Transit 230 1996 lwb vibration at speed

[alexthecheese]

Hi guys. Bought a vehicle as per subject title on Friday which has been converted into a motorhome. Drove it from Exeter to Essex today, and all is good but there is a lot of vibration in the body when I hit about 50 mph.

The guy who I bought the vehicle from is an absolute legend and a really genuine guy. He suggested that this is down to the prop shaft not being balanced properly. Not being any good with cars or vans I dont know if this is the reason, but like the way wheels are balanced I understand why this could be the case.

Anybody care to take a stab at this if you please? One thing that suggests this is true is that the rear diff was only recently replaced, in Portugal, as it exploded out there whilst he was on holiday ~ the receipts show it cost him a fortune to replace.

If this is the case, any ideas where i can get it sorted in Essex?

Any help greatly appreciated. Cheers, Alex.

[madbri]

check ure propo shaft bearings! it a common thing and not a mot failure

[alexthecheese]

Cheers madbri. I can't do this myself - don't have a clue , but any ideas how much work this is/cost?

[madbri]

yeh u can ! r u an abble boddy person? if so lay under ure van the prop goes from the gearbox 2 axle. along this at least 1 or 2 times there a bracket holding this . get hold of the prop and give it movement up and down ul c if the rubber in the brackets had it. there shoud b little movment! but try and push pull as hard as u can! hope this helps if not a onest garage man will tell u in about 10 mins if they need replacing

[alexthecheese]

I'll give that a go right now!!

[alexthecheese]

OK, I've got under there. I've got two linkages. The first, nearest the gearbox barely moves at all. Really tough to get any play out of that. The 2nd has got a lot more play and I can get about 1/2 a centimetre play each way.

Sounds like it could be the cause? Should there be more play in the first than the 2nd, or is it maybe that one's been replaced in it's life and the 2nd hasn't?

Loads of space under there though! It's like another world!!

[madmark_50484]

It could be ones been replaced but the other hasn't its also not a costly job I have had it done on mine prob best do both or you could buy a 2nd hand prop which is really easy to replace even if you are not really a mechanic

[alexthecheese]

How easy is it to change the rubber mounts that support it? The van has only done 42500 miles so I would've though the prop should be OK?