Fitted a strut bar this weekend and since it was put on every time the car is in drive the car shakes and makes a bit of noise, it waaaaay more apparent when the brake is pressed. was wondering ifd this is a result of the bar (not sure how) or summat else?

If it is the bar than the only think I could think of is the struts are not tightened enough and are dangerously slack.

double check these.. but this shouldnt happen.

Having looked again this morning I don't think it can be anything to do with the brace... oh dear, this does not sound or feel good.... :(

Is it coming from the steering wheel or from the seat/armrest?

 

Need to know if its the front or rear shaking.

Feels like it's the front of the car, could be the transmission tunnel...

Stoopid question, but you have made sure all the wheel nuts are done up nice and tight? :x:

Aye, definately not that, it's pretty much OK when the car is moving, it's just when stationary that it's really bad..

Engine mounts?

 

I think this happened to Scoops' one before he sold it.

 

Does it get worse as you rev the engine when stationary?

Engine mounts? Does it get worse as you rev the engine when stationary?

 

If you only feel the judder when moving it could be warped brake discs and maybe the srtut brace highlights this???

Matt - I've never had the problem you mention, but as it's an auto it must disengage (to some extent) from first gear when stationary. There must be some adjustment where direct drive is disengaged. If this is not working then you'd have the engine trying to drive the front wheels more than they should do when stationary and in gear.

 

Have you tried engine running, car in D, foot on brake - that's when you get the judder? Try it again with car in N, foot on brake. If there's no judder then someone on here (auto specialist) will know how to adjust the message from the brake pedal to the auto box - it could just be a faulty (dry) electrical connection at the brake pedal - assuming that's where the ''switch'' is...

 

Good luck

 

Jack

Aye, definately not that, it's pretty much OK when the car is moving, it's just when stationary that it's really bad..

if you mean the whole car is juddery then its possible one of your vacuum hoses has popped off, happened in my old TT and idle was fine but it was very rumbly and juddery, shook you in your seat.

...further thought - poly bushes in front tie rods - been on the car for about 3 years - check they are ok...

Some strut braces seem to fit very close to the engine , are you sure yours isn.t touching for some reason and transmiting vibration straight from the engine to the chassis :confused: :confused: :confused: just seems wierd to have started after fitting your brace.

Have you tried engine running, car in D, foot on brake - that's when you get the judder? Try it again with car in N, foot on brake. If there's no judder then someone on here (auto specialist) will know how to adjust the message from the brake pedal to the auto box - it could just be a faulty (dry) electrical connection at the brake pedal - assuming that's where the ''switch'' is...

 

That's exactly it, judder is when the brake is applied and any of the drive modes are selected, having said that it does a little once the car is moving, I was thinking this was going to be something to do with the message from the brake pedal. Any ideas how to sort?

Matt - I haven't, but something must tell the brain of the auto box that the break pedal has been applied there stop delivering power to the wheels. I would assume that there is a switch attached to the break pedal that sends this message - gotta be the starting point.

 

But, check the tie rods, they have poly bushes - these will be ok but I hear that poly bushes put undue strain on where the tie rods fasten to the 'dont know what it's called' from the hub to the car. 2 nuts 17mm from memory. They tear loose, this would give you the same symptoms even when travelling.

 

I dont think that the gearbox/break switch thing would cause a judder when the cars travelling...

 

Have you done anything else to the car?

New air filter went on, that was the only other change to the motor, having had a listen today with a mate of mine there is what sounds like a slight bottom end rattle, also the oil pressure is dropping through the floor despite there being oil in the car, I know the stock gauges are iffy though.... :(

Matt - oil pressure guage has had a mind of it's own ever since I've had the car. First time it dropped relatively quickly to zero I was doing 70 (ish) on the M25. I pulled over, checked the full oil situation, let it cool and bingo up came the oil pressure again. It used to do this regularly, often after a long left hand decelerating (coming off the A14) curve. After a while I learnt to ignore it. It's never burnt any oil or used any. I've never had to top it up between changes.

 

Whilst driving up through France a few years ago, I had the opportunity to set the cruise at the legal limit and travel most of the day on empty motorways. The oil guage settled at a healthy half way up and stayed there all day.

 

So, they are tempramental, so dont trust them. If you hammer it, the guage will raise, then when you ease off, it drops too low. It should do this. The guage tells how hard the oil is working - and the oil I use is 5W 40 I think so it's pretty thin...

 

Good luck

 

Jack