Hi all,

Just picked up a TF wagon cheap and had a mobile mechanic out yeaterday to look at a problem which he couldent solve...just wondering if anyone has any ideas?

...smooth ride when cruising,cornereing etc under no acceleration...but as soon as you give it any,even the slightest acceleration the cat is rough feeling..its very noticable! esp under medium acceleration and going around sweeping corners or if i swerve while accelleration 20+kmph.

..its not being tranmitted into and thru the steering wheel...its being transmited into the whole body but it feels like its front end. I first thort ot was driveline related..but apperently not says the mechanic. rear tyres are scolloped, and needs new front shocks...dunno if that has anything to do with it but i dont think so as it is quite severe!

thanks

Wheel alignment first, but I bet one of your driveshafts is dry and seizing up as load is put on it. A worn joint will unbalance the driveshaft and cause vibration that is worst when accelerating or cornering. My TS is starting to do the same thing lol again lol. Can't pick this up while the car is stationary, need to pull both shafts out and examine. Could also be a wheel bearing, or steering rack related.

PS Now you know why the car was cheap. Previous owner ignored the little problems, now its your job to fix them! lol

Ask the mechanic to get it up on the hoist, then run the engine in gear with foot on the brake to load it up, then look at the wheels and driveshafts. Should give him more of a clue lol

Wheel alignment first, but I bet one of your driveshafts is dry and seizing up as load is put on it. A worn joint will unbalance the driveshaft and cause vibration that is worst when accelerating or cornering. My TS is starting to do the same thing lol again lol. Can't pick this up while the car is stationary, need to pull both shafts out and examine. Could also be a wheel bearing, or steering rack related.

PS Now you know why the car was cheap. Previous owner ignored the little problems, now its your job to fix them! lol

Ask the mechanic to get it up on the hoist, then run the engine in gear with foot on the brake to load it up, then look at the wheels and driveshafts. Should give him more of a clue lol

the mechanic said the shafts looked pretty clean from the outside so i guess he ruled out dryness as he musta thought they were reletavly new. he said it has had a recon power steering rack also and the alignment was ok...so mmm..not sure, but it sure dosnt feel good and is annoying me!


any other ideas or is it likely to be dryness in the shafts? could it be transmition problems...like where the shaft goes into the trans?

Could it be engine related? Maybe check for dirty spark plugs/stuffed leads, could be misfiring or maybe running rich - poor quality fuel.
Check transmission fluid level and colour of the fluid

I had similar symptoms and it was a misfiring issue, dizzy cap and rotor button fixed it for me. Does it miss when you are sitting at traffic lights etc.

So, to quote you "the mechanic said the shafts looked pretty clean from the outside", your mechanic just looks at things? He's trying really hard! Get him to look at the ball joints too. Maybe do more than just look?