Date: Sat, 18 May 2002 09:11:01 +0000 (UTC) From: spam-o-phobe <no-spamnopsampam.com> Subject: Re: Violent vibration at 50MPH
Paul Halliday wrote: > 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. Hi, I had exactly the same problem on my Peugeot 406. Now you may ask the obvious question: What is a Peugeot guy doing in the SAAB group? I'm still mourning my dearly beloved 1986 904M which I stupidly sold (instead of stored) when I moved to the UK. I had driven it 197,000 miles and it was running perfectly,, as it always had. Interior was getting tired but the body was still pristine. What a fool I was! Sad part is that I test drove a 9-3 in the UK and after alot of searching and toing and fro-ing bought a Peugeot 406 because it has more of the spirit of my old 900 than the 9-3 did. I've been quite happy with it Good news is there is a possiblity I may be moving back to the US. Peugeot has bailed out of the US, so the question I have for the group is: Can anyone with experience of the "real" 900 and the new (post 2001) 9-5 comment as to the degree to which the new 9-5 recaptures the spirit of the 900? Back to the problem: If it is really occurring under acceleration only, and you are sure that it disappears as you let up on the pedal, the problem is definitely not wheel or tire related, as these would show the same symptoms regardless of throttle position. My problem was a warped drive shaft which was replaced under warranty. CV joints usually make a loud clacking sound when they are going. The sound is more pronounced if you crank the steering wheel all the way around and do a U-turn. If you open the front windows, you will hear it loud and clear. Absent that sound and with the side-to-side judder, I'll bet it is a drive shaft. Spend the money and buy a new one if you can. > > > 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
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