Hi, having had a drivetrain vibration on my 2007 diesel auto now for months and not been able to pinpoint the cause after checking everything possible I’m now looking at a possible cause. Where the driveshaft slots into gearbox on pass side there seems to be an excessive amount of play up and down . Having changed many clutches on front wheel drive cars over the years I know there is always a small amount of play but mine seems way more than I’ve ever seen . So I’m thinking maybe this movement could at speed flop around and cause the vibes . There is no oil leaking but sometimes a wirring noise from front . Anybody had any experience with this would be good to hear from .tim

I had a front driveshaft UJ problem which felt similar to what you are describing when you grabbed hold of it but showed up as vibration on steering wheel at certain speeds. You had to jack the wheel up to feel the play since depending on how the car stopped the play wasn't always apparent.

http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic18931.html 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

I had a front driveshaft UJ problem which felt similar to what you are describing when you grabbed hold of it but showed up as vibration on steering wheel at certain speeds. You had to jack the wheel up to feel the play since depending on how the car stopped the play wasn't always apparent.

http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic18931.html 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Could it be the splines that connect the gearbox to the front transfer box?
These are not lubricated, and exposed to the elements.
Mine had a wheel bearing type rumble for months - I put it down to mud terrain tyres and just turned up the radio.
Eventually the splines fretted away, one loudish bang, and then the wheel bearing noise disappeared, great turn down the radio. Unfortunately it leaves you with front wheel drive only, which if you have bothered to fit mud terrains does pose a problem (mud & 2wd = ).

On stripping down the transfer box I noticed that the offside driveshaft splines were also badly worn, could this also cause vibration? Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

Tigertim wrote:

Hi, having had a drivetrain vibration on my 2007 diesel auto now for months and not been able to pinpoint the cause after checking everything possible I’m now looking at a possible cause. Where the driveshaft slots into gearbox on pass side there seems to be an excessive amount of play up and down . Having changed many clutches on front wheel drive cars over the years I know there is always a small amount of play but mine seems way more than I’ve ever seen . So I’m thinking maybe this movement could at speed flop around and cause the vibes . There is no oil leaking but sometimes a wirring noise from front . Anybody had any experience with this would be good to hear from .tim

Did you ever get to the bottom of this Tim?

I've got this exact problem and am about to order a new driveshaft but would be great to hear what happened

I hate to say this but it may be a failing main bearing in the auto transmission.
I say this because I had the same symptoms and it was found to be the transmission which caused damage also to the torque converter and FNS driveshaft. Derek Hill
2009 FL2 HSE TD4 Auto

thanks Delboy

Cured!

Changed the NSF driveshaft and wobble has gone!