Date: Tue, 07 May 2002 09:22:32 +0100 From: Paul Halliday <pjghnopsamail.com> Subject: Violent vibration at 50MPH
Hi guys, My 1989 900 Turbo has developed a problem :( When accelerating, at almost bang-on 50 MPH, the car starts to make a quite violent side-to-side shudder. This evens out at about 60 MPH and for there up, it's very comfortable. I have done some considerable road testing and can confirm that it *does not* matter which gear the car is in, or whether the turbo is used. Under any gear/turbo condition, this vibration occurs. It also doesn't matter whether the road is straight, curved, uphill, downhill, motorway, etc ... I did get the wheels tested for tracking and alignment - no fault was found, but all the wheels did need balancing. The handling was better after this, but has now returned to the sort of vibrations I was experiencing before the wheels were tested. I have noticed a slight rattle in the N/S front when making hard left corners and the steering does not return back to centre on it's own from a full lock turning left. There is also a slight rattle from the front when slowly driving off in first. I'm thinking drive shafts, or CV joint ... am I right, or missing the obvious? I'd like to be able to point my mechanic in the right place and get this sorted before any serious/costly damage occurs. The wheels are the standard 15" alloys (three spoke Aero) and the tyres 195/60 V rated - all Michelin. TIA, Paul 1985 900i 16V 1989 900 Turbo