Help Needed - Not Engine But Couldnt See Where Else To List

[Guest S1MON]

I have a 1989 mk4 which has a shudder when engine is working under a bit of load. It is hardly noticeable when cruising on the flat unless accelerating. But as the car begins to go up a gradient not necessarily a steep one you get a shudder from the front end particularly in higher gears. This occurs at most speeds.

I have found a number of problems so far and replaced parts new ie: wheels were buckled - replaced, front strut was blown replaced full suspension kit (spax gas adjustable), gearbox mounts replaced. Thought about doing suspension bushes but cant find play in any of them.

May sound silly but was wondering if anything could be causing this in the diff/gearbox as the speedo seemed to be bouncing up and down wildly in conjunction with the judder. It feels as though the drive shafts could be throwing themselves off centre when loading up.

Replacing the wheels seemed to help a lot at first but did not eliminate and now the judder seems to be returning badly again.

Anybody had any similar experiences or any clues?

Thanks

Simon

[gingergman]

clutch slipping?

[Guest S1MON]

Pretty sure its not a clutch as its not that kind of judder. It feels more like something heavy going out of balance or a shaft running off centre. It also varies with road speed rather than engine speed. You can be running along at pretty much any speed eg. 50mph and as soon as you apply a little bit of throttle you get whats maybe better described as a shudder through the front end. Its not steering wheel shudder either as the whole vehicle shudders.

 

Thanks

[Guest El87cabi]

Does the car go straight or veer off by any chance? And have you checked your wheel bearings and hubs? I assume you've ruled out tracking and wheel balancing

Edited September 18, 2011 by El87cabi

[Guest S1MON]

Car goes straight, not really any other noticeable symptoms other than the shuddering. No bearing noise or play and tracking has been done. Wheel balancing done with new wheels although the weights did fall off of one of them once, so I will recheck on that one. Although it can occur from as little as 15mph when pulling away.

Edited September 18, 2011 by S1MON

[Guest tony.rose]

I would of said clutch as well, but do you know how the wheels were damages?? because there could be front end damage, it sounds very like the a tracking problem, if so you will only know if a garage takes a look!!!! not something you can see for your self.

[gingergman]

my thrust bearing went before, it would judder like fuck in reverse only and only at certain reverse speeds, altho when going forwards it was fine, that was a very bad judder.

 

if the wheels were badly buckled has the car been in a smash?

[Guest S1MON]

Wheels were cheap and nasty tri spoke alloys from the early 90s which were never very straight from new, may have had a few kerb nudges over there life span to make them worse. It was not an enormous buckle but was picked up on the balancing machine and I do remember when they where new the guy who fitted the tyres said if one of them was any worse it would not have balanced. Young foolish and not much money I stuck with them, however probably did 100,000 miles in the car without this judder. I have had this motor since it was about 3 years old and it hasn't had any majors although once whilst towing a boat had an accident involving the trailer which tore it clean off the back of the car along with the tow bar and its iron work under the car. So I suppose that may have caused something.

 

if so you will only know if a garage takes a look!!!! not something you can see for your self

 

By garage taking a look are thinking get the car jigged

Maybe somehthing on the cards if I don't find anything else soon - although it has had even tyre wear??? Wonder if something bodywise is actually moving.

 

Interesting that clutch keeps coming up, I have never personally encoutered a clutch fault to cause this kind of shudder. Do you still think even with the clutch engaged driving normally this could happen.

 

Great responces guys it's really appreciated, it's been going on buggingly too long now so it will be great to it back to driving like a nice car again.

[Guest skelly9134]

I would agree with ginger boy on the clutch. mine is doing the same when i pull away and in 99% sure its the thrust bearing.

[allblue]

If you're getting judder when accelerating then it could be CV (usually an inner one) joint.

[Guest S1MON]

If you're getting judder when accelerating then it could be CV (usually an inner one) joint.

 

Think I will try replacing these next, although I cant feel much movement in them by hand this is what I would have said the judder feels like its coming from. It does give the feeling that a shaft is going off centre. I guess it only takes the slightest bit of drive to be taken up to wind the cv joint up and if worn, chuck it out of line. There aint much else left, forgot to mention it's also had steering rack and track rod ends.

 

What ever it ends up being cv joints, clutch release bearing, alignment etc I will let you guys know when we find it.

Thanks for advise so far, keep em coming.

 

Cheers Si