New member with a rumbling terano

[Graemebarson]

Hi guys,
i have just been given a Terrano II 52 plate 2.7 Diesel
it is in not to bad a condition for it's age but i have a problem
i would like some help with please.

When driving normally the terrano is great but as soon as i hit 50 mph it rumbles loudly until 60mph then it goes quiet but still faint. And my wife says it is vibrating her side of the car but i can't feel any vibration on my side

Now i am not very mechanically minded but i have a couple of things i think it may be for instance, could it be the tyres? the prop shaft? the tracking/Balancing? or is it something more sinister that i should be worried about.
any help/info with this would be great thanks.

Graeme.

[jims-terrano]

Welcome aboard and you’ve joined the right place.

First job get your wheels checked including balancing.

Second thing would be the front propshaft, you should be able to reach it without jacking car up. It has two UJs and a single sliding joint. If you can grab the front propshaft, give it a good tug to see if you feel a really small amount of movement the chances are it would be sliding joint which cannot be replaced it would mean a replacement shaft but these are cheap enough second hand. UJs do fail and can be replaced.

That’ll give you something to be going on with.

[solarman216]

Welcome mate as Jim says you have fixed hubs I think so front prop and diff are turning all the time on the road, means that the prop gets dry of grease over time and starts to wear, on top of that they stopped putting greasers on them, so yes first place to look, Rick

[Lazy-Ferret]

Originally Posted by jims-terrano

Welcome aboard and you’ve joined the right place.

First job get your wheels checked including balancing.

Second thing would be the front propshaft, you should be able to reach it without jacking car up. It has two UJs and a single sliding joint. If you can grab the front propshaft, give it a good tug to see if you feel a really small amount of movement the chances are it would be sliding joint which cannot be replaced it would mean a replacement shaft but these are cheap enough second hand. UJs do fail and can be replaced.

That’ll give you something to be going on with.

I am reporting you to the Mods... that is a sizeist comment... even with a 2 inch suspension and 2 inch body lift, I can't do that....

Off to start eating only lettuce..

[jims-terrano]

Originally Posted by Lazy-Ferret

I am reporting you to the Mods... that is a sizeist comment... even with a 2 inch suspension and 2 inch body lift, I can't do that....

Off to start eating only lettuce..

Yeah but what you’re forgetting is my knuckles drag on the floor whilst I’m walking

[Banshee]

Originally Posted by Lazy-Ferret

I am reporting you to the Mods... that is a sizeist comment... even with a 2 inch suspension and 2 inch body lift, I can't do that....

Off to start eating only lettuce..

[Graemebarson]

Thanks for the quick replies guys.

To be honest i know the tracking is out as the steering wheel is not centred when driving straight, holding the wheel at 10 to 2 the car goes to the right but turning the wheel and hands at quarter to 1 the car drives straight but i don't think it should cause as much rumbling as it does or could i be wrong??

[jonny]

Welcome

[solarman216]

Originally Posted by Graemebarson

Thanks for the quick replies guys.

To be honest i know the tracking is out as the steering wheel is not centred when driving straight, holding the wheel at 10 to 2 the car goes to the right but turning the wheel and hands at quarter to 1 the car drives straight but i don't think it should cause as much rumbling as it does or could i be wrong??

Cos wheel is out does not mean tracking is out, just not been centered when tracking done, but would not cause your probs anyway, Rick

[jims-terrano]

Tracking is also different to having the wheels balanced and also any damage to a wheel or tyre. Move the front wheels to the back and the back to the front. This may change or remove the vibration if it is balance or damage related to the wheels or tyres.

[macabethiel]

Originally Posted by Graemebarson

Thanks for the quick replies guys.

To be honest i know the tracking is out as the steering wheel is not centred when driving straight, holding the wheel at 10 to 2 the car goes to the right but turning the wheel and hands at quarter to 1 the car drives straight but i don't think it should cause as much rumbling as it does or could i be wrong??

If the tracking is out you will get feathering on your tyres, plus if its way out track possibly a steering pull try the "Palm Test". Many newer left hand drive cars are built with a slight tendency to pull to the nearside for safety reasons.

With your fingers straight,held together,your thumb against your first finger so you have the full flat of your hand extended by your fingers you are ready to do the"Palm Test"

If you push the flat of your now extended hand so the finger tips are against the outer edge of the tyre push your hand across the width on the tyre so it is at right angles to the wheel. As you push your palm across the tyre you then pull it back again. If you feel a "File Effect" in either direction then your tracking is out. If the tread feels smooth in both directions your tracking is okay. This works on all cars whatever the make or model there should be no "file effect".
This test cannot be used on a brand new tyres wait until they have done a hundred miles or so. This is to eliminate the moulding effect on some new tyre casings

The file effect is what you feel if you run a finger across a metal file. In one direction it will be smooth in the other you will feel the abrasion of the file.