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Hey folks. About a week ago I started noticing a shaking sensation mostly through both the gearstick and the accelerator pedal. I suspect the pedal is actually just that my foot is more sensitive to it than my arse, though it is odd.

It feels kinda like a diesel's shuddering, and appears after driving for ten or fifteen minutes. It happens mostly in third, fourth, and fifth gears and is more severe when loading up the engine. It gets progressively worse as the drive goes on, and has me a bit concerned.

I think it increases frequency with the speed of the car, but it doesn't seem to change frequency with gear changes.


My car is a stock '99 outback, except that it has a younger ('02, I think) gearbox. The tyres are inflated properly and don't seem to have any flat spots. I haven't seen anything dripping from underneath, though it's hard to check as I park on sand at home and gravel at work.

It's only been doing it for a week or so - we drove to Toodyay and back a couple of weeks ago with no worries.

Any ideas? Thanks guys

At this early stage im thinking a dry CV... when they are low on grease and get warmed up they begin to create friction in the joint causing a vibration like you have suggested. Being AWD it could be either front or back im guessing. I would look for signs of torn boots or grease leaking out.

Thats my idea for the night.

Dave

Thanks, Dave. I'll have a good long look tomorrow morning to see what I can see.

Does it have a clutch type rear LSD?
Our work van was doing this (toyota hiace) and it ended up being dirty diff oil

The CV boots seem fine, and there's no new grease splattered around anywhere. But the rear diff was rather warm after a drive to and from Joondalup, not sure if it was warmer than usual, but it was not burning to touch.

Is this normal?

wheelbearings? tail shaft uni joints? clutch on its way out?

Well the clutch and gearbox are new, so it shouldn't be those. I can try the bearings if I can find somewhere level to lift the car up (the garage is full of junk. And I mean full, can't even walk in except for a lane to the fridge)

The unijoint on the tailshaft was fine a few months ago, of course that could have changed. But again it's a bit tricky finding a nice level area to jack the car up.