similar to driving over rumble strips, between about 30 and 40 mph. It worsens under load and is at the same rate as road speed. It is not effectd by cornering. I have a feeling from what I have read on the forum this is related to the prop shaft. Anyone have a view on this?

P.S Car is a 200TE

Thanks

 

[Impaler]

Have you removed the gearbox (to replace the clutch or having the `box reconditioned or something)? If the propshaft is refitted in a different position it's more than likely to come out of balance and hence to cause vibration.

 

[JonathanC]

Impaler

The gearbox hasn't been touched (auto so no clutch). The vibration and associated noise just started a couple of weeks ago. Can't think of anything that could have prompted it. I will try and get under the car tomorrow and see if there is anything obviously amiss. Any guidance on what to look for gladly recieved

Thanks

 

[crawfy58]

Possibly worn propshaft universal joint.
Sounds like a problem i had once with my rover P6.
Horrible sound and vibration. Thought the gearbox was gonna fall out.
Iain

 

[Dominic]

Whilst you're under the car, check the exhaust to chassis brackets. I had a similar problem with a 190 - rebuilt the rear axle and replaced parts of the drive train before I realised that the exhaust bracket can been bent and was transmitting reverbs to the car.
Dominic

 

[NormanB]

Jonathon

You need to get it up in the air!

Have a good visual of drive line - I lost a prop shaft bolt on forward coupling for unknown reason and vibration was very significant.

Let us know how you get on.

NormanB

 

[John Turner]

I had a similar problem on my W124 estate. It turned out to be a failed propshaft damper - a sort of rubber do-nut. It had worn badly. The dealership very sensibly advised me to buy one from outside, since they could only supply whole prop shaft with damper fitted at great expense. I got the damper from Eurocar car parts for £49, and the dealership fitted it. Vibration gone and problem solved. The car had done about 134,000 miles.

 

[JonathanC]

Guys

Thanks for the advice, as NormanB says I need to get it up in the air. Strange thing is that it seems to have improved a bit. Will check anyway and let you know the outcome.

Cheers

Jonathan

 

[penderb]

Hi JonathanC

I had a similiar problem, which was ongoing for a while, with mine , it was what's known as the Central Carrier. It surrounds the UJ and has a circular rubber centre to absorb normal vibration/movement, but mine kept failing at the rate of 2 to 3 a year!, went to two independent Mercedes specialists, one didn't know, the other put the car on a lift, and with the naked eye after two minutes without removing anything, told me both front & back shafts were bent!, two perfect second hand shafts & one new central carrier later, bingo, the smoothest drive ever, & still purring six months later..........incidentally my car was in an acident many years earlier, which I knew at the time of buying, and professionally and properly restored to working order, but probably no one at the time, thought to check if the crash impacted on the drive shafts,
Anyway, you live and learn, you definitely need to get it up on a lift, if carrier worn, the rubber gator inside it, will be very easy to spot , as it will be torn\ripped, and check out straigtness of both drive shafts while your there....

Hope this is of some help

 

[TimN]

Replaced a wheel bearing on a BMW 3 series recently which was previously diagnosed as prop shaft vibration. From inside the car it is difficult to determine where the noise is coming from when it is behind you. It could be wheel bearings, half shaft cv joints, rear differential or the prop shaft.

There is a simple, but effective although very dodgy test that all workshop manuals advise against which can be used to eliminate the propshaft and hone down to either one side of the car or the other.

 

[JonathanC]

Guys

Thanks for the suggestions, I still haven't got it on to a ramp to look (local tyre place not very helpful, am going to try local garage).

The idea around the propshaft joints sounds most likely or of course a loose / missing bolt. I am not dismissing anything at the moment although wheel bearings seems less likely as the vibration is the same regardless of wheel loading.

I am interested in this "dodgy" test Tim mentioned, care to elaborate?

Will let you know my findings this weekend,

Cheers

 

[Madanglian]

Spooky (as Dame Edna says)!

My '92 200TE has just started doing the same thing, AND it's done 131,000 miles (cf John Turner's post). The only thing is, mine only rumbles when I'm accelerating, but at any speed, and it is shaking so much I can feel it through the clutch pedal.
The sound is more like a low growl, the kind of thing Peugeot 205GTI boy racers pay a fortune for :mrgreen:
Anyway thanks for all the replies so far I guess I've got to get it on the ramps and pull at a few things

 

[Madanglian]

It was the rear propshaft coupling. Pretty wrecked too. I didn't realise my stereo was that loud! Got it sorted q. easily 8)