buzzing

[lambert]

Hi all.

My car has developed a fine vibration. When under load in 4th at about 40-50mph and also in 5th between 50-60mph. It is a very fine/high pitch vibration and is not constant. It can be felt on the dash and through the steering. However when on the flat or driving down grade it becomes undetectable but I presume it is still there. It is almost like when you are in slightly too high a gear and you get that buzz before it starts knocking but it is never that bad and I'm not in the wrong gear.

It has had a new rearmost uj fitted, new trailing arm to chassis bushes and new radius arm axle bushes.

It has become a lot better for having the bushes settled in climbing about on a couple of lanes but it does persist. All bolts on all bushes and all prop joints are tight and show zero play. If it were a wheel balance issue I would have expected it to be constant and not engine load dependent.

As there is a feud between me and the shop that did the work I wand to be able to prove a fault before I take it back as otherwise they will just say it has always been thus and is not their problem.

Unfortunately I don't have a dti so I can't tell if the props are out of true beyond a visual inspection that said the welded on weights seem to be intact and the new uj seems to be seated correctly.

It also had new front brakes but it stops fine no juddering or pulling.

So any ideas? Cheers.

[Big G]

Me and my mate just replaced all the Ujs on my truck and mine has this problem now same as yours! I pressed the new joints in and out while my mate refitted the props. I would have marked them and put them back in the same place but my mate (mechanic) said it wouldnt matter on my big old nasty truck. I think I will try moving the props round a turn just to see if it makes a difference. Why not try the same?

[Boddle]

Might be worth getting prop balanced can be a problem when changing UJ's usually caused because someone hasn't marked the various part when taking the UJ out and flange and joint have been refitted the wrong way.

[Saffy]

new prop might be cheaper.

[lambert]

Found it. The brain trust at the alleged specialist seems to have split the front prop, I assume for a giggle, and has put it back together in-phase not 45deg out. I would not mind if they had found an issue with the front prop but just playing with stuff especially stuff yiu seemingly don't understand for no obvious reason is something I find supremely infuriating. Boo and indeed Hiss.

[lambert]

To pour salt on this wound it seems that it has all been too much for one or both uj's. Boo hiss more work.

[lambert]

Here's a surprise, the joint that failed was a bit part one which did not have a grease nipple. And britpart wonder why their products are a joke.

[Saffy]

plenty of UJ brands do not have a nipple - limited number of brands still fit them (hardy splicer, GMD), but all can be drilled and tapped for one. Even some Landrover OEM prop-shafts have sealed UJ fitted from factory- cost saving.

I have seen all types of UJ both low and top quality fail premature usually down to them being replaced poorly. Bripart ones could lend themselves to being fitted badly as roller pins are more easily dislodged when fitting and the rubber seals are of a poorer material.  And i'v also seen britpart ones out last others.

Fitted properly and quality brand UJ's still  tend to only last on my truck  < 10kmiles  (need to check logbook as 3 landrovers with 12 UJ may make me think I change them every weekend) .