The saga continues...shuddering/vibration

Cutz · Post by **Cutz** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 2:58 pm

bonjourno peeps,

got a bit of an issue with my H22-swap and at present im scratching my head...

at low-mid rpm (1500-3500ish) i seem to be getting a shudder/vibration from the engine.

as the revs come up past 3500rpm she seems absolutely fine and pulls well generally but this shuddering is really starting to bug me.

it's definately nothing like wheel balancing as it has been done perfectly, nor do i feel its driveshaft related as it doesn't seem to be speed dependant, only rpm dependant.

the h22a is in my EJ civic hatch with 60-shore poly mounts and custom from engine mounts.

now i couldn't afford the flashy hasport/avid mounts so i used some cheaper ones that i modified to fit but im fairly sure the engine is in alignment...however, if it wasn't then surely it would vibrate like hell all the time??

think we've pretty much confirmed it's not a vacuum leak...i've only got the PCV valve left to test.

has anyone had an issues with F1 stage 1 clutches being sent from the factory off-balance?

i guess i'm just putting the feelers out for ideas...the hondata S300 will be on there soon so i can check everything fully but at the moment this one's got me scratching my head

Post by **Merlin** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 3:05 pm

Does it do it while the car is stationary and out of gear? Or just while it is being driven? What happens when you have the car running stationary and out of gear and rev it past 3K? With your hand on the engine can you feel any vibration?

Cutz · Post by **Cutz** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 4:31 pm

it only seems to be with the car under load and in gear mate.

with it stationary and revving there's no issue.

i've got a proper stethoscope to listen for engine noises and haven't found anything untoward :-/

Post by **Merlin** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 4:41 pm

Does it vibrate more when turning a particular direction? I experienced something similar last year and it turned out to be an inner CV joint. In fact I had two drive shaft issues, from what I can remember the first seemed to be rev dependent and after swapping drive shafts (the newer one was also buggered) the vibration only happened over a certain speed.

I would jack the car up with the engine off and out of gear and rotate each wheel back and forth and see if you can hear or feel any clicks or grinding. You might have to get underneath to hear the inner CV joints working.

Cutz · Post by **Cutz** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 6:24 pm

i'll give it a go

Cutz · Post by **Cutz** » Thu Nov 21, 2013 7:36 pm

Id say it seems like centre and just off centre is where it does it the most but cruising or booting it at like 70 or 80 right to off the clock does so pretty well with only the tiniest vibration which I put down to the fact everything is poly bushed

Cutz · Post by **Cutz** » Fri Nov 22, 2013 10:18 am

Merlin I think youve cracked it mate!

Inner CV joint or driveshaft could be the problem....the swap shafts were new when I fitted but they weren't the most expensive.
Ill get under her and see if i can zero in on it

Thanks geez!

Post by **Merlin** » Fri Nov 22, 2013 10:27 am

Awesome! I hope you can pinpoint the exact issue

Cutz · Post by **Cutz** » Fri Nov 22, 2013 10:37 am

If the inner cv is at fault, what do you reckon is the actual fault with it if im getting this shudder?

Joint imbalance?
Bearings failing?
Poor tolerances?

Its just weird how they are fine at high speed.

Also might be a pain to get the correct replacements coz they're swap axlws

Post by **Merlin** » Fri Nov 22, 2013 11:01 am

I dont understand why it would be fine at high speed. Unless it is a balancing issue somwhere, as you know wheel balancing can behave like this.

My issue was the bearings or the cups they slot into being worn.