Trailer wobble......or D4?? Chapter 2!

[Ruby2]

So here is the next chapter to my first post when I thought that my float was causing me to feel a vibration at certain speeds which also included complimentary slight swaying! :eek:

Tonight I loaded my horse up into my friends float and set off for a trip down the freeway feeling quite confident that it wasn't my car that had the issue.
My confidence was short lived........:(:(

We got onto the freeway and much to my dismay the vibration started at about 80kph and continued.....then it disappeared and then came back again. Just like with my float the vibration happened while the car was under load going up a hill and also while going down hill.

Thankfully I had my husband with me who managed to talk me down from my hysterics.....the car has done 23,0000kms and it's got an issue already!!

My float also appears to have an issue as the people I bought it from also got a vibration at 80kph which dissipated....as they gained speed.....

So sadly I will have to call Solitaire tomorrow and ask some questions and get them to check it out. Could it be a drive train or transmission issue? Anyone know any recall issues....I see there is one for D2's with some issue with a propellor part??? causing drivetrain vibration......

So there you have it....my D4 is sick and I am so sad......I am not thinking it was a mistake to buy this car but my Hilux never put a foot wrong......

Praying this is something that is easily fixed and that I get good customer service from Solitaire........

Happy Days.......least the drive shaft hasn't dropped out of the car........:(

[NTB]

Ruby,

Here is a issue I had with my D4 SDV6 SE soon after purchase. A month or so after purchase from memory. This may or may not be be helpful to resolving your issue.

I had a vibration while driving one day when accelerating hard into traffic. I was turning right into the traffic and wondered if it was the electronics doing something. This is my first modem electronic 4WD so I was unsure about the reason for the vibration and wondered if the electronics did something. It felt like it was from the drive train but again I was unsure.

I then discovered that I could repeat the vibration under hard acceleration. I could not create the vibration every time but most times I could. I again wondered if it was just me so I gave my cousin a drive (He used to have a D3 HSE TDV6) and he was able to create and feel the same vibration. The vibration did not occur at speed, it only appeared to occur when the drive train was loaded EG Hard Acceleration. I had not towed with the D4 at this time so unable to comment if the vibration occurred while towing with a load.

So I contacted my dealer (Bruce Lynton Land Rover) and they asked if I could bring the D4 down for a test drive. I drove the D4 with one of their Leading Hands in the car and created the vibration. His comment was "That is not right". He asked if we could try and create it again and so I did.

In the end I left the D4 with them. After the dealer trying a number of things from inspections, changing wheels and tyres to drive train components they found it was a issue with the Front Drive Shaft. The Front Drive Shaft did not appear to be faulty in anyway from the inspection. I replacement Front Drive Shaft was ordered anyway and fitted. The Front Drive Shaft assembly included the universals as well.

I have towed a number of times and driven the D4 now for over 12 months since this issue and I have not had a issue with vibration since.

I found the service from the dealer (Bruce Lynton Land Rover) to be very good.

Unsure if this will help but I wondered if it is a loading issue on the drive train like I had and is playing up when loaded (via towing the Horse Float). I hope it is resolved for you soon.


NTB

[Ruby2]

Thanks NTB that's really interesting because LR in Adelaide think it might be the drive train also. The local transmission specialists have money on it being the torque conversion plate in the transmission but I think it's drive train.

I think I can feel it driving to work, it sort of comes on and off in cycles...?

Anyhow I feel more confident now with the local dealer...the Service Manager is a friend of my husbands brother (because Adelaide is a small place) So the SM is willing to come to our place and go for a drive with me towing the float on the freeway to show him what it does.....

The horse float on the other hand seems to be ok....the people I bought it from have gone over it and also towed their horse in it with one of them in it as well to see if they can see anything inside!!!!! Super service and they are willing to give me a demo model exactly the same to tow when my car is fixed and if I am not happy they will swap them........you don't get that often!

Glad to hear it's all sorted for you....hubbie is going to put my car on the hoist on Saturday and go over it and thanks to you will look closely at the front drivetrain...

Appreciate the help and suggestions everyone is giving me.....just want my lovely D4 fixed and happy!

Cheers
Ruby2

[Ruby2]

Might have found the culprit.....

The tails haft centre bearing mount has quite a lot of play and the tail shaft isn't sitting nicely in the middle it's dropped down.
Now I am not sure if this is normal but on our Alfa's if this happens we get vibrations....

Anyhow this is only after a quick look....we shall see when LR get it....

[Graeme]

Some early D4s had faulty centre bearing brackets from improper welding but I haven't heard of any recent problems with the brackets.

[Ruby2]

Thanks Graeme appreciate that info....we will see what the outcome is this week when I take it in to LR to be checked.

[Ruby2]

Service Manager came to our place at 7am Wednesday morning and off we went for a drive. An hour later he agreed that yes there is something the matter with the car. It's going in on Monday to be looked at and have something called a road force balance?? Anyway I also asked that that please check the drive train etc because I don't want anything going wrong while towing my horse. They will have the car for two days and hopefully they will find and fix whatever the issue is.

Seems the problem is speed related not transmission related?
Is cyclical and is ok below 60kph at 80 - 90 kph it's not pleasant but if I manage to get brave and go over 98kph it goes away again but then comes back badly as I drop speed.

My horse isn't enjoying the complimentary vibrating massage either! Couple this with a tow bar receiver that has play in it and I am frightened beyond my wits when it gets a wobble/vibration up!

I can't understand why the LR hitch does not have a way of tightening the tongue into the receiver....i get banging and crashing on uneven surfaces and out my way the roads are like country lanes......making it very noisy and alarming for my horse! Seems they are also quite variable as well, a friend of mine's tongue is quite snug while mine has slop! Not happy!

Hopefully I have asked nicely enough for LR to fix it or my hubby will weld a plate on the tongue......

Sigh will be glad when I can tow without issue!:)

[Graeme]

I welded a 6mm thick plate to the end of the tube because it was too short for the housing. It now doesn't pivot on the pin.

[Disco4SE]

I can't understand why the LR hitch does not have a way of tightening the tongue into the receiver....
I have always wondered this myself. The Disco 4 would be the best tow vehicle that I have ever owned, yet the tow Hitch rattles around like buggery.
I'm sure others have the same issues?

Cheers, Craig

[rufusking]

All receiver hitches do it by nature of the design.
There are a number of easy fixes for it from DIY, square U bolt tying receiver to the hitch, sure there is a post one it somewhere in this forum, to off the shelf anti- rattle pin/bolt devices, some with anti- theft included. Check out your local auto store.

[discotwinturbo]

The anti rattle pins are great. My VW Toaureg came with it, and now use it on both cars.
Just locate the big square nut and spring inside the hitch, insert hitch into the towbar, slide the lockable pin in, tighten, and no more rattles or bangs.
With the Mitch hitch though, it's much more quiet that the factory hitch.

Brett....

[slug_burner]

Here is an anti rattle wedge that must slide in under the pin
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/870.jpg

The alternative is to replace the pin with a nut and bolt that you do up and must clamp the whole thing together to stop movement.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/871.jpg

More details and available at Secure-A-Hitch | RV Towing Solutions (http://rvtowingsolutions.com.au/products/secure-a-hitch)

[Graeme]

The wedge looks the goods. The bolt and nut is no good for the D3/4 because of the cast housing.

[MSTech]

Road Force Balancing is a process that measures the rim and tyre together using a roller that is forced onto the tyres rolling surface using up to 6.3kN of force. when this is done, the feedback to the roller is measured, as well as a sensor measuring the bead of the rim. This detects any runout in the rim and tyre, as well as stiff points in the tyre due to the beading. When the stiff points of the tyre and low points of the rim are matched up then the overall balance should be much better, requiring less weights to be used, and a smoother ride as the rotational forces are equalised.

[Ruby2]

Thanks MSTECH for explaining that.

Sadly it has not fixed the problem with my D4 it's still vibrating and seems to be worse now than before. Tonight I got a reaction from my horse that I haven't had yet (she was grumpy) but we got the vibrations on the way to and from my lesson to which she kicked the tailgate. As if to say, enough already!

Will be back on the phone tomorrow to LR. Apparently my car looked the same as a new on on the hoist but it sure doesn't tow like one! Unless they give me a car I can tow my float with I think this is going to be a long process of elimination.....at least I have done enough testing to know its not my float!

Thanks for all the tow hitch options they are great and I had seen some of them already. The wedge pin looks like a good option and during my travels tomorrow will try and get one.

Appreciate all your help once again guys.

Cheers

Ruby2

[slug_burner]

This might have been asked before, what pressures are you running in your tow vehicle's tyres?

[mick88]

Another thing that people often overlook is getting wheels balanced on trailers, floats, boat trailers etc. I always get my trailer wheels balanced and this reduces so much vibration on the wheel bearings of the trailer!
I know it's not the issue but something to consider.


Cheeers, Mick.

[Ruby2]

Another thing that people often overlook is getting wheels balanced on trailers, floats, boat trailers etc. I always get my trailer wheels balanced and this reduces so much vibration on the wheel bearings of the trailer!
I know it's not the issue but something to consider.


Cheeers, Mick.


Thanks Mick. Done that twice now and also checked bearings and axles as well as axle geometry. Float tyres were better balanced than the car to start off with!