Good Vibrations - I think not
Has anyone any suggestions. I know that there is another posting about vibration but the one I am experiencing seems a bit different, if it's the same then I apologise for duplicating the posting.
I am experiencing a severe vibration through the transfer gear lever, it is very loud and shakes the whole car. It starts about 55mph and stays there until the speed drops below that again. I suspected the front drive shaft and I have had two opinions from garages. One says that there is movement in the front Hardy Spicer and the other reckons that it is okay. It has been greased etc.
Any suggestions guys?
Thanks
Colin
The problems with vibration in the G are difficult to diagnose because all the components are connected are suitable to communicate the vibrations. Thus, you might think that the vibration comes from somewhere and it may be originated elsewhere.
I suggest that you have a long hard look at Poul Vinther's webpage:
http://www.vinthers.dk/troubles.htm
Most times in one of the three propshafts which is out of balance or whose universal joints are worn and need replacing.
Good luck.
A visit to my work shop and I will diagnose it for you 100%
Noticed you are in Aberdeen.
Phone me on my mobile 07950005029 and I will talk you through a proceedure to diagnose the cause of your vibration.
Hi Colin,
I have a similar rumbling vibration - would you post the diagnosis as it
would be a great help.
Cheers,
jimmy Mac 8)
Hi Jimmy
Th final diagnosis was the Hardy Spicer or universal joint, on the front propshaft. The difficulty is that the Hardy Spicer is crimped onto the propshaft and replacement MB units are complete items, costing plenty. This isn't unique to the G-Wagen as certainly the 308 van is the same principal, as is the VW LT van, or so I have been told.
Bill Moss and Allan Gibson both offered to have the Hardy Spicer removed and a replacement attached to the P/S but I managed to find a local firm that would do it and rebalance the shaft. (They say they do them all the time)
I have had loads of different possible diagnosis and have gradually eliminated them. In some cases the Hardy Spicer may just be needing greased and I discovered from Allan Gibson, who is a member, that the grease points are usually disguised as a 10mm bolt. This has to be completely unscrewed and replaced with an appropriate nipple, fill it with grease and put the bolt back. (Nipples would be prone to being broken there)
My Propshaft is coming off this weekend. There is LOADS of movement when you try to wiggle it manually.
Hope this helps
Colin
I can't understand why you think that a grease nipple would be susceptable to damage on the propshaft. I though all Gs had them as standard. I would certainly install a grease nipple but leave it there for easy access in the future. I do mine at 4000 Miles or more often
Mine are permenently there too but why else would MB install a bolt rather than a nipple?
I grease mine regularly too, that's why I left the nipples there.
Thanks for the greasy nipple info Colin,
The weathers getting hot here so I'll check them out at the beach tomorrow
!
Cheers Jimmy McEwan
Don't know what factors grease comes in :wink:
G Wagen grease nipples are not just any ordinary old grease nipple, but then it is not any ordinary old vehicle.
The correct nipples are a low profile head so as to avoid damage and to enable them adequate clearance especialy on the short prop between Gbox and Transfer.
They also have a long tube that penetrates to the centre of the yoke to ensure even distribution to all four bearings.
If you pump grease in without cleaning the nipple head you also pump in dirt and the nipple becomes blocked, now most workshops don't fully understand the design and engineering in some thing as small as a grease nipple, but unfortunatley like every thing Mercedes there is a lot of thought behind even that small item, result is a genuine replacement isnt cheap and a ordinary nipple from a ordinary vehicle wont do the job, easy way out by so called mechanics stick a bolt in the hole, end result for you destroyed UJ.
A good engineering principal is if it was designed that way keep it that way, if you modify it make sure its an improvement not a stop gap
Yes Colin,
I find Castrol Hypoid 90w rubs in a treat and stops nipples
from cracking under heavy loads in sandy conditions
Cheers !
the Snapper
Thanks for that Bill, mine never had the proper Mercedes ones but I knew that they ought to be there.
Colin
Mine are permenently there too but why else would MB install a bolt rather than a nipple?
Because it is not really a bolt, but a differently shaped nipple.
That one is to be used with a grease-gun fitted with an "arrow-shape" tip.
Anyhow they are a pain to use, because you cannot use a grease gun with a flexible hose (you have to use s rigid type instead).
Better to change all nipples to conventional ones.
Regards,
J Happy New Year
we need to compare notes.
All my Gs have been fitted with MB sourced grease nipples that take a conventional grease gun on a flexi,
Conventional nipples in my experience foul the yoke in max deflection and snap off.
Bill
Hi ,Happy New Year Colin , Hope your vibration is away have been reading some of the replies to your problem , as usual there seems to be a variation in the types of parts fitted , as Bill points out the the grease nipples are a low profile design with a tube extending into the joint , sorry I couldn't show you one removed from my spare prop at the off road weekend, and I agree with Jesus that using the rigid type of gun in a pain and not everyones got one so sourcing a grease nipple ,greasing then relacing the original fitment is far better than not greasing them at all , I think Bill maybe misundertood the bit about the 'bolt ' that you mentioned , all of the G Wagens that we are breaking all have a variation of different styles , some have had conventional grease nipples fitted and some with originals but all of them have conventinal style on the short gearbox to transfer box prop . This obviously makes this bitch of a prop alot easier to grease and it well out of harms way. Who knows ,but they're still great for pulling Land Rovers out would you not agree !!! See ya Later Allan Gibson
Sorry ment to say that remember the nipples are fitted in the end caps and not in the cross like a Land Rover so they wont break on full deflection as many Land Rovers do regularly. I prefer to keep the flat headed ones in my front and rear prop only as there has been alot of Scotland wrapped around them on many occassions .
The voice of reason, I concede, I am often told by my good lady that I am too picky.
At the end its not who's right but what is right and any way you get the grease in is better than no grease as you say.
Interesting that you carry a spare prop, thought only LRs did that.
Nice to see a G Privateer in the Dakar.
Quite right. altho the short prop on my modified 300GD wont rotate without the grease nipple fouling the gear box support Xmember unless I use the oe nipples.
Hi Allan, good to hear from you my friend and happy new year to you and Susan.
Sorry about any confusion surrounding the "bolts" I was trying to relay some information and advice that a friend had given me :roll:
I got the tyres checked and they were OK, so I took the propshaft out tonight and it is shot to pieces. There is an engineering firm in Maud that do them, so I am taking it there tomorrow.
Seemed like an easier solution than sending to either you or Bill Moss and then having to get it back again but thanks to both you guys for all your help and advice. This man tells me that he does 308's etc plus VW LT's all the time.
I'm looking forward to getting it back, should be a different machine altogether but even when it was gummed up with black gunk and a dodgy propshaft, it could still tow Land Rovers and Jeeps out the mud.
When is the next Allan Gibson offroad weekend, the boys and I are fair itching to have another go. Excellent fun :lol:
Anyone else reading this, have a look at Allans excellent website:
http://www.gibsonsautos.co.uk/home.htm
Speak to you soon
Colin
Hi Colin , thanks for the reply ,we are hoping to have another weekend about March or early April , I have a few events around that time and I have some TLC to give Big Blue before then . Will let you know . Bye Fur Noo
You've not been abusing that poor Wagen again, have you?
Book our tickets now then Allan, April might be a wee bit better, I'll probably still be snowed in in March.
Whit am ah talkin aboot, A've got a G-Wagen noo - snowed in indeed ! :lol:
Colin
At last! No vibration - what a difference!
The solution was a new Hardy Spicer on the front propshaft. :lol:
Thanks everyone for all your help.
Colin
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Thanks very much guys for taking the time to help me.
Bill, I have been out for the evening and it's too late to call you now, I'll call you tomorrow after lunch if that's okay. I wish I was closer :)
Regards
Colin