Phil 0 Posted March 5, 2006 The last time I drove my 1.9 GTi it was completely standard, since then I have fitted a Quaife diff, new clutch, 1.6 gearbox new o/s driveshaft (the long one!) and split/regreased the n/s driveshaft as well as uprating engine mounts, refitting wishbones, arb, drop links etc etc. Driving it today for the first time since doing all this it has a huge vibration coming from the front end which is noticeable at speeds as low as 20mph and is very bad at 35-40mph (havn't been any faster as it's a bit scary!). You can see the car shaking from side to side and the gearstick moving like crazy when it happens, but if I press the clutch in it completely goes and the car coasts fine with no vibrations etc. I can select all gears with no problems, and when acelerating off a roundabout it seemed ok and the diff felt good. I have checked all bolts/mounts and everyting is tight, there is no play when jacking the car up and shaking the wheels etc. Does anyone have any ideas what the problem might be? My first thought is the n/s driveshaft but it seems ok. Could it be something I have done in fitting the diff or could the 1.6 box be knackered? Cheers for any help! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jonmurgie 2 Posted March 5, 2006 ALIGNMENT.... If you've had the wishbones off, and replaced a heap of other parts you HAVE to get it aligned again... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phil 0 Posted March 5, 2006 (edited) John, I can understand alignment/tracking if the problem was evident when the clutch was depressed and at higher speeds than 25mph. For alignment to be that far out causing those problems surely there would be a visable problem? You can actually see the car being shaken from side to side if you look at one of the A pillars whilst driving! And all the wheels point in the same direction! I will be getting the alignment redone very soon either way but i'm 99% convinced this isn't the casue of the problem.. (unless tracking being out is making the Quaife scramble!) I have been out again and done some more investigative work and I definitely think it is something along the transmission side of things. Possibly clutch alignment? (Although the gearbox slid on no problems so i'm not convinced it is this!) All driveshafts are a tight fit and there is no knocking or problems put the power down through corners, which leaves some sort of diff fitting error (seems likely as the problem seems speed related, not revs related which may also rule out clutch alignment), a dead gearbox (although it does it in all gears), a driveshaft problem or clutch alignment in my view? The vibration also seemed to lessen as the speen increased (i.e. at 60mph onwards) Edited March 5, 2006 by Phil Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hengti 2 Posted March 5, 2006 this is a long shot I once had a problem with a CV joint that I'd taken off to renew the boot on and had similar sounding problems for a short while afterwards It tunred out the circlip on the end of the shaft had broken and a bit of it had made its way into the ball cage in the CV joint - it quickly got worse. Before I decided to fix it the car was terrifying to drive as the steering would ocassionaly grab and hold course whilst I wrestled with the wheel as I say - a long shot, but it might be worth checking out if you've had the CV joints off you might expect this kind of problem to occur regardless of whether or not the car is in gear though, and tbh, I can't remember if the problem was more noticeable under load or not Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phil 0 Posted March 5, 2006 Hen, thanks for the reply. I will try the CV joint again before I remove the whole gearbox/diff and start again! Also it is worth noting that there is none of the vibration through the steering wheel, it is the rest of the chassis doing it, hence my thoughts of transmission rather than tracking/balancing/alignment. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nick 3 Posted March 6, 2006 Mine did this years ago and it was the g/box to block bolts that had come loose. I only found the cause when it ripped the centre out of the clutch because of it running out of alignment. Nick Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Butler 0 Posted March 6, 2006 I have had the same as Nick also. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phil 0 Posted March 6, 2006 Cheers guys, will check the bellhousing bolts first thing tonight. Ordered a new driveshaft as well, just incase. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Anthony 1,003 Posted March 6, 2006 If you split the CV, did you lose any of the needles? If you do, this is the exact problem that you get as the joint is then out of balance - dreadful and really violent shaking/wobbling as you accelerate and scary as hell above 30mph or so... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rich_w 0 Posted March 6, 2006 Could it be the passengers side driveshaft? I had a problem going over 60mph ish the car would varibrate more than normal (randomly) and the gearstick would shake as i got upto around 4000rpm it turned out to be the driver's driveshaft. I don't think it would be the alignment, but I would get it seen to anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A18_RYU 0 Posted March 7, 2006 might be completely wrong, but if the diff u fitted might have made a bit of difference?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phil 0 Posted March 7, 2006 Well, I fitted the new driveshaft earlier tonight and it is sweet as a nut! No vibrations at all! Thanks for your help guys, problem solved! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
