Vibrations (not good ones)

[Sprint'n'Go]

This is driving me nuts,

2003 Sprinter luton bodied van long wheel base.

I have been trying to trace the cause of this since mid september on and off.

I am getting a vibration which feels like a rear wheel out of balance but varies in severity from wondering if it is there, to thinking if it shakes much harder something is going to fall off.

I have replaced-
front bottom ball joints as play was at allowable limit.
front discs as they were worn beyond reasonable limits
both front shockers as one sounded a bit 'squishy' but felt reasonable for 120k
all 4 tyres (twice, but thats a different story)
numerous tyre rebalances at different places
tracking twice, before and after front suspension work
a bush on one of the rear shocks that was worn but shocks have been removed and feel great along full length of stroke.

I have also carefully checked wheel bearings for play or roughness and the propshaft has been carefully checked at u/j's and support bearings and I am 100% sure all balance weights are present and correct. anti roll bushes look good.

I am sure it is a suspension problem as the front feels vaguely 'bouncy' after hitting a bump despite the new shock absorbers and also the vibration sometimes dissappears for a day or so after things have been changed (i.e new tyres).

I am approaching the end of things to check,

all I can currently think of to do is-
replace rear shocks (A waste of money I am sure)
remove prop for further examination (tight u/j maybe?) or send to a specialist for balancing check (ANY RECOMMENDATIONS IN NORTH WEST?)
remove luton body and test without to rule out any kind of body bounce?

Has anyone any suggestions please. Any one I talk to in the trade just mention the things I have already done.

 

[Ultymate]

A seized cup on one of the U/Js is a possibility as are G/Box mountings once had a Merc 280 SE years ago vibrate like crazy after the air gaps in the g/box mounting got clogged with mud after an off road excursion beyond that I don't know

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

found an interesting thread on another forum which has some interesting points

http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/index.php?showtopic=26885&pid=395716&st=0&#entry395716

What ever is causing it, It went mad following the fitting of the new tyres but these were continental Vanco's as fitted from the factory. so I think it is a suspension problem rather than the prop but who knows?

 

[daveenty]

If it is the prop, you can try here: -
North West Propshaft
Unit 41 Westbrook Trading Est
Westbrook Rd,
Trafford Park
Telephone: 0161-848 9290

Think they're still going, they used to specialise in cut/shut & balancing

Not a million miles from A-U-L

 

[kth286]

Does it have driveshafts like the cars ? as it could be one of the joints on the on one of the driveshafts seizing up. Are the gaiters intact ?????

 

[television]

Does it have driveshafts like the cars ? as it could be one of the joints on the on one of the driveshafts seizing up. Are the gaiters intact ?????

Its a standard drive chain like cars, I think it could be prop/drive shaft related.

Malcolm

 

[42864]

Steve this is going to sound stupid but please bear with me, several years ago one of my drivers bought a Subaru Pick Up, I don't know what the model was, but anyway when driving on normal roads all was well, as soon as he went Off Road and used 4 wheel drive he had definite vibration. The Subaru garage could not find the problem so I gave permissiuon for my fitters to look at it for him. The problem they found was that the Axle's were out of alignment, when a measurement was taken from the centre of the wheels one side, there was a difference of almost 3" in the other side. the only way it was cured was to redrill the Chassis and refit the rear axle, this did cure the problem.
Now I'm not saying this is your problem but it could be worth a check with a tape measure.
Best of luck anyway

Dave.

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

Been trying to pin it down all week while driving and just when I am convinced it is a drive train problem it starts going beserk on a changable road surface.

I guess the cheapest and easiest check would be the prop off but I still think it is a bit bouncy over bumps so maybe the body will have to come off in the long run which is a bl**dy pain but free of financial cost (I have previously swapped a luton body from an C.86 307D to a C.01 311CDI on my driveway).

Just found this old thread which is a bit disheartening as no-one seems to find a resolution - http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=5848

 

[television]

How about the engine mounts,they do throw the drive train out of line.

Malcolm

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

How about the engine mounts,they do throw the drive train out of line.

Malcolm

I have done the engine mounts recently in connection with the incurable clutch judder (no change) but have neglected to check any gearbox mounts.

Hmmmm.... I am formulating a theory..........My clutch judder appears to be vaguely linked to a merc warranty replacement gearbox at 90k. Maybe the judder and the vibration that has also started since the gearbox was fitted (but much later) are linked?

I think it will definitely be worth giving the prop an off-vehicle inspection and checking the mounting of the gearbox. Who knows there could be a hand full of alignment shims missing from the back of the gearbox mounts?

In the meantime I have pm'd the poster with a previous sprinter vibration issue to see if he ever cured it.

 

[mister_cee333]

Not much help here Steve, except that I had a 814 (7½ tonner) which had a bit of a vibration from it after I ran it with a loose wheel. Unfortunately I never cured the problem, and it was still there even with the troubled wheel not fitted. Even worse I also drove another 814 with a dreadful vibration which even Merc couldn't find.

 

[Ultymate]

If the prop shaft of your Sprinter has a sliding spline joint somewhere in it's length and someone has had it apart sometime and it's not been put back in exactly the same alignment it may have misaligned the relationship of the universal joints to each other and this in itself can cause vibration issues. This said most of these type sliding joints do have a master spline to prevent just such finger trouble but I thought it worth a mention:???:

 

[television]

If the prop shaft of your Sprinter has a sliding spline joint somewhere in it's length and someone has had it apart sometime and it's not been put back in exactly the same alignment it may have misaligned the relationship of the universal joints to each other and this in itself can cause vibration issues. This said most of these type sliding joints do have a master spline to prevent just such finger trouble but I thought it worth a mention:???:

This is a good point as MB fitted a new clutch.

Malcolm

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

If the prop shaft of your Sprinter has a sliding spline joint somewhere in it's length and someone has had it apart sometime and it's not been put back in exactly the same alignment it may have misaligned the relationship of the universal joints to each other and this in itself can cause vibration issues. This said most of these type sliding joints do have a master spline to prevent just such finger trouble but I thought it worth a mention:???:

Already covered that base, the sliding spline has arrows (a cast one on one side and a stamped one to face it) and these are aligned. This is something you learn pretty quickly when messing about with landrovers

Just waiting for another quiet day when it stops raining (if ever) to have another poke around.

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

Not much help here Steve, except that I had a 814 (7½ tonner) which had a bit of a vibration from it after I ran it with a loose wheel. Unfortunately I never cured the problem, and it was still there even with the troubled wheel not fitted. Even worse I also drove another 814 with a dreadful vibration which even Merc couldn't find.

When I first started driving for a living the bakery I worked for bought his first merc van, a brand new 1993 310D and trusted me to look after it. Unfortunatly I diagnosed a vibration within the first few months and Mercedes did lots of work to try to cure it but never did in my time there. I don't know if they ever did resolve it?

 

[mark999]

Check the wheels themselves. My Vito/V-Class had buckled front wheels from new.

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

Check the wheels themselves. My Vito/V-Class had buckled front wheels from new.

I dont think the wheels are at fault. The problem began to show after about 100k. The wheels look ok and when spun seem to rotate true. How did you diagnose the buckled wheels?

 

[Blobcat]

I dont think the wheels are at fault. The problem began to show after about 100k. The wheels look ok and when spun seem to rotate true. How did you diagnose the buckled wheels?

Put them onto a wheel balancer and check for side to side movement. Alternatively you could have someone follow you for awhile and look at the wheels. If it is bad you can usually see it. Wheel balancer is the most accurate method though.

 

[Sprint'n'Go]

Put them onto a wheel balancer and check for side to side movement. Alternatively you could have someone follow you for awhile and look at the wheels. If it is bad you can usually see it. Wheel balancer is the most accurate method though.

I thought about this driving alongside lark as I suspect it could be a visible problem. The only thing is, my wife isn't keen on driving the van as it is a bit of a monster and I want to be the one looking at it. Will give it a go over the christmas holidays no doubt.

 

[mark999]

The way the tyre dealer diagnosed buckled wheels was to Spin the wheel whilst looking directly at the brake caliper through the ventilation holes). The wheel apeared to move from back to front.