Hi my name is Adam, I have an 08 Transit Connect T230 LWB and Im hoping to get some ideas/solutions to an issue Ive been having for a while.

My van developed a slight wobble maybe 10 months ago, and was present at various points of accelerating through the gears to 70mph ish and could feel it in the steering wheel. Took it to the garage who checked bearings/balance etc and couldnt find an obvious fault. Came with me for a drive, and said it "could" be a driveshaft issue, but said it is hard to diagnose without changing parts, but obviously could get expensive and or waste of parts etc. So we agreed that maybe the shorter driveshaft should get changed, and see. If it doesnt fix it, garage said if I pay cost for the longer drivshaft, they would fit it for free. Seemed a good deal so we went ahead. The short one was fitted, no change, the long one got fitted, and slight change. Told them that it was slightly slightly better, but the wobble was still present. He again had it up on the ramp and couldnt see anything obvious that it could be, so diagnosed that maybe the new driveshafts were factory faulty (he said its extremely rare for this to be the case) and to drive in it for a month or so, and he would organise another set of shafts and would fit new ones again.

During this time, the bearing and inner bearing on the passenger side wore, and needed replacement (just for info) and was replaced.

Also, the van developed a juddering/wobble under braking, which is what Im most worried about. Almost like the disk is warped? (Im not technical sorry!) not sure if related to the van wobble or not. And another also, the van wobble just got worse and worse. Holding a pencil in my hand at 70mph and its bouncing up and down, can physically see the steering wheel wobbling/juddering.

Had the 2nd set of driveshafts fitted, and it sured up the whole front end of the van somewhat, but would still really judder at motorway cruising speeds, and obviously the juddering under braking is still there.

I was just hoping someone out there has had this same issue? Or has heard of this? Or have a sensible solution to tackling this?

Your comments are appreciated!

Adam

 

Check the brake discs for runout. Think it should be 0.1mm. Check them for thickness too while you're there.

Is the wobble noticeably worse when you brake?

 

Im not sure the two are related. There is a wobble when driving, and a juddering under braking. Garage said to me it is possible that as the passenger side bearings had worn so much when I had that fixed, the disks may be slightly warped. So that may be an easy fix (I hope)

But this wobble when driving is making me crazy!

also to note, I have had new tyres since the wobble began, and had all wheels re balanced. Just incase that helps!

 

My moneys on bottom ball joints!

Do your tyres wear evenly?

Does the brake pedal pulse/vibrate when the judder under braking occurs?

 

Passenger side front tyre has worn on the outer rim almost to bald (there is still some tread) and the inner 3/4 look fine. other 3 tyres look even.

Hard to tell if the brake pedal pulses/vibrates, but Im saying yes it does (will investigate further on the drive to work tomorrow)

Thanks for the reply, interested in your thoughts on this!

 

strange one for sure!

Do you know if its ever been in an accident atall, never had anything wear tyres on the outside edge its always inners, sounds to me as if the struts not sitting straight and you've got camber issues.

 

so, under braking the juddering is felt through the brake pedal, but also the whole cab really.

never been in an accident, not even kerbed it (ive had it since new)

 

Is it possible its the dual mass flywheel (Ive just looked up what it does)

or is it a solid mass flywheel in mine? Someone mentioned it to me today, looks expensive

 

Couldnt see a dual mass causing that personally.

In my experience i've only seen a very small selection of the focus 1.8's with dual mas flywheels so i can't see there being one in your van, wouldn't surprise me though! But no that shouldn't cause things like that.

 

From what i can see on the 'net only connects built between 06/2002 - 08/2002 have Dual mass flywheels, so any after that had solid flywheels.

 

Very helpful, thank you.

This is flummoxing everyone! And also feels a bit unsafe. Id take it to the ford garage, but I doubt I could afford even one of their services! Let alone diagnose this issue