I need some help with a strange problem. I have an 04 Disco 2 that I have had for a while and drive sparingly (sometimes I will be 1000 a month, sometimes 100). A couple weeks ago I climbed under to replace the oil pan gasket and notice my motor mounts were cracked and the motor was about an inch forward. Check the two transmission mounts and both were cracked. I had been daily driving the car before I found this and couldn't believe how well it drove for it being this out of whack. So I order all four mounts and get them put in. The only real difference is the truck is smother at idle (it did not shake hard before, but it is noticeably smoother). I drive it a roughly 200 miles and everything is great. However, now I have a vibration when accelerating around 2000 rpms. It does it in lower gears leaving a stop light and higher gears going down the freeway. It goes away when I take my foot of the gas. If I put the car in neutral I can rev the engine over 4000 rpms and it smooth. Does anyone have any ideas what this could be??

I have not greased the front drive shaft since I got the truck 6000 miles ago. But it has been replace because it has the zerk fittings.

When I did the oil pan I also replaced the thermostat and fan. Could the new fan be causing this?? I feel like if that was the case I would feel it when I rev the engine in neutral.

Also I am not getting any codes or lights on the dash.

I am stumped and could use some help.

Thanks

 

If you suspect the front driveshaft, remove it and see if the problem goes away.

 

Hi Sixpack,

I have read about doing that. Is it safe drive without it?

Thanks

 

Yes, it will not harm anything
it simply unbolts from each end, the yokes will not come out of the differential or transfer case.
If that solves it, I would replace Both u-joints, and grease the slip yoke and grease the u-joints before putting the driveshaft back.
Because *if* the u-joints are binding enough to cause vibration, they are worn out.
And, if either u-joint breaks, it usually results in destroying the transmission and catalytic converters.
The front driveshaft needs greased often too, as it's being baked by the catalytic converters.
Check it asap for your own good.
Not something you want to break.

 

Thanks,

I will try that. Isn't there something I am suppose to do with locking the diff?

 

@Sundevil yup engage the CDL in hi - Shove the lever over to the left

 

Okay,

Dropped the front shaft and that was it. No more vibrations on acceleration. 3 questions

1) When removing it I noticed that there was some slop at the transfer case. I could turn it back and forth just a little bit. I researched and some say this is normal, is that true?

2) The U joints have the zerk fittings but look pretty bad, so I was going to order all new ones plus the bearing in the cardan joint. Shoud I also rebuild the rear while I'm doing the front or do rears not matter/wear as much?

3) Is it okay to drive it minimally without the front shaft for the next couple days while I wait for the parts to come in?

Thanks for all the help. I love have this forum as a resource. It makes ownership a lot more manageable.

 

@Sundevil Short trips no more than 30 miles an hour you should be fine, it may be cheaper just to order a new driveshaft from lucky8 they are not that money. The rears tend to last almost forever but if in doubt you could do it.

 

When you are at it, check the rotoflex for cracks. Bend the rubber a bit, usually the cracks are very fine and hard to see, but they can be deep.

 

If it's not happening in neutral, it's going to be part of the drivetrain downstream from the motor, probably the driveshaft. I would also get your tires checked to make sure they're balanced, but it doesn't really sound quite like a tire problem.