Had that problem on my 2nd XM - after about 2000 miles from new, the whole power unit was wobbling like crazy under torque. The dealer took it in and checked it - both front inner CV joints where shot - turns out they had a bad batch where the hardening hadn't been done properly.
... went under car.. short drive shaft, where it enters diff, could be moved by fingers alone, outwards.. by the same token, i could push the shaft in towards the inner joint.. the joint must be completly gone!!
grabbed the longer driveshaft, after the intermediate bearing, and although there was not this movement, it knocked as i pulled in and out!!
That doesn't sound definately like the driveshafts as there is movement in them. A surefire way of checking bent driveshafts or CV joints is to look at them with them moving but you would need to VERY SECURELY raise the car and start it in gear and you will see them vibrating. It depends on what facilities you have I suppose but replacing a driveshaft is a bit of a pain to find its not that. Oh and if you are changing them, make sure and change the oil seal!
Had a similar problem with a mates Xantia last year, turned out to be the short driveshaft.
Stewart
BXs since 1993 built 1.9 TZD turbo, got a S2 Xantia estate, brilliant car! 2013, Xantia HDI LX 110 2000 new car with 122,000, l C2 HDI Rusty rocket, C3 Picasso HDI new to me.
The short driveshaft, and the outer of the long driveshaft SHOULD float. There will be a fair bit of movement of them axially.
But Radially there should be no movement at all. Try to "lift" the three parts of driveshaft while under the car. If they clonk up and down, then you have your problem.
No one has mentioned about the outer CV joints. I had an experience like this with an Escort where a outer joint had gone dry. Once I repacked it with some fresh graphite type grease everything was ok.
Ex 307 2.0Hdi 90 bhp 2003
Ex Grand C4 Picasso VTR+ 2008
Ex Vauxhall Insignia SRI 2.0 CDTi 2010
C4 Picasso 1.6 HDi VTR+ 2014
i would almst guarantee to you that this is caused by one or both of the inner triax joints on the drive shaft.
my zx was wobbling under accelaration and chaging the short shaft cured this.
i know sombody who had a kangoo van which had the same problem and the dealer couldnt figure it out - i got him to tell the dealer about the triax joints and hey presto he had the van back within a couple of days.
there is no real way to test a shaft in situ - somtimes they rattle and feel nakkered but they are fine and vice versa.
you need to change the shafts to eleiminate the problem - start with the short shaft as this is easiest (no intermediate bearing) and then change the long shaft if that doesnt sort the problem.....
good luck - let us know how you get on.....
Zxtd Aura converted from 1.8i Petrol - Lowered, 20psi boost extra fuel - weeeeeee!
thanks all for replies.. esp the latter ones about driveshafts..
Well, I removed both shafts. The short shaft really didnt seem bad. The joints all worked in all directions, the only play I could really find was a mm in/out in the CV (all seem to do this). I am tempted to say this shaft was ok...
The longer one had radial play in inner and outer joints... there was a pile of grease near the half way bearing.... The rubber gaitor on inner Tri ax was soft giving the impression of loads of movement...
The wreckers didn't have an off the shelf ZX long shaft, so i removed one from a car, after removal, that one was the worst of all.
I then went to look at Gearbox mounting.. I can rock the engine about 10-15mm with fingertips on the intercooler, in doing this the gearstick moves, much the same as when the car wobbles under acceleration. Although the gearbox mounting bush was complete, there were some fine cracks in it, and the rubber passage that the steel spacer goes through, under the bush, was elongated...
I am thinking now to obtain a cheap used OS drive shaft and fit new mouting and see.... ?
What other cars have the same Driveshaft as the ZX (I know all pugs and cits use them, but for example , the Xantia one is about and inch longer, presumable due to a different track...