Mopar Muscle Association UK

Recently I bought a 65 impala. Cars fine up to about 55mph and then I get a severe vibration (through steering and the floorpan - the whole car shakes) coming from the back at 55-60 mph, after which it starts to ease off.

I swapped a different set of wheels but to no avail

I then jacked the car up at the back and took it to 55mph while my mate was watching the wheels - One of the rear wheels was bobbing up and down by up to 10mm.

At the same time I checked the propshaft and I get a fair bit of play at the tailshaft end (box bearing ?) - Very little by the axle. But having said that surely worn prop bearing would cause vibration at all speeds ?

Also the steering pulsates sideways when I brake hard.

Any ideas ? My prime culprit is bent axleshafts but I'm sure someone knows better.

Cheers guys

Hi Mad,
If you have a bent Half shaft the wheel will toe in and out per revolution it may have been kerbed and the end plate may be distorted/bent.
I figure that you also have a loose tail shaft bearing and at 55 the two are in harmonics and the vibration is doubling
With regard to the steering movement under braking I would suspect a warped front disc.?

Knightcharger wrote:With regard to the steering movement under braking I would suspect a warped front disc.?

Disk - what disk ?

Still, thanks for the info - it may well be the endplate or something like that - Either way I will gt a new set of halfshafts and take it from there

When you brake does the pedal pulse ? ie kick back if it does then your drums are out of round ,you might be able to have them skimmed ,for years I had a peculiar shake at the back of my car that at 80 was terrible found out later it was a bent flange on one axle shaft not that bent but enogh to throw it out trouble with drums is that they can warp dead easy specially leaving the h/brake when drum is hot !!

Nope - new drums at the front.

The pedal doesn't pulse and the brakes are good - The wheel simply moves sideways.

I got the rear on axle stands while Doing 55mph and the vibration persists so its deffo rear axle, wheels or drivetrain. I'm betting on the bent halfshaft flange

Stevos Sattelite had a bad vibration Chris. Turned out to be the gearbox.

The dealer I bought the car off reckons the box had a full rebuild - I actully took the car back and made him do it, cos the shifting was rough & violent. It looks like it has new seals & tailshaft bearing. But having said that it still has play on the tailshaft

When I called him about it he reckoned that hes still got the invoice and the box is on a 12 month guarantee. I'm gonna sort out the halfshafts first and if it aint sorted I'll give him a call

Part ex it back where you got it from for a MOPAR or no car

Trouble is I accepted the car back after hes supposedly completed the repairs which frees him from his obligations - I should have been more thorugh when picking it up second time.

Annoying thing is I bought 2 cheapo cars off the guy before, and no problems. They I buy a dear one and he flogs me a lemon...