5th gen shaking when accelerating

Anzezaf · Post by **Anzezaf** » Wed Aug 15, 2018 7:57 pm

My 5th gen started shaking like crazy when accelerating hard, and when going faster than ~50 mph. The whole car shakes, but the steering wheel starts shaking a bit sooner than the whole car.
It only does it when I press the accelerator hard, and gets progressively more intense the faster I go. If I only press the gas pedal about one quarter, it doesn't shake, but any more than that and it starts... It's like driving on a bumpy gravel road, but the shaking is side to side instead of up and down.

When I let go of the gas, the shaking stops instantly
When I brake with the engine in first and second gear, I can feel slight knocking/thumping, like driving a bicycle with a flat tire.
When in neutral, the engine revs up normally up to the rev limit with no problems.
The tires are new and centered, done it yesterday.
The faster I go, the harder and faster it shakes.

Could it be the driveshafts? or perhaps the transmission?

Post by **RattyMcClelland** » Wed Aug 15, 2018 7:59 pm

Sounds like a failed rear engine mount.

Post by **4thgenphil** » Thu Aug 16, 2018 10:55 am

Sound like a drive shaft to me

Max · Post by **Max** » Thu Aug 16, 2018 11:04 am

I had a broken driveshaft cv joint which caused a shaking when accelerating, Rich at PA replaced it and problem was solved, but agree it could also be engine mount related.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Thu Aug 16, 2018 12:22 pm

Check the drive shafts, front and rear engine mounts, front suspension arm bushes and inner and outer track rod ends, as a starting point.

My hunch is on driveshaft though.

fithotblonde · Post by **fithotblonde** » Thu Aug 16, 2018 1:52 pm

I had the same problem turn out to be drive shafts

Post by **vanzep** » Thu Aug 16, 2018 3:51 pm

worth checking the condition of all the engine mounts - 5th gens seem very prone to fubared front mount - so id start there

although your issue sounds like driveshaft like many others have said.

Anzezaf · Post by **Anzezaf** » Fri Aug 17, 2018 9:34 pm

Is there a way to check the driveshafts at home?
Raise the car, remove the wheel and try spinning/turning the wheel?

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Sat Aug 18, 2018 3:14 pm

You just need to lie under the car, wheels on the ground, grab the driveshaft and try to move it. Compare one side to the other and you'll be able to tell if one has too much play in it.

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Mon Aug 27, 2018 3:36 pm

what about the trailing arm bushes ?