Eibach springs & vibration

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Anakreon
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Dear all
Just changed stock springs on my 04 SWB G500 to Eibach items obtained from ORC. The car now sits about 7 cm higher. I have changed nothing else (except new bump stops). No spacers are fitted.
Dampers will also need updating because springs are considerably harder and damper rods should be slightly longer (I intend to fit adjustable Bilsteins from ORC calculated for said springs). Wheel tracking has not been re-checked and the steering wheel is now abt 5deg off center when the car goes straight. The car does not pull either side.
At low speed on perfect tarmac (and with the stock shock absorbers still fitted) there exists a discernible vibration felt all over but especially through the steering wheel. At higher speed it appears to dimish to the point of almost not being felt.
Note that when the car was fitted with the OM springs there was absolutely no vibrations.
Any ideas?
Can the cause be traced to the changed geometry?

peter perfect
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Re: Eibach springs & vibration

I would say that rhe geometry of the prop is causing the vibration, come across a few guys with 5cm lift on 463's and they have had vibrations , double Cardon prop has cured it, but not sure why it would change your tracking

Anakreon
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Re: Eibach springs & vibration

Can you please provide some details on the "double Cardon prop". I cannot claim that I know anything about it (or where I can find it).
Many thanks

peter perfect
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Re: Eibach springs & vibration

you will have to use a landrover one and make an adaptor plate.

http://www.devon4x4.com/component/option,com_shop/Itemid,67/sitelang,en/...

Anakreon
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Re: Eibach springs & vibration

thank you

Anakreon
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Re: Eibach springs & vibration

Whilst I am looking into your suggestion for a double Cardon prop, I have contacted ORC who recommend either a reconditioned rear propshaft or a new MB item. At 1,500 euro this is no laughing matter. And I am still left wondering if a new OM shaft will cure the problem: will I be asking the new prop shaft to do its work under conditions which were not in the design brief regarding angle of operation :shock:
When I started with the saga of trying to uprate my car's suspension I had no idea I was opening such a can of worms... :oops:

Anakreon
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Re: Eibach springs & vibration

The story goes on.
I saw a "knock" damage on the exhaust box just above the rear prop shaft. I put the car on stands and with the engine running I saw the rear prop shaft rotating out of true. I removed the shaft and found the UV joints in bad condition. The shaft has been straightened in a press untill it turned true on the lathe, UV joint internals changed and rebalanced. At the same time front prop shaft was checked and found good. As a reward I did not cure the problem. I then drove the car removing one shaft at a time and the vibration was still there. I put the car on stands, removed both shafts, switched on the engine and put it in gear. Between 2 & 3 thousand rpm the vibration was vibrant. I touched the transfer box with a rod and felt it. By pushing the transfer box downward the vibration dissappeared. I removed the small intermediate shaft between autogearbox and transfer box and found it with free play and its joints almost freezed. I put it back and turned around the elastic mountings of the transfer box. The vibrations diminished and their nature changed. More acceptable. With the engine switched off I felt a roughness and some free play when I turned the input and output flanges of the transfer box and rear differential.
I will renew the intermediate shaft and buy a set of new elastic mountings. I will fit them next week and see what happens.
Too much work... :shock:
Too much money... :evil:
Blood Sweat and Tears... :cry:

Arnie
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Re: Eibach springs & vibration

Gearbox and transfer case mountings are a common source of vibration problems. Good to renew. The TC, if I recall correctly, is chain driven and rough-shifting can probably stress the chain and cause some play. I think on early Gs the intermediate shaft is greasable, but on later ones it appears sealed with rubber covers over the joints.

mortinson
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Re: Eibach springs & vibration

Arnie wrote:
Gearbox and transfer case mountings are a common source of vibration problems. Good to renew. The TC, if I recall correctly, is chain driven and rough-shifting can probably stress the chain and cause some play. I think on early Gs the intermediate shaft is greasable, but on later ones it appears sealed with rubber covers over the joints.

This is correct: in 460's and early 463's the short propshaft has three grease nipples: one in each UJ and one in the middle joint.

Anakreon
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Re: Eibach springs & vibration

I did not check the gearbox mountings. Is it common that vibrations may originate from the gearbox because of its mountings?

Incidentally I find perplexing that vibrations were not discernible with the soft low springs fitted - even though the rear prop shaft was out of true and out of balance. They only became noticeable, very strong to be precise, once the firmer Eibachs were fitted.
Does this make any sense? :?:

mortinson
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Re: Eibach springs & vibration

Maybe your former springs were so soft that they would absorb any discernible vibration....?

Anakreon
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Re: Eibach springs & vibration

It appears so.
Nevertheless at 63,000km ?????

And I have not reached the end of the story yet...

kernel
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Re: Eibach springs & vibration

peter perfect wrote:
you will have to use a landrover one and make an adaptor plate.

http://www.devon4x4.com/component/option,com_shop/Itemid,67/sitelang,en/mode,productview/product,102/cat,57/showcaticons,yes

Can you share some more info on that modification?