Juddering. It's not my driveshafts. Any other possibilities?

[SamWise]

I jacked up the car to check the driveshafts, and the wheels are rock solid. I guess that's not the issue! The top engine mounts seem fine, so I guess the lower ones are the issue (I didn't have the opportunity to get under there and check - only had a 10 min window). Any other possibilities? I guess I was thrown by the fact that the judder seems to be in line with road speed, but it is also in line with where the engine produces most torque during acceleration.

[citronut]

is it a clutch adjustment fault maybe on clutch take up, also which car is it on

regards malcolm

[jonathan_dyane]

I jacked up the car to check the driveshafts, and the wheels are rock solid. I guess that's not the issue!

As well as checking for slack by rotating the wheel, did you also check them by grabbing the shaft and attempting to move it up/down etc? I have always found this the best means of detecting a dodgy driveshaft.

[RxBX]

Any other possibilities? I guess I was thrown by the fact that the judder seems to be in line with road speed, but it is also in line with where the engine produces most torque during acceleration.

Hi Sam I take it that this is still a problem from the possibility of needing a driveshaft on the previous thread for ABS driveshaft's ?
Have you actually changed anything as yet ?

Juddering in-line with road speed could be that one the tyre's carcass has 'Let-go' and may have slightly distorted in a few places on the circumference which you may not have spotted if you only had a quick 10 minute look/check !

I had this problem on a BX that had Michelin's which were old but the tread was well legal (As Michelin's do tend to do more miles than other tyres) so with this lovely hot weather were are currently enjoying and if the tyre is getting old it could be that, worth a good close inspection !

This carcass 'Letting go' is particularly notorious with Remould tyres as the actual age of the tyre carcass is much older than the actual newer Remould part of the tyre !
Also if you ever seen a tyre fitter trying to balance a wheel that's just had a 'new' remould fitted, the amount of lead weights fitted just amazes me just to get the damn wheel balanced, basically tells you that there $hite !
Hence I would never fit remoulds to any of my vehicles, I hope yours are not running on them ?

If it's juddering from the rear, it could be a wheel bearing past it's best although you stated the front wheels are all nice and solid just check the front wheel's again, when rotated that they feel smooth on the bearing's.

Also if you vehicle is a manual transmission it may be a worn clutch plate or broken diaphram spring within the pressure plate causing a slip/judder ?
As you stated "it is also in line with where the engine produces most torque during acceleration" !

If the lower engine/gearbox mount has worn you'd probably only experience a clunk on taking up the drive as already stated in the 'ABS driveshaft' thread, but obviously give that area a good check !
Best of luck in your findings and report back.

[mountainmanUK]

....a slight buckling in a wheel?????

[SamWise]

Not getting a clunk, and pretty sure it's not a wheel bearing. It's on budget tyres, but not remoulds; I suppose it COULD be a dented wheel though.

The symptoms are as follows; accelerating up to about 30mph, very little judder, 30-60, loads of judder (at the right sort of frequency to get the stick waving like made and my satnav mount waving around), then above about 60, very little again. Any help?

I don't think it can be clutch, as it doesn't happen below 30. I'd expect the worst from standstill with a clutch issue (plus a clutch letting go doesn't usually take the 3000 odd miles or more I've put on since this surfaced to finish letting go.

[kiwi]

Wheel Alignment?

Have you had that checked?

[jonathan_dyane]

Wheel Alignment?

Cannot cause a judder. Bizarre or dangerous handling and uneven tyre wear yes, but not a judder.

[kiwi]

Wheel Alignment?

Cannot cause a judder. Bizarre or dangerous handling and uneven tyre wear yes, but not a judder.

beg to differ! I noted a slight wobble from the steering wheel on my BX more apparent at certain speeds which possibly hastened the FDV failure?

Few thoughts other than that then.

Wheel Balance - You may have lost a weight?

Brake Disc Distortion?

The reason you feel the effect between 30-60mph is because below that not enough oscilllation above that speed the oscillations cancel themselves out much like your washing machine.

well I am trying if that sounds bonkers

[citronut]

wheel balance is the first thing to have checked, and preferably not by a tyre/exhaust company, but an genuine indy garage,

next have the tracking checked as i belive this can cause the wheels to twitch

regards malcolm

[SamWise]

Yeah, I think that's the natural next step. Cheers guys¬