H

harry2012

Active Member
Well this bloody vibration has slowly been getting worse again! The best way to describe it is its like driving over rumble strips at speeds between 40-60mph, then gets better over those speeds and I can't feel it at lower speeds.

I changed the front prop Sunday for a new one as I noticed there was play in one of the UJ's (rear is 1000 miles old and has just been greased) and now it's even worse!

I noticed weirdly that the phasing on my old prop was the opposite to the new one. Looking online it appears the new one is correctly phased, but I'm stumped I've been chasing this for bloody ages and it's doing my head in!

Any ideas, is it worth me playing with the phasing of the new front prop?

As I write this I'm having the front/rear tyres switched round and the balancing checked but tbh I don't think it's that.

Anything else? All the brakes and wheel bearings are new, as is the gearbox, the transfer box had a new front flange fitted with the gearbox, all fluids changed in the last 500 miles, engine runs sweet as a nut, no other weird noises that I can tell at the mo!
 
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I would have the propshafts off and run it with the diff locked. This can tell you where it is, relatively.

the other thing to do is check the quality of the CVs - have someone drive it in tight circles (for a Defender tight is a relative term) and listen to the noises coming from the front end.

Be systematic about the diagnosis and it will show up.
 
It's a lot worse since swapping the front props so I think it's to do with the front end somewhere.

Also since the vibration has started I've noticed oil is seeping a bit from the flange seals on both the front diff and the transfer box.
 
Where did you get that front prop? Is it new or used?

more the point are you sure the UJs and such were all good? That slobbering oil thing sounds like the prop is either phased wrong or something not-nice is going on there.
 
Any associated noise change as the vibration sets in?
Is it only in top gear at set speeds or at certain revs in certain gears / all gears?
These things can be a pain to single out but worth making notes and checking as many scenarios as possible that seem to affect it and post back here :)
 
I run all my props with yokes all in same line/phase.
I think the v8s were different but cant be 100 percent
 
I have no idea if it's lifted. The suspension and wheels are as I got it. I've just had the wheels balanced and switched front to back but no difference.

This is the truck:
20140403_151141.jpg


The vibration only happens when under load at speeds in excess of 40mph. If I dip the clutch, let off the accelerator it stops, but I can feel it even if I feather the accelerator at these speeds. It's most noticeable in 4th & 5th, but if I drop to 3rd at 50 Mph (not good I know but I was testing it!) I get the vibration. No noise change I can discern when it sets in other than the truck rattling! It's very similar to driving over rumble strips in feeling and it's the whole truck not through the steering.

I have no funny tyre wear, and other than a quiet shushing noise from the drive train (which I assume is just normal diff noise) all is quiet.

It's done a genuine 75k from new (all MOT's to back it up) but has very little service history.
 
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Whip the front prop off and run it in diff lock.
I reckon that's got a 2" lift and your front prop yokes are binding.
If so, you need a wide yoke prop.
 
Cheers, I'll measure it, remove the props and see which makes a difference, and see if that solves anything.

If not it'll need to go to a pro, I'm fed up with chasing me tail on this now!
 
Vibes on mine were the front diff, took me ages to suss it out, new prop, new bushs, steering damper, remove front prop vibes gone, prop back on and the vibes came back, stuck a diff in it and been fine since.
The oil had gone a bit silvery so something was breaking up inside.
 
Mine had exact same symptoms as op described, had new props fitted first and still persisted, today I've had the wheel bearing fail so I'd check there ok, garage have said that was the cause of my symptoms
 
That does look higher than standard. Trewey may be right about the angle of the propshaft, I would examine it carefully before looking at the diff.
Those tyres will be quite noisy too, and very hard to balance accurately.
 
harry2012 said:
I checked the oil and there's nothing in it.

Is it easy to change the front diff?
Click to expand...

doesn't sound too good. if it's new to you. go around and check all oil levels, diffs, swivels if not grease) diffs, transfer box, gearbox and engine. and grease everything with a nipple that needs greased.
 
Right just used this link as the basis 1" 2" 3" 4" 5" Lifts - but over what eaxctly - International Forum - LR4x4 - The Land Rover Forum and my Landie measures approx 40mm higher than standard which equates to roughly a 2" lift, so I think the issue might be the props, I possibly need wide angle ones.

Before I go and spend £300 plus on new props, how can I tell for sure a prop is binding?

I've had it 3 months and the fluids have been changed in everything and nothing untoward in any of the oils, it has brand new wheel bearings and brakes all round, and has only done a genuine 75k (I have all the MOT's from day one to verify this)
 
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