D110 td5 low speed vibration

OK, I've done en extensive search but can't find much information on this problem. The symptoms are so clearly defined, I'm surprised it hasn't come up before. I'm an experienced LR owner but have been lulled into a false sense of security since having no problems for the last few years!

I have a 2005 Defender Td5 110 with about 90,000 on the clock. Mostly road miles and definitely no hard off roading. Bought from previous owners at about 30,000 with similar usage.

I've noticed a quite severe vibration through the whole vehicle, mostly at low speeds when decelerating.
The vibration is most noticeable at and below 20mph but is there most of the time.
Doesn't vary with breaking, i.e. it still vibrates when breaks are applied.
Doesn't vary by putting it into neutral.
Not present with engine running but stationary and out of gear.
The vibration continues until the vehicle finally comes to a halt, so still vibrating quite noticeably at very low speeds and until it finally comes to rest.
Very noticeable when coasting down a slope.
Vibration gets less on acceleration and when under load at speed.
It seemed to be less noticeable after filling the fuel tank to capacity from empty and with about 100kgs load in the back.
OK, I'll put my hand up and admit the prop shaft has not been greased for some time, so I'm suspecting dry sticking UJs, splines, etc?? But no sign of red rust staining and no movement (except as below) from UJs.

I've had my MOT specialists look it over:
Very slight movement from a front UJ next to the transfer box -- but I'm assured it is not enough to cause this vibration.
A quite bad flat spot found in rear driver's side tyre (not caused by abrasion), so....
Two new tyres fitted to the front and front tyres moved to the back, all have been balanced...
The vibration is very slightly better but really unchanged.
At the last MOT an advisory was of a slightly leaking shock. Can't remember which one, but no comment from the same MOT inspector who checked it over for the vibrations this time.

I'm too bloody old to be crawling around under Landrovers but my next thought is to get help to remove the front prop shaft, check joints for sticking, and run the vehicle in diff lock and see if the vibration is still there.
Someone has mention the front transfer box bearing. I can't detect any side to side movement but there is clockwise/anti-clockwise play which I've read is normal (?).
There are no oil leaks anywhere. The Landrover is basically in good condition and has given me zero problems until now.

Any ideas?

Handbrake drum binding?

Got the same on my 90!! Prop shaft uj's, had the exact same problem on my discovery and there was such a small amount of play in the joints I thought it couldn't be. It was and surprised me how much vibration was caused.
As you say do the checks with both props off

lightning said:

Handbrake drum binding?

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I think the vibration would then be there at all speeds, wouldn't it?
The MOT guy did jack it up on the ramp and turn wheels but no mention of hand brake binding.

I don't know how long uj's are supposed to last but they could be ending their life anyway...I was told the only certain way to grease them is to take them off and do them in a vice so you can be sure grease gets to each end....don't know if that is common practice but it's what I do following a catestrophic failure despite greasing

Yes, as soon as you can feel movement in a universal joint with your hands it is time for a new one. The main symptom is vibration. In my case I know my front prop needs attention because i can feel vibration at about 50 mph, but it could be anywhere in the speed range.

It is reassuing that the UJ vibration can occur with minor play and any speed range. Well, the prop shaft will be coming off tomorrow regardless. That seems to be the obvious place to start.

What would the symptoms be for transfer box bearing failure?

dga3240 said:

've noticed a quite severe vibration through the whole vehicle, mostly at low speeds when decelerating.
The vibration is most noticeable at and below 20mph but is there most of the time.
Doesn't vary with breaking, i.e. it still vibrates when breaks are applied.
Doesn't vary by putting it into neutral.
Not present with engine running but stationary and out of gear.
The vibration continues until the vehicle finally comes to a halt, so still vibrating quite noticeably at very low speeds and until it finally comes to rest.

Click to expand...

This sounds like it could be worn bushes
Check your panhard rod bushes, grab hold of the panhard rod and try to give it a wriggle. there should be no play.
Similarly, check the front radius arm bushes too, for them try to wiggle them side to side, again there should be no play.

as said previously a uj should have no play at all they can become tight prior to becoming loose ,also are both prop yokes in line as in pic,its worth going for a drive in diff lock with rear prop removed, you could then do the same with front once rears refitted

Rear prop should be in line as per the pic. Front prop should be slightly out of line due to the diff nose pointing upwards.

The MOT guy should have checked bushes and the props have never been off the vehicle, at least as long as I've had it. Isn't there only one way to line up the prop in the newer Td5's anyway? It goes into th garage tomorrow, so we'll see. I will report back as I am a great believer in the collective wisdom of these forums. Thanks everyone.

This is a Tdi workshop manual but the same applies to all 90/110 etc. as the diff nose points up on them all.

Well, up to the garage we went this afternoon. The mechanic checked all UJs on the vehicle and declared there was no movement. Nothing obviously wrong.

Removed the front prop and everything was perfect. All joints greased and moving without sticking.

Removed the rear prop shaft and the rear UJ was seized solid! First time I have been pleased to find a mechanical 'problem' in a while as I thought it would be something more serious.

The mechanic also pointed out that both prop shafts had been aligned incorrectly with the yokes, on both props, assembled out of line. This is a 2005 Td5 and I have been driving around like this for the last 5 years without problems. I have never had the props off. The previous owner's garage must have had them off.

Anyway, that accounts for my low speed vibration. No significant vibration driving home 3 miles either though if I was to be really critical I'd say there might be a slight tremour like a wheel out of balance wheel. But nothing to worry about.

So how come the misaligned prop shafts didn't cause a vibration before now? Maybe line up is not as critical after all?

dga3240 said:

Well, up to the garage we went this afternoon. The mechanic checked all UJs on the vehicle and declared there was no movement. Nothing obviously wrong.

Removed the front prop and everything was perfect. All joints greased and moving without sticking.

Removed the rear prop shaft and the rear UJ was seized solid! First time I have been pleased to find a mechanical 'problem' in a while as I thought it would be something more serious.

The mechanic also pointed out that both prop shafts had been aligned incorrectly with the yokes, on both props, assembled out of line. This is a 2005 Td5 and I have been driving around like this for the last 5 years without problems. I have never had the props off. The previous owner's garage must have had them off.

Anyway, that accounts for my low speed vibration. No significant vibration driving home 3 miles either though if I was to be really critical I'd say there might be a slight tremour like a wheel out of balance wheel. But nothing to worry about.

So how come the misaligned prop shafts didn't cause a vibration before now? Maybe line up is not as critical after all?

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the vibration was the seized rear uj, if you had run it longer the joint would have become loose with play in it ,and thus noticed it

Glad you've got to the bottom of it in the end. I tend to think of UJs as wear items like fan belts and brake pads, so they'll need doing reasonably regularly over the vehicle's life.