ZX - vibration whilst stationary.

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alanshep
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ZX - vibration whilst stationary.

Post by alanshep »

Hello. I have a 1994 ZX 1.9D.

I posted on here a few days ago about my car vibrating above 60mph. Thanks for the replies.

I'm trying not to rush in changing things (I have bad memories of being a cash strapped youth trying to resolve a vibration on an Escort I owned - talk about throwing good money after bad!).

In addition to the vibration at 60mph I've noticed that the car seems to vibrate noticeably more than it used to whilst stationary. The glovebox rattles as does the drivers door - in fact with the drivers door open the vibration seems less severe. Depressing the clutch sometimes seems to reduce the vibration but not always.

I've concluded that at least one of the engine mounts must be shot but I had a look tonight with the engine running and couldn't see anything obvious. With my hand on top of the engine the vibration was quite severe but I'm not sure if that's normal - the engine certainly sounds OK.

Would a duff engine mount be visibly obvious and could it account for a vibration at 60mph?

I should say that this car went through an MOT just a few months back and I was really pleased with it. In the space of a few weeks it seems to have gone from good to bad.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Alan
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AndersDK
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Post by AndersDK »

A '94 TD would just about need a new lower mount donut rubber. There is rarely any visible problems to find. But oil spill and road environement does their "magic" to rubber over the years :x

A diesel needs to be "towed" down well to suppress too much vibration.

It is possible to replace the donut in-situ down there if the bracket with throughbolt is removed from the donut.
Just remember that the donut housing (holding the RHS drive axle support bearing) is alloy made. Will not withstand violent hammering.
hacksaw old rubber out. Then cut the remaining steel ring.
New donut is pressed in squarely using a wooden memberpiece.

New donut should be less than 10quid.
Anders (DK) - '90 BX16Image
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Post by Peter.N. »

If you put your hand on the metal of the body/chassis adjacent to each engine mounting you should be able to feel which mounting is transferring vibration to the car.
shezads
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Post by shezads »

My 94 zx td has a vibration issue too - although it happens more whilst in gear - moving at about 2000 - 3000 rpm. Vibrates interior - soundsvery clattery. My clutch is juddery at take off - so I know that is on the way out (has been for about two years) although it doesn't slip.

There is a slight knock when I break sharply / accelerate from near the passanger front wheel - which I thought was ball joints - but had these done, and still it remains - is this the gearbox mount?

Any idea how I can tell if my Zx td takes the pull type clutch (whats the other one?).

Thanks.
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stevieb
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Post by stevieb »

AndersDK wrote:It is possible to replace the donut in-situ down there if the bracket with throughbolt is removed from the donut.
Also check the "bracket with throughbolt" as referred to in Anders' post. The rubber bush where this bracket attaches to the subframe is also susceptible to giving up the ghost. I've yet to see the bracket listed anywhere, but my 405 vibrated exactly like this.

I changed every other mount yet the vibration remained. Only after every other mount had been changed did it really show up just how much this little bracket was moving.
stevieb
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Post by stevieb »

shezads wrote:There is a slight knock when I break sharply / accelerate from near the passanger front wheel - which I thought was ball joints - but had these done, and still it remains - is this the gearbox mount?
Sounds like the rear bush on the wishbone to me...
shezads
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Post by shezads »

I had the wishbones changed too, which is why I thought it was the gearbox mount. - as this is in a similar location. Also it doesn't knock when going over ramps / bumps only on acceleration / braking.

The rattle - I am unsure about, sbut may be the clutch, as when driving - you can feel the pedal rise / lower itself slightly - about an inch or so when accelerating / braking.
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mezuk04
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Post by mezuk04 »

My zx tempation use to suffer vibrations mainly at speed, i sold the car to the folks when i needed something slightly bigger and less rattly for the Cornwall trip, a month after that mother was complaining it was making a very rattly sound so i got in it and well i couldnt believe the loudness of the rattling

It was the gearbox bushes (or something like that) and the problem has gone away, the sound suggested a knackered drivers side drive shaft but their was no visible signs of play or movement.
Volkswagen Golf 59' 1.6TD S :(
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Post by jeremy »

If the link to the donut lower engine mount/stabiliser bush is anything like a BX one the bush at the rear (where the bolt to the bodywork goes) is a minature of the main bush and is replaceable. Needs to be pressed out and the new one pressed in. I think I was able to press mine out using a medium sized vice and various bits of pipe or sockets and I deep froze the new one before pressing it in.
jeremy
stevieb
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Post by stevieb »

jeremy wrote:If the link to the donut lower engine mount/stabiliser bush is anything like a BX one the bush at the rear (where the bolt to the bodywork goes) is a minature of the main bush and is replaceable. Needs to be pressed out and the new one pressed in. I think I was able to press mine out using a medium sized vice and various bits of pipe or sockets and I deep froze the new one before pressing it in.
The one on the 405 is about two and a half to three inches long, and about one to one and a half inches in overall diameter. The 406 one is comparable.

I can't speak for Cit's unfortunately (I really need to make an excuse to attack my uncles BX and Xantia :twisted: ).
alanshep
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Post by alanshep »

I changed both bushes at the weekend. The big one I got from GSF and the small one from a Citroen dealer.

This has definitely cured the vibraton when stationary - its hard to believe the difference particularly because neither of the existing bushes looked to be badly worn.

I removed the casting and the bracket from the car. I followed the advice about cutting the case of the big one with a hacksaw and knocked it out. The smaller one I manged to push out with some washers and spacers. I have access to a press at work so pressed the new ones in.

Thanks to everyone for your help and advice.

Alan.
stevieb
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Post by stevieb »

Well I'm glad you came back to let us know Alan.

I'll get my act together and get one of the "smaller" bushes asap, as my 406 oscillates a little more than I would expect a petrol to at tick-over.

:?

Cheers Alan.
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