Syncro shudder

[bikermike87]

Hi all,

My van has recently started shuddering at 30mph then at 40mph, It's fine when above 45mph and I'm sitting on a motorway. The shuddering only happens when accelerating and it doesn't matter what gear I'm in.

I've had a good luck under the van (with my novice eyes) and I the drive shafts are pretty solid and not moving around
I can't see any rips or tears in the cv boot, but I did find a fair amount of oil on one of my front boots.

The noise sounds like it's coming from the front joints, but Im nervous about it being the diff... I've gone to a car park and turned tight circles with no apparent noise.

The noise seemed to develop after taking it to the beach and applying the diff locks for a very short while, i can't remember if it was straight after, but pretty sure it was fine before i went the beach.

I've got a spare front drive shaft with boots fitted ready for swap. My time is very very limited, im moving house, I don't anywhere to easily work on it at the moment and I don't want it stuck off the road. How quick and easy is it to swap for a novice??

What are the best things to do and what order?! I have the following
1: Change front right drive shaft with 2 new cv joints
2: remove prop?
3: Could it be the diff? How do i check? I don't really use my front, could it be removed?
4: Wheel balancing, should I get them re balanced?
4: Brakes, could this cause it?
Any help would be most welcomed. The van has been behaving itself untill this and It's my daily vehicle and I want it in full action if the snow comes

[jed the spread]

Sounds like it could be a UJ on the prop. If you take the prop off and have a look then you should know.

Jed

[bikermike87]

Ok, so first action is to remove the prop... Hoping to remove it in my allocated parking space, without jacking it up *breathes in for flat stomach*. I've never done it before, so hope I don't mess it up.

Checked this, so will follow previous advice
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... p#p7716453" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Thanks for the advice, I tend to thread every thread on here, but this topic seams to be relevant to newbies only.

Lets hope it drops easily..

[v-lux]

Definitely sounds like the prop to me.

Just 8x 13mm nuts and bolts to remove and a bit of jiggery pokery and it'll fall off. Sometimes people have to loosen the front diff mounts, but mine will come out without.

Make sure you use a couple of decent 13mm spanners, real bitch if one of the bolts rounds off.

[jed the spread]

Mine used to vibrate between 42-46 mph I had convinced myself it was the pump timing on my old AAZ and gradually got used to it. When I took the prop off and replaced it with another one it felt like I had a brand new van in comparison

jed

[bikermike87]

Damm! Last two bolts were previously rounded off! Got my first 4 off, moved the van half a foot to access the other 4 and found 2 shiney round ones.

Tried a fat screwdriver and a hammer, it's not turning

Please don't tell me I need to pay a garage to go at it with an angle grinder

Any other ideas?

[Aidan]

try a 1/2" spanner, if that don't work then 12mm

it is also possible to get a thin walled 1/4" drive 13mm socket in there on a short extension/wobble bar on the UJ side

[Mudlark]

Definitely prop first, after that check your wheel bearings. I had about 2000 miles of 'prop shudder' before mine collapsed on the island of Korcula.

[bikermike87]

Thanks Aidan, your wise words encouraged a second attempt. I was armed with a 1/2 socket, 1/2 spanner and some mole grips. Hey presto, it's off

Just test drove the van without the prop and it was smoooooth.

But... what now? New UJ joint? How do I know if it's worn? New prop?

Or could this still be a front diff or front cv issue?

Thanks all, Syncro shudder is the work of satin.

[jed the spread]

If it was me I would just get it refurbished then its all done.

Jed

[bikermike87]

Do you mean refurb the whole prop? Brickwerks sell them already done, maybe I should go down that route...

I wonder if my girlfriend has spoke to Santa yet....

[jed the spread]

Do you mean refurb the whole prop? Brickwerks sell them already done, maybe I should go down that route...

I wonder if my girlfriend has spoke to Santa yet....

There you go..

jed

[bikermike87]

Santa said I can have one early incase it snows, he said he might need a hand getting around

I know a new prop is will rule out UJ and also just tick the list for replacements..

But... When the prop is removed, will that automatically remove diff or front bearing/cv issues?

Also, is it ok for me to use the van with prop removed for high mileage? Will it wear my new VC out quickly?

[Mudlark]

Prop out does no damage as VC is at 'neutral' so no wear and tear.

Process of illimination; nothing to say you wont get a different harmonic with a new prop and resulting shudder or vibes at different speeds and different rpm's just kidding ! sort of !!

I expect a new prop will cure it though.

[bikermike87]

Thanks, I think I will get one order and start the process of elimination, I have a spare front drive shaft and cv's built as a back up, so should be easier to fault find.

Next task after this is diff locks, ill re-read the threads on vacuum loss etc and see how I get on.

Thanks all