d.kenny

put new wheels on the car the other week

had them balanced on friday and still vibrating badly...in all fairness it probably got worse

put a different set of wheels on because i thought it may be down to the fact the previous set of wheels had no spigot rings fitted

its still vibrating...the car feels like an absolute dog to drive

its only when accelerating and only really above 50mph

its not a wheel bearing or anything as i checked it the other day

feels more like nearside...thought it my have been the hub bent or somet stupid like that but i have not hit any kerbs or anythin...i reckon it must be a cv joint but dunno whether it would be inner or outer...there is no clicking on full lock which makes me possibly think its an inner unless there is a fault or somet with the driveshaft...i just cant get my head round why it would of progressivly got worse over about the last 100 miles the car has done...proper head scratcher...any advice before i start trying to get a second hand drive shaft tommorrow

i actually thought it could of been the bearing on the offside shaft as its equal length and seems more likely to be out of balance but everything is tight...

anyone else experienced anythin like this

phil_focus

i have on my focus.

used to get to about 60 and it would start vibrating but it would get worse and worse till about 90 when it tailed off. wheels ballanced, did nothing. new set of wheels (was a prezzy) with new hankook tyres and ballancing spot on still got the vibration.

every time i jacked the car up i couldnt see anything wrong but it drove better for a few min and then got worse again. it would almost go though if holding constant speed on the flat (keeping throttle pedal still) but was worst when accelerating and was bad under braking. thought it could be warped discs or hub.

turned out to be inner tripod joint on the the drivers side shaft. both inner tripod seals were leaking BADLY so replaced both shafts with good ones from the breakers and tha sorted it. was sooo relieved as it took me 6 months to work it out and i had to commute between uni and home a lot, 45miles each way, and meant i couldn't keep up with traffic

d.kenny

so what are you saying then inner cv you think? i should have some...cant see them being different to mark 5 zetec s ones to be fair...will have a look tommorrow and see what the crack is...its really fuckin annoyin though

accelerate and it thuds and everything it feels like the wheels are shaped like a 50p then just slightly ease of throttle to just maintain speed and its fine!!!

mental

phil_focus

sorry i didnt realy sumarise

your final sentece says it all for me. yes i think its an inner cv joint.

get undernieth and check both for play and the condition of the gatters. if ones leaking grease everywhere then it'll be that one mate.

hope that cures it mate.

d.kenny

ok sound..well just checked now i have only got one for a focus...well the n/s shaft for a focus mark 2 1.8....providing the splines are the same i will just fire that in tomorrow and hope that works...the o/s shaft is different as its equal length...they must be shit...had loads of mark 5 fiestas and a few marks 6 ones and this is the first one that has gave me any shit...fuckin fords built down to a cost!

can anyone tell me if the 1.8 and 1.6 shafts will be the same??? i know the bell housings on the boxes are different but physically other than that there does not look like much difference???

Rcjm88

I've just had the same issue with mine, it was as above. Changed the shafts and they are better, but I got some shit luck and had bought more shit drive shafts

d.kenny

yh i just bought a n/s second hand shaft...i think its a bit better but its still bad...what a load of fuckin shit...so pissed off with it

d.kenny

and to answer my own question the inner pot joint spider shaft have different sized splines on a 1.8 to a 1.6

phil_focus

damn thats anoying guys.

weird though as i had the exact same problem. bought a set of shafts online from a ford breakers and when they came through they were shitter than mine. the intermediate bearing was shot, the gaiters all leakes and all had tears in. couldnt fucking believe a breaker would bother packaging that shit up and send it out. shouted at the twat on the phone and he sorted me out with a mint set. shouldnt have had to shout at him in the first place though...some people aye

d.kenny

sorted it...the piece of shit...it ended up being the offside...what a cock...should of done a full inspection but i hate lying under cars! two second hand shafts and 80 quid later its all fixed!

if anyone else has this problem then the way to find out which one it is is to jack the car up on the wish bone on one side so only one wheels spins (obviously this wont work if you have an lsd) engage a gear and let clutch go, hold your left foot down slightly on the break then at speeds as low as 20 indicated on the speedo you will feel it knock its twat off...i got under after i did this and gave the o/s one a good pulling about...twas fucked to say the least!

oh and well i could not source any new inner pot joints it was only a whole shaft for 140 quid or ford for 370 + vat...wankers

apparantly mk 4 5 and 6 fiestas have the same shafts is what i was told by my driveshaft man so if it happens on your small block mark 6 you can get some more cheaply!

phil_focus

awsome, glad you've sorted it. didnt know about that test though so good to know.

yeah, ford want stupid money for new shafts so good ones from the breakers or spend a bit more and get some from a drive shaft specialist is really the only way to go.