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

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

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

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....

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

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

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!

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.

Originally Posted by Ruby2

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