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[Ludvig]

Hi everybody!

Owning my first Omega since one month ago, I'm completely lost when it comes to Omega-specific issues. I've been driving an old banger, a 1987 Peugeot 505 Turbo Injection for the last thirteen years. Belive me, I've picked that thing apart a lot more times than I wish to remember...


Anyway, now to the question:

Between 40 - 50 mph I get a strange wheel shudder or vibration from the rear. It's stronger when I'm decelerating and weaker during acceleration. The faster I speed up (i.e. the more force I put on the rear), the weaker the shudder is.

The wheels are recently balanced and 4-wheel aligned (although with no guarantee that it is correctly done).

Wheel bearings are ok.

When I had the Omega in for service the other day, the guy told me that the self-levelling system seemed not to be letting the car down as it should. (Which would confirm my impression that tha car is a bit stiff in the rear and sensitive to uneven roads) Could this have something to do with the wheel shudder/vibrations?

The Omega I'm talking about is a 2003 2.2 Estate.

Grateful for all ideas, tips and hints!

Thanks!

Ludvig

[sounds2k]

the only thing that comes to mind is perhaps the brakes are binding - have you checked that?

[Ludvig]

Yep, that was one of my first thoughts too. But the brakes are working smoothly, so that's probably not it.

Thanks for the reply sounds2k!

[The Barge Captain]

Propshaft imbalance or faulty universal joint?

[Ludvig]

Propshaft imbalance or faulty universal joint?

I'm afraid you might be right about that. I keep my fingers crossed that it is something less costly.

Any ideas on how to check the propshaft and universal joint?

[old cruiser]

Ludvig, you say the brakes are ok, but are the handbrake shoes inside the rear disc drums ok as these maybe binding
Cheers Pete

[Ludvig]

Ludvig, you say the brakes are ok, but are the handbrake shoes inside the rear disc drums ok as these maybe binding
Cheers Pete

That's a very good question! I'll check it as soon as I can. Thanx for the tip!

[Omegatoy]

my money would be on propshaft,prop donut or rear subframe bushes!!  

[DaveL]

my money would be on propshaft,prop donut or rear subframe bushes!!  

Gets my vote as well.
 8-)
DaveL

[TheBoy]

As well as alignment, check for buckled wheels.

However, my initial reaction is propshaft...

[Ludvig]

my money would be on propshaft,prop donut or rear subframe bushes!!  

Gets my vote as well.
 8-)
DaveL

In fact, the rear subframe bushes are a bit worn, so perhaps that could be it.

If it's just the prop donut it's not too bad I guess, I'm just hoping I won't have to balance the propshaft...

Ludvig

[Ludvig]

As well as alignment, check for buckled wheels.

However, my initial reaction is propshaft...

The wheels look ok, but everything isn't was it seems, I guess.

The tyres could perhaps also be the source. At the moment I'm having a set of four year old Hankook winter tyres on, and they're not really known to be top quality, are they?

[Marks DTM Calib]

How many miles and what state are the rear shocks in......

[Ludvig]

How many miles and what state are the rear shocks in......

It has 68000 miles (109 000 km) on the clock.

The shocks are in decent condition, I think. It's hard to tell since the self-levelling system seems not to be letting the rear end down as it should (which I didn't realize was the case when I bought tha car a month ago  :-/) As a result, it's a bit stiff in the rear.

Ludvig

[Kevin Wood]

I get a bit of judder for the first few miles some mornings but it goes away again. Seems worse around 30mph. The speed of the vibrations suggest it can only be the propshaft because the wheels aren't turning fast enough for it to be imbalance.

Everything looks fine with the rubber dougnhuts and UJs on the prop shaft.

I have a theory, yet to be tested, that because my handbrake is rubbish it might be due to the car being parked on my slightly sloping driveway in "Park" with the transmission holding it. Since this leaves the propshaft under torsion for a long peroiod of time I wonder if the doughnut couplings get distorted slightly, resulting in imbalance. Once underway, they get a bit of heat into them and revert to their normal shape.

Sound plausible?

I'm going to try parking it carefully, making sure the handbrake is holding it before shifting into "park" and see if it goes away.

Kevin