P6-V8--> slight vibration over 90mph

S

seven7

Member
i recognized that i have a vibration from the drivetrain when driving more than 90mph. seems to come from the back or the prop-shaft. u-jpoints on prop and dirveshafts are play-free. any idea where to search?

by the way: tyres are new and well balanced....the vibration was already with the old tyres
 
The UJs are so cheap, unless you know they are perfect, just change them anyway. Even if this isn't the main cause, a lot of minor issues tend to mysteriously vanish when you do this.
 
indeed the u-joints are not expensive (2 x 26,-pound /pair for driveshafts, 17,-pound/pair for prop)....with labour in my local garage we end at 600,-€.....so lets try some penetrating oil first (as i havent seen any greasing points on the u-joints fitted t my car)......not really wanting to invest 600,-€ as a shot in the dark.
 
€600 for 2-3 hrs work? Try elsewhere. And penetrating oil won't take-up any play in them.
 
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Had this problem. You have to remove the prop and driveshafts in order to check them for play and free movement, cant be done on the car. Any small amount of stiffness one way in a joint will cause a vibration, chased my problem for ages - turned out to be joints and shaft balance.
 
yeah I have been biting my tongue this whole thread too :rolleyes:

but then again I just love pottering around at 25 to 30 mph and only the occasional 60 mph, haven't done the ton in mine since about 1988.:D
 
Really? I've had no problem at 100mph/160kph on the autobahn other than perhaps high fuel consumption and wind noise. Why would you in a well maintained car designed specifically even in smaller engine form to do exactly that all day long? Sure it's not really the purpose of a classic but it really is useful to have this capability when going to a show or taking it for work somewhere distant. I have driven mine from Switzerland to the UK for specialist work. I'm very happy not to be a Morris Minor or Ford Sidevalve enthusiast.

At 105-110mph the front end becomes very light and twitchy though which is where the police spoilers are supposed to help. Certainly the UK 70mph (or just over 80mph on 130kph French roads) is no bother at all.

What does really change the game is having a taller top gear.
 
when I removed my prop shaft to gain inspection for something else , I cleaned it up , inspected the universal joints for wear , painted it a nice satin black , then discovered that
it had been mounted with the alignment arrows mismatched. So I reinstalled it with the arrows matching .
I had not had a problem with vibrations but wonder in your case seven7, if its worth checking?
Peter
note: as for driving at 90mph in an old car, you must be bonkers, so many things could throw a wobbly and break , never been that speed in my every day car :rolleyes:
 
PeterZRH said:
Really? I've had no problem at 100mph/160kph on the autobahn other than perhaps high fuel consumption and wind noise. Why would you in a well maintained car designed specifically even in smaller engine form to do exactly that all day long? Sure it's not really the purpose of a classic but it really is useful to have this capability when going to a show or taking it for work somewhere distant. I have driven mine from Switzerland to the UK for specialist work. I'm very happy not to be a Morris Minor or Ford Sidevalve enthusiast.

At 105-110mph the front end becomes very light and twitchy though which is where the police spoilers are supposed to help. Certainly the UK 70mph (or just over 80mph on 130kph French roads) is no bother at all.

What does really change the game is having a taller top gear.
Click to expand...


Have had mine up to 110+ but really there was no pleasure in it, as you say the car becomes very twitchy and severely wind affected. All this was prior to ARB and better tires. NZ is all about twisty roads at high speeds in a P6 you would soon be an accident statistic. Engine RPM at those speeds is demoralizing and just plain cruel to inflict on the V8.
These days my P6B is just a city car and country jaunts are almost never.
 
I disagree , Rovers were designed as high speed cruisers. My P4 was really happy on the Autobahn , generally I would cruise at 85mph. I have also taken my 1955 Land Rover to Switzerland and that even with the overdrive its revving well & it hasn't done any harm. Two owners came to UK from Switzerland for recent 70th anniversary meet on Anglesey in there 1950 vehicles, 2000 miles return. Definitely not just local runs.
Returning to the original post are all the mounting bushes OK and does the V8 have mass damper on the diff housing & if so is it securely fitted?
 
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I have been over every tiny piece of my car and built it to be a fast long haul cruiser, I must admit keeping it down to motorway speeds is a challenge rather than worrying about getting up there ;)
 
Our "so called " roads here in the UK are in a shocking state of repair, I have had two tyres destroyed by potholes on motorway roads!, I average 30-40 thousand miles a year on times, and I agree with some the cars are well capable.

Trouble is other drivers are not, sadly I have been witness to too many "accidents " for like of a better word, but they were no accident, speed was the issue with lack of distance between vehicles.
If you are doing 90 on most UK roads I can guarantee you there will be another vehicle closely behind you wanting to tear past you.
I potter along at 60 in lane 1 and end up undertaking more than overtaking, as lane 2 seems to be the preserve of the mobile phone operators who need the " drift" room into the lanes each side of them.

I bet if seven 7 were to travel at 70 the vibration would not be a problem, perhaps it's the cars way of saying
" I'd like to captain but".........:)
 
Having full profile tyres and long travel suspension actually protects you against those poor roads. For the same reason old Mercs and Peugeot 504s are popular in Eastern Europe and Africa to this day. Phat alloys need not apply.

When the P6 was born as the famous film shows crossing the Alps into Italy, many minor roads in Europe didn't have hard surfaces. One route up the Stelvio pass from the Swiss side I've taken still doesn't and the P6 is nothing short of brilliant on these roads. The rear suspension gives amazing traction on these surfaces and perfect ride comfort.

I'm not advocating speeding but I see no issue with using any P6 at any legal limit in Europe. My ZF box does mean 70mph is only just over 2000rpm which helps. The highest limit bar the Autobahns is 130kph in Europe which is 80mph which is completely comfortable and very stable.
 
only had mine up to 70MPH once as its used as a cruising car with lots of time given to get from A to B . would not be happy any faster as not keen on high revs ( 35oo auto 3 speed box) i try and avoid potholes and adverse weather too. treating ALL other car drivers with only exception POLICE 'marked 'traffic cars ( they tend to follow rules and set a decent example) as complete idiots has saved me many an accident. EG lack of signalling. changing lanes without looking .heavy sudden braking( just seen somebody at bus stop the know or found cars. have stopped in front of them etc are common. Cannot speak for rest of country but we have excellent drivers here and cyclists a they can drive with just one hand on steering wheel while other hangs down door or fingers on roof as they change gear and go round corners with out moving the right arm! startling skills. motor cyclists and push bike riders are often seen with front wheel in air..even on pavements .. circus and other dare devil acts ought to pop round to Tendring and sign these guys up! then theres those ear massagers. everybody seems to be using even when going round corners ! ( look exactly like mobile phones but we all that that can't be as illegal so I have concluded they must be for massaging ears)
ergo be careful out there as rest of world seems intent on causing your car damage . I even park at far end of car parks away from other cars .. almost without exception when I get back to car a mere half an hour or so later ,theres a car. packed tightly either side, obviously they don't want my car to feel alone ..plus added bonus they are testing me to get in car other than by using a door ( unless under 10". wide ). so what a lovely set of people about ,do enjoy your driving .
 
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