AndreB320i
New member
Although I have posted this story as replies to other threads I decided to post the complete history as a new thread since I believe we may have reached a solution and it is easier for other readers to follow.
It started with a vibration under load at between 25 and 30 Km/h. I was convinced it is propshaft, everything I read about propshafts pointed that way. But, being an auto box and the fact that sometimes when shifting down as I coast to a stop the box seems uncertain whether to shift, plus mileage just over 200 K Km I decided to take the car to Gearbox select in Pretoria. Previously they did an oil service of the box and I was happy with their service.
After a test drive they decided that it was the torque converter as the vibration was more of a shudder, almost like a manual clutch shudder. With hindsight I should have searched another opinion, but decided that they should recon the torque converter. They agreed that they would also inspect the propshaft, just in case there was a problem.
Torque converter was reconned, verdict was that propshaft is fine, and I took delivery. The original vibration was still there and as soon as I hit the highway there was the most awful vibration starting at about 115 Km/h. It was late Friday afternoon so I could not take the car back immediately. On Monday I had to drive to Jhb so tried to maintain vibration free speed, but a few Km down the highway I noticed smoke in the mirrors and upon pulling over found oil streaming from the box, smoking on the exhaust.
Gearbox select claimed they could not find the source of the oil leak, but sent the entire box with torque converter to the guys who did the recon. They also claimed they had the propshaft checked and balanced by some propshaft guys. Upon receipt of the car the original low speed vibration was no better, the 115 Km/h vibration was much less, but clearly noticeable to the extent that the mirrors vibrated quite clearly, this even though they were convinced that all was well. At least the oil leak was sorted.
What to do, taking the car back seemed of no use as they were not being honest with themselves about whether the problems have been sorted out. So I decided to drive the car for a while to see what happens, knowing it may be a time bomb.
After several thousand Km the vibration amplitude remained unchanged, but the point at which it started became less sharp and it seemed to spread to lower speeds.
Recently I decided it was time, so I took the car to Mayfair Gearbox in Pretoria who immediately identified all the different vibrations on the first test drive. Back on the hoist it was clear that there was serious play in the rear UV of the propshaft. It turned out the front UV was stiff as well. So they reconned the entire shaft, UV's, centre bearing and guibo. The low speed vibration was gone, but the high speed still present. After several rebalancing attempts we decided to look deeper at the flexplate. Off came the box and I was called in to come and observe the following: The ring gear was mounted back to front, bevel on the teeth facing to the rear even though the starter engages from the front. The centering shaft on the torque converter, where it enters the crankshaft, was welded ! By that time the previously reconned torque converter was noisy while cold so decision was to recon again and find a new front half with a factory fitted centering shaft.
After this was completed I did not drive the car, but the workshop manager, Steve, said that he was not happy. Everything was much better, but there was still some roughness. So he called in a propshaft guru who apparently found that the centre bearing area of the propshaft was not running true. I don't have detailed information about what he did, but apparently he split the shaft and somehow corrected this problem.
When I drove the car after this last operation it was like chalk and cheese. We still detect a slight roughness around 100 KM/h, as one guy said he hears it more than he can feel it. But we are so tuned in to searching for vibration that I don't know if I would have noticed it otherwise. At more than 200K Km it could be a wheel bearing going rough, the rear tires are worn quite low, it could be that, or just general wear all through the system adding up.
So I am taking delivery of the car and will drive it so see where we go from here.
A massive thumbs up to Steve and his guys from Mayfair gearbox, they don't pretend to fix problems, they persevere.
I hope this helps any one else who is confronted by drive train vibrations. It is a hard, soul destroying road to go down. :blueCry:
It started with a vibration under load at between 25 and 30 Km/h. I was convinced it is propshaft, everything I read about propshafts pointed that way. But, being an auto box and the fact that sometimes when shifting down as I coast to a stop the box seems uncertain whether to shift, plus mileage just over 200 K Km I decided to take the car to Gearbox select in Pretoria. Previously they did an oil service of the box and I was happy with their service.
After a test drive they decided that it was the torque converter as the vibration was more of a shudder, almost like a manual clutch shudder. With hindsight I should have searched another opinion, but decided that they should recon the torque converter. They agreed that they would also inspect the propshaft, just in case there was a problem.
Torque converter was reconned, verdict was that propshaft is fine, and I took delivery. The original vibration was still there and as soon as I hit the highway there was the most awful vibration starting at about 115 Km/h. It was late Friday afternoon so I could not take the car back immediately. On Monday I had to drive to Jhb so tried to maintain vibration free speed, but a few Km down the highway I noticed smoke in the mirrors and upon pulling over found oil streaming from the box, smoking on the exhaust.
Gearbox select claimed they could not find the source of the oil leak, but sent the entire box with torque converter to the guys who did the recon. They also claimed they had the propshaft checked and balanced by some propshaft guys. Upon receipt of the car the original low speed vibration was no better, the 115 Km/h vibration was much less, but clearly noticeable to the extent that the mirrors vibrated quite clearly, this even though they were convinced that all was well. At least the oil leak was sorted.
What to do, taking the car back seemed of no use as they were not being honest with themselves about whether the problems have been sorted out. So I decided to drive the car for a while to see what happens, knowing it may be a time bomb.
After several thousand Km the vibration amplitude remained unchanged, but the point at which it started became less sharp and it seemed to spread to lower speeds.
Recently I decided it was time, so I took the car to Mayfair Gearbox in Pretoria who immediately identified all the different vibrations on the first test drive. Back on the hoist it was clear that there was serious play in the rear UV of the propshaft. It turned out the front UV was stiff as well. So they reconned the entire shaft, UV's, centre bearing and guibo. The low speed vibration was gone, but the high speed still present. After several rebalancing attempts we decided to look deeper at the flexplate. Off came the box and I was called in to come and observe the following: The ring gear was mounted back to front, bevel on the teeth facing to the rear even though the starter engages from the front. The centering shaft on the torque converter, where it enters the crankshaft, was welded ! By that time the previously reconned torque converter was noisy while cold so decision was to recon again and find a new front half with a factory fitted centering shaft.
After this was completed I did not drive the car, but the workshop manager, Steve, said that he was not happy. Everything was much better, but there was still some roughness. So he called in a propshaft guru who apparently found that the centre bearing area of the propshaft was not running true. I don't have detailed information about what he did, but apparently he split the shaft and somehow corrected this problem.
When I drove the car after this last operation it was like chalk and cheese. We still detect a slight roughness around 100 KM/h, as one guy said he hears it more than he can feel it. But we are so tuned in to searching for vibration that I don't know if I would have noticed it otherwise. At more than 200K Km it could be a wheel bearing going rough, the rear tires are worn quite low, it could be that, or just general wear all through the system adding up.
So I am taking delivery of the car and will drive it so see where we go from here.
A massive thumbs up to Steve and his guys from Mayfair gearbox, they don't pretend to fix problems, they persevere.
I hope this helps any one else who is confronted by drive train vibrations. It is a hard, soul destroying road to go down. :blueCry:
