transit FWD whobble help!!! driveshaft???

[ahe_1990]

Hi guys, I have a 2002 transit 2.0 Fwd, owned it for the last 4years been a awsome van. Its got a problem with a nearside whobble up to 65mph then it goes.
Here are some of the things I've replaced.
New bottom arms both sides
Lower gearbox mount
Gearbox/engine mount
Track rod ends and rods
Wheels balanced.
Tracking done.
New discs & pads.

Checked the driveshafts no real movement.
Checked wheel bearings.

Has anyone else had this problem. The only things I can think is the top strut mounts or driveshafts or wheel bearing and out hub.
Where would you start?
The vans only done 130k ex iceland.
Any help I would be grateful.
Cheers Adam

[lewman]

hi could be drive a shaft , have you check the inner cv joints ? i had a similar problem on my 97 escort van from about 15 mph up till 55 mph it felt like a out of shape tyre , the inner joints were the tripod type and they had worn allowing the drive shaft to oscillate which made all the drive train' wobble ' 2 exchange shafts transformed the van

[HARRYSPADGE]

Definitely sounds like a driveshaft problem.

[lewman]

i forgot to say if you check them there is some normal movement of the cv joint in the gearbox , grasp the outer joint firmly and move the inner up and down will show any movement ,and compare to the other side if possible , there is a couple of mm normally , also try rotating the the shaft

[ahe_1990]

Cheers for the replies,
I have check the driveshafts a few times, I can't really feel any play in the driveshaft inner joint or outer. Or is it that screwed now I won't feel anything? Cheers adam

[HARRYSPADGE]

Has the gearbox been out recently ?
Sometimes when the box is taken out the inner driveshaft joints can get dislodged without you realising.
The shaft will go back on ok but because the inner joint has moved and isn't sitting quite right it can cause this type of vibration.

[ahe_1990]

Hi mate, brought the van on 80k I've done 50k in it and I've never had the gearbox out but I will have a look. I've spent too much on it now not to fix it.

[fedup2]

Have the wheels been swapped front to back to iliminate wheels and tyres?

[ahe_1990]

I swapped them front to back then swapped to my alloys and still no different mate. Cheers adam

[fedup2]

I would stick a shaft on it then.

[winterheating]

Could be the diff or diff bearings going, specially on that year. They changed the diff later.

[lewman]

diff bearing wear could be a likely cause , might be worth draining the gear oil to see if it's dirty and contaminated with metal particles

[winterheating]

Seemed to common on higher mileage early ones. The changed diff slightly, and you can tell which is which by the top gearbox mount and the later ones have 32 splines on the pot joints instead of 26.

[winterheating]

Best way to tell, take the inner offside shaft bracket off completely from the block, easy done 2 13mm for the clamp then 4 10mm holding bracket to block, and check if there is excess play in diff by moving the shaft up and down.

[winterheating]

Not much chance of that there's a big magnet to pick all the bits up in base off gearbox.