Re: IML: Rumbling driveline vibration

["Frederick Joslin" <fljoslin@xxxxxxxx>]

I owned a 92 Grand Caravan back in the day. 3.3 L engine FWD and probably similar to the Imperial. After about 111,000 miles I replaced a few front axles, the engine mounts and replaced a broken (in two pieces) anti sway bar. I had it down to less than one hour to replace an axle and about 1 1/2 hours for two. There is a way you can do it without needing an alignment.  The typical sign of a bad axle on the van was a shaking under acceleration and otherwise smooth. One of the times very shortly after replacing the axles, I was getting the same shaking symptoms again. I was sure that it was not the axles. This time it turned out to be one bad spark plug wire which only caused a noticible miss-fire only under heavy load.  However, the symptoms were exactly the same as having a bad axle (CV joint). As I recall on this van, there were three engine mounts. Two were pretty easy to change and the third (lower front) was not. I paid a professional to replace the lower front one and to make sure that everything was aligned correctly since you can have the entire drivetrane mis-aligned after mount replacement.

If you get a constant shaking or rumble or one that occurs when turning in one direction or the other, it is probably more indicative of a bad front wheel hub/bearing than an axle/CV joint. I replaced those also and if you are replacing the axles, it may be a good idea to replace the hubs at the same time.

 

Good luck 

----- Original Message -----
From: "PAUL WENTINK"
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: IML: Rumbling driveline vibration
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 19:19:15 -0500


I don't own a '93, but engine mounts are
suppose to isolate the engine, transmission,
and drive line from the rest of the car. If the
wrong mounts are used, there can be a direct
connection, or "grounding" of the engine to the
frame or sub-frame. If this should occur, the
car becomes like the inside of a drum, and any
sound or vibration is magnified.

Broken mounts typically disconnect the engine
completely from the car, so it is possible for
a noticeable increase in noise or vibration to
occur once replaced, but the correct mounts
should not do this to the extent you describe,
especially in automobiles that are noted for
silence and smoothness of operation. If this
continues after the next set of mounts are
installed, there may be other problems with the
car, such as rough engine, bad c.v. joints, or
u-joints which may have been masked by the
broken mounts. It may be possible that the
position of the exhaust system will change with
the new mounts, causing it to "ground" against
a portion of the car which should be isolated
from it. This would also result in a noise and
vibration condition.

Noises and vibration can have many different
causes, so you may want to refer to the FSM for
your car to see if there is a specific
troubleshooting section or service diagnosis
for this problem.

Paul W.


-----Original Message-----
From: NY3UVL714@xxxxxxx
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 9:59 am
Subject: IML: Rumbling driveline vibration



Hello Imperialists,

 

I've got three questions for the group.

 

1.

my mechanic recently replaced 3 motor mounts to
correct some on throttle/off throttle driveline
lash in my midnight blue - 1993 sedan. After
the new mounts were installed there was
a noticeable  increase in engine

noise, vibration and harshness. Through the
steering wheel I felt strong buzzing vibrations
and could hear the engine working under
throttle with a deep resonant sound.   My
Imperial sounded and felt like an older
panel/pickup truck.  My mechanic reinstalled
the old mounts and has ordered a different
type.  

What went wrong?

 

2.

My car is a 1993 Imperial that came from the
factory with a plain metal chrome pentastar
hood ornament without the crystalline eagle
insert, no anti-lock brakes and a 3.3 V-6 
instead of the 3.8 

I wasn't aware of Imperials equipped this way,
none of my literature mentions this equipment
level.

Please tell me more about my car.

 

3. How do I change my email address on the mailing list?

 

Big thanks,

 

Lawrence from San Francisco

 




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Fred Joslin