Violent Shakes - No idea what's wrong!

[olihodgson]

Hey all, the last week to ten days, going up A30 dual carriageway (for anyone local, the stretch between Hayle and Redruth) and randomly the car shakes really violently, almost like the wheels are seriously out of balance or tyres got bulges or something.

Tracking has been done, wheels have been balanced and balanced again when this started, tyres are all fine, car just passed MOT, no play in ball joints apparently, anyone got any ideas what could cause this?

It's done it in both directions up and down the stretch of carriageway, the other day it did it in the same place over the course of 2 days, but today it didn't do it in that same place...

I don't know whether it's the car or the road and it's getting a bit worrying!! Taken the Mrs' civic type R up there and couldn't get it to shake, but then that is much bigger, heavier car with bigger wheels etc...

Cheers in advance for any thoughts/suggestions!

 

[Scrooge]

Sounds like the driveshaft has lost a bearing to me.

 

[olihodgson]

Ok, thanks for suggestion, would that cause it to happen just at random points? It's not regular or constant, and doesn't ever seem to happen on any road apart from this dual carriageway.

It did need an outer cv boot for last MOT, if this had been off/broken for a while, would that contribute to driveshaft bearing problem? Or if it were fitted incorrectly? Cheers again!!

 

[Scrooge]

It shouldn't just happen on one particular road. I've had them do it all the time like lifting off the throttle and also just randomly and not very often.

 

[olihodgson]

Ok may take it for a drive up another carriageway an see if it does it. Is it a very dangerous problem as in will I fly off the road eventually or something?
And lastly (sorry for bombarding you with questions), is there an easy way to diagnose it for sure whilst in the air as I have access to ramps. Cheers!!

 

[Scrooge]

It can get quite dangerous, one I had (1.2 Clio) when I took it out for a test drive everytime I lifted off the throttle it tried to drag me off the road.

Just pull the side you think is vibrating out of the gearbox and you should see mate.

 

[olihodgson]

It's an odd one, will have to let the garage have a look, it's the entire car shaking which is odd, and really violent and at no particular speed, got me puzzled! Thanks again for advice!

 

[Silent_Scone]

driveshaft

 

[Allan-]

If it shakes when you let off the throttle, drive shaft.
If it shakes when you brake and you feel it thought the pedals probably brakes.
If it does it every time in the same place on the same road, maybe the road lol

To check the drive shaft for play, see if you have any movement, it should be solid when you twist it by hand.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CSZcj3XgNA <--- if you put your hand on it and it knocks like this then its probably replacement time

Sounds like a drive shaft though.

 

[olihodgson]

Hoping for a driveshaft, just been scared sideways and told it could be the differential in the gearbox..!
Or a spleen or something, didn't quite take in what was said...!

My old mans just put his tyre pump on and reckons it had 10psi in one tyre and 40 on the other on the front, though he is prone to exaggerating...! If that were the case though, could that do it?

Just taken the Z4 up and down the same stretch of road as its the closest car on the driveway in terms of weight to the clio and it didn't shake once so I'm probably ruling out road surface

 

[MarClio]

I have sort of the same problem but my shaking is in the steering wheel, only happens when im goin 60 or more, the faster i go the more the steering wheel rattles. And i mean really rattles. I recently got new wheel bearings so i dont have a clue what it is??

 

[olihodgson]

I have sort of the same problem but my shaking is in the steering wheel, only happens when im goin 60 or more, the faster i go the more the steering wheel rattles. And i mean really rattles. I recently got new wheel bearings so i dont have a clue what it is??

See mine doesn't seem speed related, it's not necessarily when accelerating or breaking either, it's totally random. Today it happened whilst accelerating and again whilst just maintaining speed, the other day it happened whilst going at an ever so slight downhill section using cruise control, it's totally random.
I'd probably be less worried if it were constant or guaranteed as I'd be able to check stuff but I never know when it's goin to happen

 

[olihodgson]

Seemed ok after putting air in tyres, went up and down same stretch of carriage way over past 2 days with no problems, then today it did it again, very briefly whilst changing lanes. Old man was in the car and reckons it did it after hitting a cats eye when switching lanes?? I really don't know.
Could any ABS rings or faults with traction control cause it?
I'm yet to look at driveshaft, tbh I'm useless at stuff like that and will need a garage to take a look.
Local Renault specialists had it the other day and couldn't spot any faults

 

[mark smith87]

I'd get the rims checked to make sure they are straight and also check the balancing is correct.

 

[olihodgson]

Tyres were changed just a couple of weeks ago so rims were inspected an balanced thn bud. Had them rebalanced the other day as well when this first started

 

[Badgerman85]

If your tyres were only changed a couple of weeks ago and one is already down to 10psi I'd be worrying about a slow puncture or damage to one of the rims letting air out!

 

[olihodgson]

If your tyres were only changed a couple of weeks ago and one is already down to 10psi I'd be worrying about a slow puncture or damage to one of the rims letting air out!

Back wheels were taken off and put on front to retain pirellis upfront (still had 5mm tread left). Had 2 part worn Bridgestones spare with 5mm tread so had them put on but they went on the back of the car.
So front tyres have not come off the rim and have never given trouble before, and not hit anything hard recently etc...
Tbh looking at receipts for tyre fitting they were put on just over a month ago, not 2 weeks, but you are right in saying about slow puncture I have been thinking that myself, but don't think it's cause these shakes

 

[c__w]

It could be a binding brake caliper, if it does it again stop and check if any of the wheels are very hot.

 

[olihodgson]

Just got it back from another garage, they've said they can't see anything wrong except from grease coming out of inner cv joint on drivers side and have said to buy a whole new driveshaft.
Does this sound about right?
Is a whole driveshaft needed or just a cv joint?
Would/could this cause the shakes?
And where's the best place to buy one?
Europarts are £213, seen some for 49.99 new with 2 year guarantee, what's the deal with such huge price difference?!
Cherrs!!