MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGF Technical - MGF driveshaft

My recently aquired low mileage MGF 1.8i,developes a vibration at 70mph, which fades only to reappear again at 100mph but much worse, diagnosis is driveshaft needs balancing, any one had this before and where abouts are the balance weights? PS 100mph on private road :-)
jayne Cannell

>diagnosis is driveshaft needs balancing

Hmm, this would be the first one (IMO) ever reported here.
The bearings go of course.

Anyway, only the long drive shaft has got a 'balance weight' made from rubber.
http://www.mgfcar.de/sales/dcp_3949.jpg
Dieter K.

<<one hour ago Rosi and I arrived back home.
2918 km's done in this few days. I'm tired, but very pleased>>

One hour and 20 minutes and ready to help somebody else already :-)

Dieter take a short break, make sure Rosi has breakfast in bed today, wash the car and plan the next long weekend away.

Your site is still the best and your knowledge is excellent

JohnP

Bearings, as I am only a women, which bearings? Surely if it was bearings, wouldnt there be some noise from them, and more on a constant vibration?

jayne Cannell

Jane

In my experience most women who say "as I am only a women" know a hell of a lot more than they are prepared to admit and are really trying to make men feel better :-)

I have mailed you a single page jpg extract from the Workshop Manual showing the drive shaft and the location of the rubber damper that is fitted to the RH side shaft only.

Thanks I feel better now

John
JohnP

Thanks John, so glad was able to help you! Printed diagram out.... Is this a possibility as the cause of the vibration? I feel I should run a book with various odds on whats causing it just for fun! :-(
jayne Cannell

Jayne

I'm an Accountant turned IT Manager and not as car knowledgable as I would like but have been driving since the days of the red flag.

It is a possibility but, as Doeter said, it will probably be a first reported on the BBS (standby for a flood of responses).

If the rubber damper has been hit by, e.g. a large stone or dead dog etc, then it would cause an out of balance. Who diagnosed it?

Silly question but have you totally ruled out wheel balance? They can cause vibration at different road speeds.
JohnP

Interesting link, i have had a vibration from the back of my car for a while now and have followed the advice from a thread I posted but with no joy. I have had the wheels balanced the tracking checked etc but still get a vibration at 50mph. I will check the driveshaft balance weight now though, out of interest which side of the car is the longest driveshaft on as i'm sure the vibs on mine come from the drivers side
stu

Stu

The longer shaft is RH side no matter which side you drive from :-)

Look forward to hearing your findings
John Ponting

Jayne and Stu,

I had the same problem with a vibration a while ago, mainly under hard acceleration, It turned out to be the CV joint of the long drive shaft having excessive play,(only really noticable after removal), The drive shaft come as a complete unit and was v.expensive from Mg rover, So i went for a second hand one, (bit of a gamble but as most MG's a reasonably low milage) costing about £50 and problem solved.

hope this helps

Darren
darren howe

Ruled out wheel balance as the vibration at 100mph, would challenge any washing machine on full spin....... Havent hit any dead dogs that I can recall, but feel the need to run someone over! My dad, Ex mechanic, suggested driveshaft as he is old rover man and familair with the running gear. I shall however pick his brain over CV joint. Will post thoughts tomorrow.
jayne Cannell

Jayne

If it does end up as the drive shaft cv joint then you may like to try MGF Centre from their banner at the top of the BBS.

They have recently been getting enthusiastic reviews - although this may be Victoria rather than the business.
John Ponting

Now totally confused, yet another option as the culprit, come on guys lets pick our favorite. Here is the latest possibility;

What you apparently have is harmonic vibration. Broon is on the right track with wheel balancing issues. Wear characteristics of the tires determine how rapidly they go out of balance. With low mileage, driveshaft balance is rarely the cause of such vibration. Japanese brands tend to wear more rapidly than those from America or Europe. At the other extreme, Michelins are generally so hard that they tend to overheat when half worn causing soft spots cracking the sidewall and going out of balance that way
jayne Cannell

Jayne

You lost me with your last post but ... did you get any where with the vibration?
John Ponting

This thread was discussed between 05/05/2003 and 08/05/2003

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGF Technical BBS now