how much VIBRATION is normal?
Moderator: Fatmobile
how much VIBRATION is normal?
Hey guys,
So my Rabbit vibrates pretty bad at idle. I attributed it to it being over 26 years old and a diesel. But then my buddy who used to own a diesel way back when took a ride with me and kind of made a big deal about mine vibrating badly.
So, how much vibration is normal?
Diesels ARE going to vibrate more than gassers right?
What are some possible issues to address to curtail some of the vibration?
I've heard that the front strut assembly is one area, and possibly injector timing, what else?
Thanks,
stueve
So my Rabbit vibrates pretty bad at idle. I attributed it to it being over 26 years old and a diesel. But then my buddy who used to own a diesel way back when took a ride with me and kind of made a big deal about mine vibrating badly.
So, how much vibration is normal?
Diesels ARE going to vibrate more than gassers right?
What are some possible issues to address to curtail some of the vibration?
I've heard that the front strut assembly is one area, and possibly injector timing, what else?
Thanks,
stueve
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- Hillbilly Tuner
- Posts: 2424
- Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2006 10:11 am
- Location: Near Lund B.C. Kanada.
Good Vibes.
try adjusting idle speed.
Fraulein Bunny Bondo is Smmmmmmooooth reduse the fuel a little at the same time.
hagar.
Fraulein Bunny Bondo is Smmmmmmooooth reduse the fuel a little at the same time.
hagar.
If you put a hard object like a pen in your glovebox and it dances, chances are your passenger side motor mount is broken.
This mount is a pain to replace, too... requires removal and re-timing of the injection pump, as well as an 8-ton hydraulic press to replace the mount inside its bracket (I was lucky and got a local machine shop to press it for a few bucks).
Playing with the idle speed can help, a little...
I have a new mount and I still have some vibration at idle, definitely more than a gasser. However it's not objectionable and the pen I keep in the glovebox barely rattles now.
To help keep my mount from breaking again, I deleted my A/C compressor (that thing is heavy).
This mount is a pain to replace, too... requires removal and re-timing of the injection pump, as well as an 8-ton hydraulic press to replace the mount inside its bracket (I was lucky and got a local machine shop to press it for a few bucks).
Playing with the idle speed can help, a little...
I have a new mount and I still have some vibration at idle, definitely more than a gasser. However it's not objectionable and the pen I keep in the glovebox barely rattles now.
To help keep my mount from breaking again, I deleted my A/C compressor (that thing is heavy).
'82 Diesel Rabbit • '88 Fox (RIP) • '88 Jetta (work in progress)
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- Global Moderator
- Posts: 7566
- Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2002 10:28 pm
- Location: north central Iowa
motor mounts
I put a passenger side motor mount in upside down once and the vibration was bad.
'91 Golf gasser converted to a 12mm pump, M-TDI.
'84 1.6TD Rabbit with a VNT-15 turbo, still setup to run on vegetable oil.
'84 GTI with 1.7TD pistons and intercooled.
2003 TDI wagon
2000 TDI Jetta.
'84 1.6TD Rabbit with a VNT-15 turbo, still setup to run on vegetable oil.
'84 GTI with 1.7TD pistons and intercooled.
2003 TDI wagon
2000 TDI Jetta.
I pressed the mounts in myself. I put in the new ones like I saw how the old ones went in. But for kicks, how can you tell they are in right. And how can you tell if the mount is failed? The rubber is broke? Well, I'm glad it's my car and not something else!
Huh, I guess I'll have to inspect around a bit.
But so that I've got the shooting straight :
-check mounts
-check Injector pump timing
-front struts? I know for a fact that mine are cashed, just wondering if this is actually a possibility.
-idle speed adjust
Huh, I guess I'll have to inspect around a bit.
But so that I've got the shooting straight :
-check mounts
-check Injector pump timing
-front struts? I know for a fact that mine are cashed, just wondering if this is actually a possibility.
-idle speed adjust
My short-lived crooked mount was only rotated a few degrees... so alignment is pretty critical. The passenger side one should look like a guy standing on his head in the installed position. Not sure about the trans mount... I bought one but haven't gotten around to doing it yet.
I could tell my passenger mount broke, because the round metal part of the bracket was no longer flush with the two "ears" or thick flat rubber discs that go on either side. The mount was sunken below them between 0.25" and 0.5".
If you didn't retime your pump with a dial gauge after reinstallation, then the vibration certainly could be timing.
I've never heard of struts causing vibration when the car wasn't moving.
Anyway, bumping the idle speed up would be the first thing I tried.
I could tell my passenger mount broke, because the round metal part of the bracket was no longer flush with the two "ears" or thick flat rubber discs that go on either side. The mount was sunken below them between 0.25" and 0.5".
If you didn't retime your pump with a dial gauge after reinstallation, then the vibration certainly could be timing.
I've never heard of struts causing vibration when the car wasn't moving.
Anyway, bumping the idle speed up would be the first thing I tried.
'82 Diesel Rabbit • '88 Fox (RIP) • '88 Jetta (work in progress)
You don't mention the year of your bunny... I've been through 5 bunnys and they've all had there "vibration issues"....... The later cars were a lot smoother, I suspect VW made some changes and some stiffening to bodies that is not readily apparent.
Part of the problem is bunny bodies are resonate ...VW did any number of things over the years to help (band aid) the situation. I had an 82 with a spring mass (chunk of steel on the end of a flat bar) bolted inside front bumper. I've noticed that my 83 has a big chunk of metal (another spring mass) attached to the clutch operating shaft where the clutch cable attaches. One of my bunnys has a piece of broom stick between the tunnel (between front seats) and roof to keep roof from resonating. Of course the whole dash board rattles at idle. As does the rear trunk lid, the rubber bumpers back there are hard as rocks and don't do there job anymore.....
All of them run nice and smooth once I put some RPM's on them,,,
regards R
Part of the problem is bunny bodies are resonate ...VW did any number of things over the years to help (band aid) the situation. I had an 82 with a spring mass (chunk of steel on the end of a flat bar) bolted inside front bumper. I've noticed that my 83 has a big chunk of metal (another spring mass) attached to the clutch operating shaft where the clutch cable attaches. One of my bunnys has a piece of broom stick between the tunnel (between front seats) and roof to keep roof from resonating. Of course the whole dash board rattles at idle. As does the rear trunk lid, the rubber bumpers back there are hard as rocks and don't do there job anymore.....
All of them run nice and smooth once I put some RPM's on them,,,
regards R