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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: sutas on March 28, 2006, 10:30:04 AM

Title: Bad Vibrations? Not good for driving.
Post by: sutas on March 28, 2006, 10:30:04 AM
It all started yesterday morning, on my way to work.  About 3/4 into my trip I started getting a murmur.  Figuring it was maybe something minor I paid no mind to it.  They just paved this stretch of highway a few months ago and sometimes I hear funny things from the road noise.

As I started driving home, however, this murmur, turned into a knocking sound and slowly became louder.  I opened the driver side window to try and determine if it was something caught up in the treads on my tires.  After a stop for visual inspection a short while later I couldn't find anything.  THEN, I heard what sounded like a metallic clapping along with a thumping.

Finally, as I was about to get home she just started vibrating real bad.  The steering felt off as well.

This all occurred while I was coasting.  When I gave it gas, I didn't hear or feel anything, in all gears.

I checked around this forum and didn't see anything resembling this scenario, I did find some driveshaft and/or bearing stuff but wasn't sure if this was the same thing.

I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks
Title: Re: Bad Vibrations? Not good for driving.
Post by: sutas on March 28, 2006, 10:33:40 AM
Oh forgot to mention that this is a 2 wheel drive...

Thanks
Title: Re: Bad Vibrations? Not good for driving.
Post by: Zukipilot on March 28, 2006, 10:49:06 AM
Check the U joints on the driveshaft. I bet you wasted one.
Zig
Title: Re: Bad Vibrations? Not good for driving.
Post by: ppltrak on March 28, 2006, 08:00:10 PM
dido with Zig,

kevin
Title: Re: Bad Vibrations? Not good for driving.
Post by: legionnair on March 28, 2006, 08:55:10 PM
also jack up the front end and check the wheel bearings for play and noise if you spin them

Dustin
Title: Re: Bad Vibrations? Not good for driving.
Post by: prairie_dog on March 28, 2006, 10:13:33 PM
 I had a cat under my truck make the exact same sounds ;D ;D ;D ;D

Steve. :)
Title: Re: Bad Vibrations? Not good for driving.
Post by: wildgoody on March 28, 2006, 10:41:39 PM
I thought cats Meow  ;)
Title: Re: Bad Vibrations? Not good for driving.
Post by: sutas on April 25, 2006, 02:21:07 PM
UPDATE: if anyone really cares  ::) , but I was able to (finally) get into my garage and take a look at the ailing Tracker to determine for sure what the deal was.  Jacked up the front end to see if the bearings were ok, which they were and then I decided to check the more likely cause, the u-joint.  I grabbed hold of the drive shaft and the thing moves around a bit.  I take it that it's not supposed to do that.

I'm gong to go with the overall consensus and say it's the u-joint here.  I ordered one and hope to have it in soon.  The weather here in the northeast is F-I-N-E!  It's killing me not to get out there.  Now I just have to get rid of the couches that have taken residence in my garage so I can work on the darn thing!!!  :-\

Oh and by the way, no cats under there...  ;D
Title: Re: Bad Vibrations? Not good for driving.
Post by: sutas on May 01, 2006, 07:48:45 AM
OK, so the couches are out, and I have room to roam in the garage.  I removed the driveshaft and was in the process of removing the first u-joint from the back end of the DS and I'm having difficulties removing the spider gear from the yolks.  I am doing (as best as I can) what Chilton says to do, but the darned thing wont come free.  I also am NOT by any stretch of the term a gear-head or mechanically inclined.  I fix computers, and I like to fix cars but on a (very) casual basis, so I need all the help I can get!!!  If I have to I will bring it to the local garage but that would be a last ditch effort.  I'd rather learn how to do this myself, or, with a little help.    ;)

If anyone out there has any tips or suggestions, I'd greatly appreciate them!  ;D

THANKS!
Jason
Title: Re: Bad Vibrations? Not good for driving.
Post by: wildgoody on May 01, 2006, 08:28:16 AM
For about $10 they will press in the new
U-joints (you should do both) and IMO I
would have it done, as they can be a real
$%#|removethispart|@  to get out sometimes, and breaking
or ruining a yoke or U-joint isn't worth the
effort to me.

Wild
Title: Re: Bad Vibrations? Not good for driving.
Post by: sutas on June 25, 2006, 09:08:20 AM
Got the u-joints in and got the Trackick back on the road, made the same noise.  MAYBE if I wasn't half sleeping when I worked on her the first time, I would have noticed THAT THE LUG NUTS ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE WERE LOOSE!  AAARRRGGHHH! :o :-X

Bad news is, it chewed up a wheel and the new 1" spacer I put on there, good news is I have fresh u-joints!  The spacer isn't too bad off other than the little wear marks, but I have to replace the lugs and get a new set of lug nuts.

So what lesson did I learn?  Don't work on Trackers with your head half in the sack.
Title: Re: Bad Vibrations? Not good for driving.
Post by: stock93tracker on June 25, 2006, 09:17:46 AM
yea, loose lug nuts will cause some vibes..    ;D