Front End Vibration

[MetalMan]

I started experiencing some vibration in the front end of my 2000 Disco II last week. The vibration only seems to be present when I apply power over about 30 miles an hour. I had all four tires balanced yesterday that did not fix it, so I rotated the tires from front to rear and it is still there. The thing is no matter the speed, up to around 65 MPH, when I stop accelerating and just cruise the vibration settles down to something all most unnoticeable. If i start to accelerate again the vibration comes back. There seems to be no noise out of the ordinary.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[Disco Mike]

John,
You might want to crawl under and check your front drive shaft, especially the doubble cardon joint at the t/case end. They don't have grease fittings and will fail big time, usually cracking the t/case or transmisson housing. Don't let it go, otherwise it can be expensive.
Mike J.

 

[discodriveradam]

I second checking the driveshaft. Those are classic symptoms.

Get under there and try and wiggle the shaft. Look for play in the yokes. You'll know if it is excessive. If your Disco is anything like mine, and it has a film of dirt and grease all over the undercarriage, look for shiny areas in the u-joint where the metal is ground down. This signifies some abnormal wear.

 

[Steve83]

I'm also voting for U-joints.

 

[hywy61]

sounds like the drive shaft to me as well

Metal Man, How many miles on your rig?

Also, you might want to check you Great Basin Rovers as they sell a replacement - greaseable driveshaft.

 

[antichrist]

I've never looked at the DII double cardon but I'd be surprised, and disamayed, if you couldn't find greaseable replacement parts from Spicer

Of course it will mean taking it out and doing some measurements.
Best of luck.

 

[BaldEagle]

do something

DONT LET THAT U JOINT BREAK
i saw one in our shop 2 months ago when it broke at 90 mph. the driveshaft came off and the yokes spun around and totally demolished the bottom of the car - gearbox, cat converts, hoses, you name it. big $$$$$