'Rumble' and vibration problem - FOUND THE FAULT!

[mmac78]

Hi guys,

hoping you Suzuki guru's can help me out. Over the weekend on my Samurai SJ413, i've developed a rumble from the (i presume) engine and a vibration through to the steering wheel. Now it happens when I have my foot down on the throttle, more noticeable at speed. But when I change gear or slip into neutral it disappears completely.

i'm not very mechanically minded but wondered if there is anything I should check so I can get an idea of what might have gone?

it wasn't doing it at all up til now. Even though I have chunky tyres, they didn't effect the road driving of it.

I think i've broken it already

[Anton]

If it only happens under power, I'd start by checking your UJ's - especially the intermediary shaft between the gearbox and t-case. I believe that they can transfer vibrations into the t-case, then down the front prop and "shake" the front axle (or so I was told) causing the steering to vibrate.

By no means am I suggesting this is definitely your problem, but it's worth taking a look at.

[mmac78]

Thanks Anton

[ScottieJ]

Does the tbox lever shake around like mad when it happens? If so check all tbox, gearbox and engine mounts. You need to physically remove the engine mounts to check them, because of the design you can't easily tell if the engine mounts have broken without removing them.

[mmac78]

the engine makes a 'clunk' when changing gear. the tbox lever doesn't shake at all not that i've noticed. I think the engine mounts probably need replacing by whats been said.

[Anton]

Does the tbox lever shake around like mad when it happens? If so check all tbox, gearbox and engine mounts. You need to physically remove the engine mounts to check them, because of the design you can't easily tell if the engine mounts have broken without removing them.

Now you mention it, when I swapped my SJ's engine, I found one of my mounts had sheered in half, but you couldn't tell until the engine came out.

Good point...

[mmac78]

ok guys, the simple problem I thought wasn't the actual problem at all. Took the zuk for a drive to see how it was and on the way home it was shuddering so bad I couldn't drive any more than 30MPH on the A27 back home.
Pulled over at the next layby to find this:
So ball joint has sheered off, so ok I thought take it easy home and if steering was to go i'd call out the breakdown truck. Made it to the next street away from my garage only for a monumental 'clunk' and a clattering of metal parts smashing onto the road. Lost all drive...
Found this underneath:

and...



Now i'm no mechanic by any means but it seems the driveshaft to the rear wheels was the rumbling problem all along - just never noticed it.
So I had a friend on standby to tow me to the next street when my friend with me at the time said use the 4WD it will get you up the hill and home which I had to do.
It drove fine nice and slow, and its now back in the garage for the night before I go in search of new parts.

Bloody cars!!

[Darrell]

A prop shouldn't be hard to find.
I can't see anything sheared off, or am I just having a thick moment.......

[ScottieJ]

Ouch! Should have checked those UJs, usually the first call when vibrations are involved.

And x2 I can't see anything that is not how it should be in the picture of the steering or am I being blind??

[mmac78]

Sourced a replacement tonight so should have that sorted this week, also chaps...as i'm far from an expert at ball joints as such, i've done an edit on that pic:

Photo04-04-2014230903_zpseea20fd8.jpg (92.94 KiB) Viewed 7357 times

I presumed that the top of the ball joint (yellow) had sheered off from the part I have circled in red? or is that normal and i've lost something else instead?