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Branny

Member Since: 16 Nov 2014
Location: Morzine
Posts: 9

Vibration after reinstalling front suspension

Hi All,

Experiencing a noticeable vibration from the front end after having replaced springs and shocks all round on my td5 defender.

I replaced rear end with no problems and a week or so later replaced the front turrets, shocks and springs and now appear to have a vibration, most noticeable on powering down. Its there if coasting out of gear, too. Front wheel bearings were changed last year so assuming not them.

Heavy duty yellow springs fitted all round with ProComp shocks form Paddock all round. One thing I may have missed here in installation is the direction of the washers and bushes supplied with the front shocks. The rears came with instructions, the fronts didn't, but I have followed the installation of the rears for the slightly conical washers in fact I took them off and reversed them over the weekend, but the problem persists - anyone shed some light here?

Have just put winter tyres on as in Alps, but they ran a week or so ok on the previous front suspension with no shake.

No obvious wear in the front UJ either...

Help!

Dave

30th Nov 2015 1:48pm

camelman

Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3396

Have the new springs resulted in any lift at all?

Sometimes the front propshaft will end up running at too high an angle and give you the sort of vibration you're talking about.

30th Nov 2015 2:03pm

Branny

Member Since: 16 Nov 2014
Location: Morzine
Posts: 9

Hi Camelman,

No, standard height springs fitted - there was a bit of lift as the old springs were probably the originals on a 2004 vehicle. But it shouldn't have skewed the prop angle out of the normal operating angle... How can I check this?

30th Nov 2015 7:06pm

Retroanaconda

Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2733

Take the front prop off and go for a drive.

Fitting HD springs will give a lift in theory.

30th Nov 2015 7:44pm

Branny

Member Since: 16 Nov 2014
Location: Morzine
Posts: 9

Thanks for the advice Retroanaconda, will give it a whirl.

30th Nov 2015 7:51pm

Branny

Member Since: 16 Nov 2014
Location: Morzine
Posts: 9

Whats the recommended solution if the prop removal does cure the vibration? new UJ's? or new prop...

30th Nov 2015 8:50pm

Branny

Member Since: 16 Nov 2014
Location: Morzine
Posts: 9

Prop off. No vibrations. Thanks Retroanaconda - I'll do the UJs and see where that takes me.

4th Dec 2015 6:08pm

Branzelous

Member Since: 07 Oct 2015
Location: Seytroux
Posts: 1

OK, after a while running in diff lock, waiting for parts to turn up a midst the xmas postal rush, I have reinstalled new front UJs. Prop back on, I am back to the same situation as before. Slightly reduced vibration, but still very noticeable.

I cannot believe that I'm the only person that has fitted standard height Britpart heavy duties and experienced this problem...
A friend who has fitted a 2 inch lift is running with a standard prop - he suggested it might be spring chatter. Not convinced. is this change in height really going to cause imbalance in the prop?

Bushings?

Any other thoughts welcome!

28th Dec 2015 8:48pm

Retroanaconda

Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2733

I suspect it's due to your prop angle being slightly higher than tandard, perhaps due to all the different tolerances in the suspension adding up to a front diff that is already slightly 'out' from design angle. Then adding the HD springs the small lift that it introduces pushes it over the limit of what the propshaft will take without introducing a vibration.

The front prop is always more susceptible to vibration due to the fact that the joint angles are not equal (diff points upwards) and therefore the inherent vibration (rotational speed variation) that comes with UJ type joints will not cancel out like the rear propshaft does. This is why posher models were fitted with double-cardan joints on the shaft - to alleviate this issue. Defender owners have to suck it up!

28th Dec 2015 9:40pm

Pilgrimmick

Member Since: 16 Nov 2015
Location: Highlands
Posts: 582

Try the pan hard rod bushes, make sure the bolts are tight!
I had a similar ptoblem and spent ages trying to track it down.

29th Dec 2015 12:48pm

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