Whats causing the wobble??

[Boner]

Hi peeps
Good forum btw loads info here and cool vans.
I have a lwb 100l transit from 1992 mk4 deisel.
She seems to have a wobbling problem and it makes no scense.
The clutch does not slip at all.
It seems to just struggle to pull away at times and there is a pretty violent wobble from what i can describe as the whole gearbox and propshaft etc.. it seems to bounce then snaps into place and drives away fine .
If its been sitting idleing for a while on start up its ok but does get worse throught he day. any ideas folks???
Cheers
Boner

[Luke]

Hi Boner!!! Welcome to the forum thanks for the complement!!!

Mabe it's your diff i'm sure someone on here will have had this problem before!!!

[madmark]

boner it could be your diff as luke says or uj in the prop or maybe the clutch! most transits hop from the clutch on start off! you need to get under and see how much movement you have in the prop! you may even have a tooth missing on the crownwheel but unlikely! goodluck!

[FredTransit]

Check your propshaft. Get underneath and look at all of the bolts, one of these could be missing or loose. Check that there are no balance shafts missing, you will see a litlle clean space somewhere near one end of the peices if so. Then get hold of the prop and rotate it to see how much play there is. Half to three quarterts of an inch is OK, maybe a bit but not much more, all of ours rotatate and are fine!
Take a look at the center bearing, the donut, and see if the rubber is out of the carrier, then get hold of the prop and move it backwards and forwards to the front and back of the van. and up and down, towards and away from the floor. On the back of the prop on the LWB there is a square u shaped spacer behind the bolt inside the UJ which sometimes works loose. Whilst you are at the back, check the bolts to the axle are tight.
Good Luck!

[Boner]

I had a good look! thanks for that advice.
Ok the propshaft can wobble a fair turning it slightly befor it bites?.
I did get the propshaft bearings replaced boot 2 years ago.
Also u can shake the gearbox and it rattles...
Im gona take it to a garge after the wkend see whats up.
Seems all this coutryside gardening shaking her to bits.
I still think its the clutch or sumtin like that cause this problems to intermitent. Ill keep you informed with what the garage says.. good garage anaw they let me watch whats happnig.
Cheers
Boner

[FredTransit]

...........lurve your tag line!!

[Milemuncher]

Mine does that too only for the 1st setting off or so. The crankshaft oil seal has gone, according to the garage, which is quite common. It soon burns the oil off the clutch and all is well.
I was quoted a large amount to fix it, gearbox out job, and "might as well change the clutch too as it will be burnt now" £300 + errmm no thanks.
I am changing the van soon anyway and will let the next owner worry about it. I have spent far too much on this one as it is !

[FredTransit]

Mine does that too only for the 1st setting off or so. The crankshaft oil seal has gone, according to the garage, which is quite common. It soon burns the oil off the clutch and all is well.
I was quoted a large amount to fix it, gearbox out job, and "might as well change the clutch too as it will be burnt now" £300 + errmm no thanks.
I am changing the van soon anyway and will let the next owner worry about it. I have spent far too much on this one as it is !

Oil on the clutch, why didn't I think of that! I have just read the OP, and milemuncher I think you might have got it! I was thinking about a wobble when driving along. Yes, we've had this before, usually after an engine had gone t*ts up in a spectacular fashion involving large quantities of spilled oil! We just live with it until the gearbox dies, or we need a new clutch. On that subject, I have just had a new clutch, cost £200.

[Milemuncher]

Hi again Fred. I decided to live with it, as it's not tooooo bad, just look like a kangaroo learner driver setting off. As mine sits for a week or more between uses, the oil leak will contaminate only a small part of the clutch plate, so that's why it slips for about 1/4 of each revolution.
The price wasn't too bad I think, about £200 for the oil seal job, and about £50 or so for a friction plate if needed + vat lol.
When I px the van, I will remove the undertray from the engine and give everywhere a clean. Not that the dealer will even look underneath anyway.

[Boner]

Awight guys
Got the van back and she a bit ill .
The wobbly thing is oil leaking so i gona leave it beacuse it cost to much the now plus the mechanic guy said its not a major oil leak so dont worry boot it .
They also found a bent axle, damaged hub and bearing on the front drivers side wheel . The rh front brake caliper is lazy anaw. and fnally the tracking badly needs done.
Am pretty surprised its just this tbh so im gona get the work done in a few weeks .
I was looking at buying a new yin but the money i can spend fixing this up will make a better van in the long run.. I just gota get a respray cause she looks tatty coverd in primer patches.
I have roughly £1000 to fix her up as this was gona buy a new van... I reakon it go a long way to replacing alot of bits and maybe a respray.
I now wana get the engine checked cause im sure it a recon or new unit as its the best thing on the van.... any way of checking this???
Finally my latest purchase/upgrade was clear indicators.. look quiet cool.
Cheers
Boner

[FredTransit]

I have to say I have no more faith in reconned engines, the operative term here being 'conned'. As there is no legal requirement as to what constitues a recon engine, it's pretty much how long is a piece of string as to what you get. Believe me I tried a lot (only petrol ones I might add), even coming from recommended companies, and not been too impressed. This leaves us with two options on the replacement engine front, 2nd hand and get the work done by a trusted mechanic. Largely with diesels, we tend to go for a 2nd hand, it's the cheaper option and the engines tend to be more relyable anyway, although it is a lottery with what you get!

[madmark]

boner the best way to check the engine is

if its a ford recon it will have a silver rocker cover!
if you look at the head at the front top under the water house there will be a mark in the casting and also on the block down were the dipstick is ,if you can read these numbers off for me i will tell you wether you have a replacement engine or not!

[cossiecrew]

i also think its the diff

[Boner]

Awight folks
The vans a runnign sweet gain .
Ended up goign in for the following.
Changed the timing belt cause its never been done they think lol
The water pump has always had a very slight leak so it got changed.
The engine got water now hehehe. Cost 120 all inc parts n labour so was happy nuff to pay. Work on saturday or today has totaly covered that bill so shows ur transit is ur life at times or is for me being self employed.
Well happy its running gain can get on with work and save a wee bit cash put her abck in end o month for final fixup to perfection .
Managed to pick up a job lot o steering rack, axles, hubs n boutgh bearing n discs n pads, track rod ends and balljints. Gone take em doon to same garage in a few weeks get the lot fitted. That should sort all the loose feelings up front on the van. the steering rack is bad though .
After that its repray and smily face uplift. Take it easy folks
Boner

[express post]

any lwb transit where recalled in australia for a wobble it waz thr tail shafts they were max length and had to be candged to thick wall units to stop it