Hdi Estate - High speed vibration

[Skagen Pug]

    I have a 2002 Hdi Estate in Denmark. What started as some vibration at speeds of +70m/h has progressed to a more pronounced and precise vibration at anything +55m/h.

I've had summer wheels balanced twice (mega 15" alloys) - made little difference, then put on winter tyres (same wheels, heavier higher-profile tyres) and the problem got slightly worse. Alignment has been done on front and rear. None of the vibration is transmitted through the steering wheel, and the car still tracks and handles very well. Brake discs are fine and not warped.

I've jacked up the front end, hub bearings feel good (this was also the opinion of the 3 different mechanics that balanced the tires), the bushings look intact and all the drive shaft boots are fine. There is no significant play on the inner driveshaft joint, nor is there play in the wishbone fore/aft.

The vibration occurs when heading straight and worsens turning slightly to the left. On a slight right hand turn it stops, but appears again if you back off the throttle. I'm thinking it's the inboard CV joints (the outboard btw are fine - no clicking) - but want to hear your opinions? Help please! Will be doing any work myself, have Haynes and no chance of paying a local - one guy tried to charge me £80 for balancing 4 wheels!!

Car has 150,000 miles, the last 6,000 with me, and before that one careful lady owner. Normally drives like a dream...

[Eeyore]

Driveshafts? Brake discs?

[Piggy]

driveshaft would be my first bet

[Skagen Pug]

Driveshafts? Brake discs?

Recently replaced rear brake discs, so braking is fine. I've had inner driveshafts joints fail on an older Citroen and it was a lot louder and varied more between loading/unloading the engine, tut the frequency of vibration is similar.

[C2K]

Driveshaft. If you go faster, does the frequency change?

Does your gearstick wobble?

[DeeTurbo]

If it changes while turning then I'd say it's CV's.

Maybe the top engine mount or both CV's and engine mount lol.

[Skagen Pug]

No wobble in gear stick, and yes the frequency of the vibration changes with speed

[daddyfixit]

inner cv joints.

[phil306s]

i had a vibration on mine it turned out to be a directional Tyre fitted the wrong way round...never noticed till we fited a new one...hope this helps..

[Alan_M]

I've jacked up the front end, hub bearings feel good (this was also the opinion of the 3 different mechanics that balanced the tires)

The vibration occurs when heading straight and worsens turning slightly to the left.

The noise/vibration on slight turn can be a sign of wheel bearing failure. In my experience, and others I might add, the quarter to 3 and half 12 test to check bearing tightness doesn't always show up failings. The front bearings on my 1.4 felt tight and I couldn't hear anything when spinning them up, but I took a gamble and pressed them out. They were on their way out. Problem is they are not under load (i.e. driving conditions) so any play will not show up till they are well worn/knackered.

But, if you've had a few mechanics look at it then I'd certainly plump for CV joint issues. You tried checking for play in the shafts just by twisting them?