jim_redauto

Just a brief update. This problem has never reoccured, so im left thinking it was something to do with the extreme cold?

I was driving this morning as per usual, doing about 40mph. Got to a gentle right hand curve and all of a sudden started to get massive vibrations/feedback through the steering wheel. Continued driving and its fine turning left but going right it keeps vibrating. There is no significantly bad noise, and it doesnt happen when stationary. Its fine in a straight line. So its not the normal alternator problem. I checked the fluid level, but it looks ok, however it is a bit wet around the top of the filler neck. Could it be a knackered rack? Powersteering pump? Something else?

No not checked that. Im starting to think its just the new driveshafts are also shite and are slack?

Checked the driveshafts too. With the car in the air if i hold the inboard end of the shaft where it bolts to the flange and rotate the road wheel, there is a little bit of play. Its the same both sides of the car. These are the new shafts remember, but when i fitted them i didnt test for play then so i dont know if this is recent play or if they were like that to start with. Is this normal?

Ok, been looking at teh car again. First thing i did was check the intermediate shaft going into the box. Its fine, very little play and there is no red dust. Instead there is grease coming out (not leaking, just present) which is good as its been wet assembled. So thats all ok. I also looked at the wishbones again. With the car in the air and the suspension on full droop i can stick a lever bar in and wiggle the the rear bushes around. Its not bad, and its in the design of the standard bushes as the have voids or gaps in. But when i put a jack under the wheel and raise it to approx standard risde height there is more movement as there is no longer any twist in the centre of the bush. Again, without having much experiance of galaxies i dont know what to expect! So basically ive learnt nothing other than intermediate shaft seems OK

Yeah i had a look for the classic rust marks as documented on here before but could see anything. Ill check again later

Ive checked tyres wheels (4 recent Falken tyres fitted and balanced up) and anything obvious, like the stabiliser bar, and the mechanic had 1/2 hour on the ramp with it, but neither of us can see anything. The wheel wobble and vibration under load occurs whne pulling away from stationary, or when the car is accelerating and the transmission is under load. But its worse if you pull away from stationary with some steering lock on. You feel the wobble through the steering wheel. The other problem ie like running over cats eyes comes and goes. It usually occurs from about 30 mph right up to 70 mph, however if you slow down its with you right till you stop. If you then wait for 1 min then drive on it may not come back for a few miles. Sometimes you can drive for 30 mins before it does anything!

Is yours also an Auto?

I had/ have the same problem! http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.php?/topic/24609-vibrations-and-driveshafts/

Time for an update. I bought a pair of driveshafts from Euro Car Parts. I fitted them and the rythmic vibration like running over cats eyes went away. So result or so i thought. But... i was still getting wheel wobble when i accelerated from slow speeds, and particularly when on lock, so pulling out of junctions and roundabouts etc. I thought this might be worn bushes at the back of the front wishbones as i think they are the originals. I booked it in at the garage. They had it in the air and gave it a good poke and levered all the suspension components. They couldnt find anything wrong! They did a road test and agreed there was a wobble/vibration. But they couldnt identify it. I booked it in for lower wishbones anyway as thats what my hunch is. They are sort as if you grab the whell with the car on the ground and try and turn it, it moves a bit relative to the wheel arch. But now the driveshaft problem again! They have been fine since i fitted them and ive already done 1500 miles! On sat i connected the galaxy to my trailer with a car on it. The trailer with car on weighs approx 1600kg. I did about 20 miles, then started getting the rythmic noise like driving over cats eyes again!!! It did it on and off all day. Got home disconnected the trailer and the noise and vibrations are still there! so three questions. 1) anyone think that changing wishbones will sort the wheel wobble when pulling out of junctions or accelerating? 2) anyone had problems with ECP driveshafts? 3) is 1600kg too much for a galaxy to tow as the book max weight is 2000kg, or was it just cheap driveshafts not being up to the job? Any suggestion greatly appreciated!

Ill try all these tomorrow, thanks.

I have a 2004 1.9TDi Auto. Its got 105,000 miles on the clock. Last friday i was driving and started to get a vibration (quite severe) in a repetive fashion similar to running over cats eyes. It wasnt affected by accelerating or decelerating or cornering. It wasnt affected by slipping the box into neutral. And the noise got faster the faster i went I got on the internet and started reading this site and used the search option lots. From what i read it suggested it could be driveshafts, the engine stabiliser bar, or lower arms. So i jacked it up and took a look. Stabiliser and bolt OK, lower arm bushes arnt split or anything, but i didnt use a pry bar, because i spotted what i though was my problem. I saw the drivers side driveshaft had a split boot where it joins the short shaft to go to the gearbox and it had sprayed all its grease out. And if i yanked on it i got a rattle. So today i put 2 new drive shafts on from Euro Car Parts. Took it for a test drive, but im still getting vibrations. Not as bad but they are still there! Has anyone else used Euro Car Parts shafts and how did you get on? Anything else that it could be? or could the old shafts damaged anything else?