Possible drive shaft vibration

[Bremar 7]

Hi

Is it a thing that the driveshafts go out of ballance?  Possibly the drivers side in UK  (the long one)??  
I’m asking because I have this whole body vibration that’s around 30/40 miles an hour, more pronounced on acceleration and particularly so when accelerating out of a corner.  I have changed all three engine mounts. It feels as if its from the front of the car. I have checked the CV joints. (Everything seems fine. There’s no play and they don’t click on either right or left lock.) I have checked the wheel bearings. I have overhauled the Mcpherson struts. I have had brand-new tires on and all four wheels and balanced. I have also taken the front wheels and put them on the back just in case they were deformed in anyway but I still have this whole body vibration.  Car seems fine at 60/70 miles an hour.

any thoughts 

thanks Bremar. 

[Bremar 7]

For clarification,  my car is a 1993 Gentry which is an Automatic. 
thanks Bremar 

[PhilNW 67]

So it is road speed related not engine speed?

 

Have you tried putting the car on stands (careful if you do) and running it at the same speeds? 

[Bremar 7]

I haven’t no, good thinking. Thats an option I might do tonight. Apart from “anything unusual “ do you have any suggestions as to anything specific you've had experience of maybe. 
thank you Bremar. 

[PhilNW 67]

So it is road speed related not engine speed?

 

Have you shimmed the top engine mount correctly? Too "tight" and you will probably get a vibration.

 

 

[Bremar 7]

Might try it without wheels to allow better visability 

thanks Bremar

[Leslie green 166]

thinking about your earlier post when the engine seems to have shifted over to one side twisting the long driveshaft steady bearing mount and possibly removing any freeplay in the drive may well be playing into this ,I know you couldn't find a reason and it seemed a tricky and usual problem but it may well be related to a wrong length drive has been fitted ,possibly the auto needs a different length drive ) I dunno) and it the past it could not be found so a manual car one was fitted ( i'm only guessing here)

[welshpug 1,737]

Auto box used standard 1.6 shafts.

 

But I also would be investigating the mountings as the lower one looks very wrong.

[Bremar 7]

There are a number of valid things you guys have raised. 

1. I have last night run the car at 40/50 mph (too scared to do more) whilst on Axle stands. The vibration  particularly gets worse on full lock, more so right lock than left lock. 
2. Ive done a fair bit of research and just as welshpug says it confirms that the driveshafts for a Gentry automatic and all other automatic 205’s should  be the 1.6 Gti shafts with the 32mm nuts on the driveshaft ends. (Ie not the bigger 1.9 shafts). Albeit that the front brake callipers are Girling on the Gentry models, compared to the 1.6 Gti, which are Bendix callipers.  
3. I didn’t know there were shims on the upper mount as mentioned by philNW. But when i did the top mount didn’t see any. I understand you are supposed to shim the 2 little pump stops either side of the mount itself so that they just touch the mount itself to stop the engine moving too much on acceleration or braking. I need to look at that. 
4. I am going to run the car again tonight without the wheels on to see if I can get a better idea of whats going on. 
5. Bottom mount. On my car this doesn’t seem to line up properly as others have mentioned. See photo attached for those that dont know. However, the top mount and gearbox mount line up perfectly. 
6. I feel that this shaking has  got to be related to the drive shafts as its worse towards full lock.  The car until a few months ago was off the road for 10 years. Maybe the cv joints are dry? If I’ll update in due course. Any recommendations? On the best make of 1.6 shafts because that in itself appears a nightmare. 

Thanks bremar

Edited February 26, 2025 by Bremar

[welshpug 1,737]

Either that subframe or right chassis leg has been shifted to the left, or the engine for some reason is shoved too far to the right, possibly a bent nearside chassis leg or a collapsing gearbox bracket

[PhilNW 67]

Might be an optical illuson but the driveshaft does not look parallel to the engine sump flange

Edited February 26, 2025 by PhilNW

[Leslie green 166]

I may be wrong but I think it isn't that easy to replace boots on 1.6 shafts as they have a metal collar attached unlike 1.9 shafts which just have boots you can remove easily.  The shims are indeed for the bump stops on the drivers mount but they wont make any difference to your issue here as they are only to limit forward and back movement and  suggested above a bent chassis leg issue is the most likely and what you need is to inspect another 205 side by side to see if you can spot the problem  , the left side being pushed over would be the most likely Id have thought. 

[Bremar 7]

I live in Stratford Upon Avon. But probably not that easy to compare without both cars being on axel stands etc. even if someone lives near me. 
ill take wheels off tomorrow as Im not working Thursday and get a closer look. 
It doesn’t look as if there’s been any body damage but maybe the subframe has somehow been shoved left ? 

Without me researching I guess a replacement front subframe might be the answer. I was underneath looking tonight it doesn’t seem too involved to change whilst leaving everything else in situ?? Can anyone correct me?? 
I've attached a link to a YouTube vid of the shafts rotating at idle (900 rpm ish) not sure it tells me much tho. 

 

Alternatively this is my vid showing the changing of all 3 engine mounts. May show something of relevance to any experts. 
 

 

Thanks Bremar. 

Edited February 26, 2025 by Bremar

[PhilNW 67]

Might be worth trying to check body jig dimensions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EDIT

 

Is that the slowest wheel speed you can get with an auto gearbox, if it is suggest rotating manually with a dial gauge or simple pointer to check any out of round..

 

 

Edited February 27, 2025 by PhilNW

[Bremar 7]

Thanks philNW. Ill try checking. Out of interest I can read 1st photo details but not second one even if I click on itvto open it. 
but thanks I’ll have a go today withiut wheels on. 
Bremar 

[Tom Fenton 1,650]

Not really a valid test running the shafts at full suspension droop. They almost never operate in that orientation in normal use. If there is any wear in the inner joints then you are moving them at full droop out of the worn area.

[PhilNW 67]

Hi the original is not much better, cant remember where I got the originals from . will do a bit of digging

[PhilNW 67]

Found it

 

 

 

[DAVE 54 1]

Hi Bremar,

 I am in Redditch. Presently restoring a gti, engine bay all stripped out. If you need to take measurements etc., more than welcome