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Vibration when accelerating - what have I done!?

690 views 24 replies 4 participants last post by  Locksnapper 
#1 ·
Hi Guys

So last week I went to replace my passenger side front Spring using this approach:

http://reallymeansounds.com/forum/threads/pics-of-replacing-broken-spring-on-a-mondeo.21157/

So removed calliper, link bar, track rod with no issues. However the bottom ball joint was a nightmare, tried levering with a crow bar and hitting across it with a hammer, did not want to come out. So finally bit the bullet and lowered the sub frame (which was so much easier than I was expecting,and would recommend!!) and it popped out no problem.

Undid the 3 nuts at the top, pulled away from the cv joint and the whole strut and hub assembly came out no problem.

Reversed to put it all back together.

However now, while accelerating, I can feel a (slight) vibration!! I have checked that I have replaced and tightened everything correctly.

What have I done!?

Reading on here given the symptoms, some suggest driveshaft. If so, have I damaged it or not refitted it correctly?

Or could it be something else?

Cheers

Lock

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#2 ·
Dislodged one of the balls in the CV joint? Making surfaces for the brake disc and

wheel clean?

Upset the alignment? Needs resetting?
 
#4 ·
Strip it all down again, And refit any balls that have come out or reseat the shaft

properly or worst case replace it.

you need to check everything before getting the alignment

done otherwise it will need doing again afterwards.
 
#5 ·
If everything's tight and everything solid when pulling on the wheel whilst jacked up then agree with above.. Drive shaft.
Gotta be careful that you don't turn the outer too much or pull the inner out too far...
Pull the inner gaitor off and check all 3 bearings are in place. Then same for outer, or probably feel for something in the cv gaitor.
Happens to us all sometime.

As for that link, I think he's making it overly difficult. Lower arm ball joint AND getting drive shaft out of the hub (sometimes a blooming nightmare without a hub puller tool).... Both nightmare jobs!! Former requires lowing subframe anyway though!!! So may as well have done it usual way and lowered subframe, strut punch bolt, drop link, get strut out

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#6 ·
In hindsight I wish I had.......

Thanks for the replies guys.

Yeah I jacked it up when double checking and had a swing off the wheel, and all seemed sturdy.

I also tried moving the wheel when in gear, and it was engaging with the gearbox.

I wonder if I pulled it out too far, does it just slide in at the inner end?

I will have a feel. See if anything has dropped.

If it has, Eurocar parts were doing a 30% sale, thus a new complete driveshaft is £45, should I just change it?

Cheers

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#7 ·
Inner one will just slide outwards, yes. It's job is to allow the drive shaft to increase/decrease in length when you turn the wheels. Sometimes if doing a clutch job or something and driveshaft won't pop out you'd just unclip the gaitor and remove drive shaft like that. Problem is the bearings aren't secured, they merely slide on to the housing.

The outer cv joint simply allows differing angles, has like an inner cage with balls in slots then in the housing. They are one unit, but turn the joint at too greater angle the balls can fall out.

Unclip the larger ends of the gaitor and get your fingers messy if you have too.
If it's the inner then you should be able to fix it. If the outer then no chance.

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#10 ·
Slightly worn CV is often the cause of vibration like this. The tripod wears slight pits in the outer tracks. Under acceleration the pits stop the joint sliding. The vibration you feel is the engine/gearbox moving side to side because the joint doesn't.

After disturbing all the suspension things aren't in exactly the same place and the edge of the pits are in the sliding area.

You may find you don't get the vibration while cornering and accelerating i.e. on long curving slip roads.

I had this problem on my Laguna, took months to work out what it was. New CV solved it. It tends to be the drivers side CV because its almost straight unlike the passenger side which has a greater angle when the wheel turns.
 
#11 ·
If you pulled the shaft out its possible you rotated it inside the rubber boot and not its

sitting in a different slot which will have a different wear pattern.
 
#14 ·
If you pulled the shaft out its possible you rotated it inside the rubber boot and not its

sitting in a different slot which will have a different wear pattern.
Anything like that could cause the positions to be different and introduce the vibration.
When removing the shaft from the hub its quite easy to pull it and for the cv joint inside

the boot to pop out. Normally you would just rotate it and it pops back in. But ifs its

worn and not in the same position it came from there maybe binding or more slack.

This can cause a rumble and vibration.
 
#15 ·
Ok so I have pulled my wheel of and had a feel of the gators (while still attached). The out one, I can't feel anything, obviously through the gator at this point. However inside the inner gator, I think I can feel a marble sized ball bearing? Can I strip it down and reinstate the ball bearing?

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#17 ·
Be very careful if your still driving it, with a ball bearing missing the shaft wont be

able to take the full load. You need to sort it ASAP.
 
#19 ·
If you dont remove any grease then you wont need to add any, there should be plenty

in there. Scoop a bit out of the boot and slap it on the moving parts and refit it.
 
#21 ·
Ok, tomorrow is the day!!
So just for my mind, I'm going to everything I did last time, drop sub frame, bottom ball joint, track rod end, link bar.
Undo hub nut, and reenact me pulling the driveshaft too far!?
Pull inner gator back
Re position the bearing(s) and gently rehouse in the housing and seal the gator
Driveshaft and nut refitted.......etc etc??

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#22 ·
Lower subframe slightly
Drop ball joint
No need to unbolt track rod end
No need no unbolt drop link
No need to remove drive shaft nut

Once ball joint is out off hub you can swing it around enough for what you need.

No need to create more work than needed :)

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#23 ·
Ok, so mid point
Pulled the rear gator back, and the bearing fell out, so re fitted that, and put the lower ball joint back on, so it cannot move.
Next question, although still caked with it, do I need to add more grease to the bearings, as some dripped out when I removed the gator and my hands were also caked when touching (it gets everywhere!!)
If so, do I remove the joint and apply the grease into the housing?
Can I reuse the crimp clip, or is it not wise?

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