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Driveline Shimmy

  • Thread starter Thread starter 88CougarMan
  • Start date Start date Dec 21, 2017

88CougarMan

Founding Member
Jun 13, 2000
477
6
39
Flower Mound, TX
Dec 21, 2017
#1
  • Dec 21, 2017
  • #1
Hello guys, I have an issue that has me stumped. I recently started a new job downtown and had to travel more highways with the mustang. I noticed a driveline shimmy or vibration around 65mph in 4th gear, under load, TC locked and slight throttle. It just shook my car like my driveshaft was slightly off balance... not violently. When I let off the throttle the shimmy goes away. Give it throttle, it's back.. and so on.

I took it to my trusted shop and they looked it over. They came back and said the rear-end is in need of rebuilding, citing that my pinion seal was shot, as was my carrier bearing. Clutch packs were completely worn out, pinion was loose, spider gears had seen better days. Also my U-joints were bad. I was thinking, great, that sounds like it was the culprit, I mean who wouldn't think that?

Well, me being me, I opted for the 31 spline cobra T-lok/axle setup. I also opted for a new set of 3.55's over the 3.73's to try and save some gas mileage.

Got it back yesterday, get on the highway this morning and the shimmy is still there, but it's not at about 70-75mph and it feels just like a rear tire is heavily out of balance. You feel it in the seat and throughout the car, the steering wheel is steady. And like before, let off the gas, it goes away and the car rides like a dream. Also, my SES light came on. Getting that checked tonight.

So, it's not the rear end, and its not a wheel balance issue. It only vibrates at certain speeds, but only under load(throttle).

Any ideas?
 

RaggedGT

Been here over a DECADE and still no CT
Mod Dude
Jul 20, 2014
4,737
3,186
203
Taylorsville ky
Dec 21, 2017
#2
  • Dec 21, 2017
  • #2
Transmission mount maybe?
I’m really not sure,did the shop that checked it rebuild the rear end? I’d take it back and have them go back over there work.
I’m also going to move your thread from Tech to talk-a lot more member traffic there
 

88CougarMan

Founding Member
Jun 13, 2000
477
6
39
Flower Mound, TX
Dec 21, 2017
#3
  • Dec 21, 2017
  • #3
RaggedGT said:
Transmission mount maybe?
I’m really not sure,did the shop that checked it rebuild the rear end? I’d take it back and have them go back over there work.
I’m also going to move your thread from Tech to talk-a lot more member traffic there
Click to expand...
Thanks for the move. I'm going back to them tomorrow. On the phone they sounded a little perplexed and muttered something about pinion angle? Funny you mention transmission mount, I've read a lot of threads about highway vibration concerning the V6 Mustangs and tranny mounts.
 
Reactions: RaggedGT

Neuron

5 Year Member
Nov 6, 2016
859
192
93
Dec 21, 2017
#4
  • Dec 21, 2017
  • #4
You might also mention to them maybe test driving it to see if the problem is fixed before giving the car back.
 

88CougarMan

Founding Member
Jun 13, 2000
477
6
39
Flower Mound, TX
Dec 21, 2017
#5
  • Dec 21, 2017
  • #5
Neuron said:
You might also mention to them maybe test driving it to see if the problem is fixed before giving the car back.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I had that conversation.
 
Reactions: Neuron

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,892
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polk county florida
Dec 22, 2017
#6
  • Dec 22, 2017
  • #6
I hang around a repair shop in my spare time, they do not let me work on a anything more than changing blinker fluid, car techs are like doctors, anytime a shop suggests a large repair like that I say get a second opinion, I would think that a rear end in that condition would be roaring like a lion.
Sometimes the small things, like a motor/trans mount, escape detection because they 'look ok'.
On a good note, now you have highway friendly gears and new guts in your rearend.
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
43,006
21,190
234
Box behind Walmart
Dec 22, 2017
#7
  • Dec 22, 2017
  • #7
88CougarMan said:
Any ideas?
Click to expand...


First thing that came to mind:

View: https://youtu.be/oqQFTq2FIdY?t=1m7s
 
Reactions: 88CougarMan

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,892
10,553
203
polk county florida
Dec 23, 2017
#8
  • Dec 23, 2017
  • #8
Got a good example of not looking for the 'little' things, lady came into the shop with a slow acceleration problem, the previous shop told her she needed to take the car to the dealer because the problem was with the computer, this after changing the throadel body, I found that the floor mat had balled up under her accelerator pedal
Simple things escape us sometimes.
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
43,006
21,190
234
Box behind Walmart
Dec 23, 2017
#9
  • Dec 23, 2017
  • #9
Have you looked your U-joints?

Get up under there and shake and rattle the drive shaft where the U-joints are. Get the wheels in the air if possible under some GOOD jack-stands. Have a buddy rotate one of the wheels while you're under there. Take note of how the opposite wheels reacts as your buddy rotates the opposite forward.

Let us know what you see and hear.
 

88CougarMan

Founding Member
Jun 13, 2000
477
6
39
Flower Mound, TX
Dec 23, 2017
#10
  • Dec 23, 2017
  • #10
Noobz347 said:
Have you looked your U-joints?

Get up under there and shake and rattle the drive shaft where the U-joints are. Get the wheels in the air if possible under some GOOD jack-stands. Have a buddy rotate one of the wheels while you're under there. Take note of how the opposite wheels reacts as your buddy rotates the opposite forward.

Let us know what you see and hear.
Click to expand...
U joints have been replaced.
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
Admin Dude
Jan 4, 1985
43,006
21,190
234
Box behind Walmart
Dec 23, 2017
#11
  • Dec 23, 2017
  • #11
88CougarMan said:
U joints have been replaced.
Click to expand...

That does not mean that they are good. Were they replaced as the result of diagnosing this issue? I mean... Did you have this issue before the u joints were changed?
 

88CougarMan

Founding Member
Jun 13, 2000
477
6
39
Flower Mound, TX
Dec 26, 2017
#12
  • Dec 26, 2017
  • #12
The U joints were replaced. Because of the issue.
 
Reactions: Noobz347

88CougarMan

Founding Member
Jun 13, 2000
477
6
39
Flower Mound, TX
Feb 3, 2018
#13
  • Feb 3, 2018
  • #13
Found the problem. Just wanted to post a fix in case other people have the same issue. It was a bad transmission mount.
 

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Reactions: Noobz347, Neuron and RaggedGT

Neuron

5 Year Member
Nov 6, 2016
859
192
93
Feb 4, 2018
#14
  • Feb 4, 2018
  • #14
If that happened to me here I would be contacting the BAR(Bureau of Automotive Repair) and getting some money back from that "Auto Repair Shop".
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
20+ Year Stangneter
Aug 25, 2016
27,892
10,553
203
polk county florida
Feb 4, 2018
#15
  • Feb 4, 2018
  • #15
Well, 'bout time!
I've been waiting
And waiting
Aanndd waiting
I almost lost interest, truely mind boggling!
Just to keep this going, wtf took soooo long?
 
Reactions: Hoytster
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