Ever since being stuck in bad mud that almost stopped the wheels from turning (it caked in the wheel arches and set solid from the wheel friction), my car vibrates badly when under any slight load especially around 80kph (that's 50mph to you guys). The vibration sometimes does not happen at all and at other times badly shakes the car. I think that it is temperature related as it is often more pronounced after climbing some hills. There is no vibration when coasting and the vibration is in tune with road speed not engine revs. The car is a TD4 auto. It is very hard to diagnose because it doesn't happen all the time. Any thoughts? I've read quite a lot of the vibration threads but they are mostly for manual boxes. The vibration feels like it is coming from directly under the centre console.

One assumes you have carefully cleaned the inside of the wheels. Caked mud on the wheels will cause them to run out of balance. If you have done this, did you check the driveshafts for caked mud? John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

I had a similar vibration problem that turned out to be the handbrake of all things. Others on this forum have had the same problem. Seems the handbrake does not fully release and starts to bind as it gets hot. On my car this would only happen occasionally and when I got to about 50mph. The vibration felt like it was under the centre of the car. The handbrake "expanders" are known for seizing when they have got wet.

Why does it only vibrate when under load? If it was the handbrake then it would vibrate when the wheels turned wouldn't it? If I coast along it is completely vibration free, put my foot down and vibration starts.

No idea - but mine first vibrated on a motor way about 8 miles from home. The car really shook. As I pulled over to the hard shoulder and slowed the vibration cleared allowing me to get to the next junction and pull off the motorway. The vibration did not come back for a few days. Really weird.

We had a similar thing and it was a worn CV joint on a front half shaft. Test by jacking up a wheel and feel for play at each end of the drive shaft. In our case the bellows retaining cir clip had come off and allowed water to get in and ruin the joint. Sometimes the drive shaft will settle in a position where the balance is worse than other times.

All good thoughts. I was thinking along those lines where a universal or CV joint wasn't quite right. The hand brake one is a possibility as well. I'm just hoping it isn't a main bearing type of problem in the auto gearbox or something in the haldex...

A quick update. It was indeed the front left CV joint. All fixed

for giving the update. Glad you sorted it! Ex AA Series III LWB Safari - Gone
300TDi Disco (bought new - terrible car) sent back after 18 months
Freelander 1 Estate - leased, given back at end of lease
200TDi Disco (bought from a mate with 100,000 on the clock) - Gone
Disco 2 TD5 - sold and exported to France
FR2 TD4 GS - Gone
FR2 SD4 HSE - Now changed for a DS
New model ex-demo Evoque S 180 in white
Unable to order a new DS, so gave up. Now have a Volvo S90 Recharge.