Ever since I bought my 5-speed vert (in early 2011) there has been some vibration and noise in the driveline. The noise was mostly noticeable at low speeds before all the other car/road sounds got too loud. It sounded like a bad wheel bearing in the rear. Vibration was subtle, occurred mostly at low speed.
So I replaced the rear wheel bearings. Noise/vibration was still present.
Next I replaced the guibo & center support bearing.
Noise/vibration was still present & an added vibration was born. This one occured under acceleration only starting at about 25mph/2500rpm & faded away around 40mph/3500rpm.
Also it developed a clunk when first starting off from a stop, just as the car probably got to about 5mph. Sounded like it was coming from the rear.
Gradually the 25mph vibration became so bad it was present anytime the car was moving over 25mph whether accelerating or coasting.
Got so bad that I stopped driving it and decided to finally solve it.
I had bought a rebuilt driveshaft from a user on this forum (RobertK) in early 2013 thinking it might be useful someday.
Got the car up on jackstands and started noodling around under it.
Right away I noticed the aluminum transmission cross brace/support had a big piece missing. You'll notice it right under the slot for the bolt on the left side of the picture.
Ordered a replacement, and the one that arrived looked a lot different than what was on the car previously
Photo credit: ECS Tuning.
Confused I looked up the part # that was stamped on the aluminum brace:
And it turns out some PO had put a E24/E28 transmission cross member on this E30. When I put the correct piece on the car, it raised the transmission up by about 3/4" (19mm).
A huge difference when it comes to driveshaft/u joint alignment!
The mis alignment had also caused this to happen to the transmission output flange:
All three holes are supposed to be round.
Got everything back together and almost cried tears of joy at the difference. Smooth like butter. No vibration anywhere from zero to 110 (allegedly. I would never, ever drive that fast officer). No clunks. No phantom wheel bearing noise.
That is what I call a happy ending.
So I replaced the rear wheel bearings. Noise/vibration was still present.
Next I replaced the guibo & center support bearing.
Noise/vibration was still present & an added vibration was born. This one occured under acceleration only starting at about 25mph/2500rpm & faded away around 40mph/3500rpm.
Also it developed a clunk when first starting off from a stop, just as the car probably got to about 5mph. Sounded like it was coming from the rear.
Gradually the 25mph vibration became so bad it was present anytime the car was moving over 25mph whether accelerating or coasting.
Got so bad that I stopped driving it and decided to finally solve it.
I had bought a rebuilt driveshaft from a user on this forum (RobertK) in early 2013 thinking it might be useful someday.
Got the car up on jackstands and started noodling around under it.
Right away I noticed the aluminum transmission cross brace/support had a big piece missing. You'll notice it right under the slot for the bolt on the left side of the picture.
Ordered a replacement, and the one that arrived looked a lot different than what was on the car previously
Photo credit: ECS Tuning.
Confused I looked up the part # that was stamped on the aluminum brace:
And it turns out some PO had put a E24/E28 transmission cross member on this E30. When I put the correct piece on the car, it raised the transmission up by about 3/4" (19mm).
A huge difference when it comes to driveshaft/u joint alignment!
The mis alignment had also caused this to happen to the transmission output flange:
All three holes are supposed to be round.
Got everything back together and almost cried tears of joy at the difference. Smooth like butter. No vibration anywhere from zero to 110 (allegedly. I would never, ever drive that fast officer). No clunks. No phantom wheel bearing noise.
That is what I call a happy ending.
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