Author Topic: Clutch Judder & Axle Tramp (Read 5844 times)

cheesebox · « **on:** November 18, 2008, 07:02:14 AM »

These two problems started recently at around the same time. The clutch judders on take off unless I raise the revs to 2k before dropping the clutch. I do not get clutch slip, only judder. Also the rear left wheel bounces when I get wheel-spin at take-off, eg when taking off/turning from the brow of a hill.

I'm guessing I need a new clutch AND a new rear left shock absorber.

OR, could there be a root cause of both problems? Someone mentioned a worn out propshaft vibration damper (guibo) could cause clutch judder - could that also cause axle tramp?

Thanks in advance!

bearsbmw · « **Reply #1 on:** November 18, 2008, 08:59:49 AM »

bent drive shaft most likey

cheesebox · « **Reply #2 on:** November 18, 2008, 10:49:29 AM »

Really? How can that happen?

xwill112x · « **Reply #3 on:** November 18, 2008, 11:20:07 AM »

revving it up, and dropping the clutch will bend them..

cheesebox · « **Reply #4 on:** November 19, 2008, 03:27:59 PM »

Quote from: xwill112x;61145

revving it up, and dropping the clutch will bend them..

Doesn't sound like my style! Maybe it was when I lent it to the wife

I'll check this out. I've also heard worn axle bushes could cause axle tramp.

If it's bent shafts would this be noticeable all the time, not just when pulling away at the brow of a hill?

Jimmy Lewis · « **Reply #5 on:** November 19, 2008, 04:29:59 PM »

Quote from: xwill112x;61145

revving it up, and dropping the clutch will bend them..

I'm sorry to say it but the M42 is not going to be bending any driveshafts. They are certainly not a weak link in the driveline, there are many more things that would fail before the driveshaft deforms: torn guibo, broken axles, torn diff mount, blown diff, etc. I would make sure the guibo isn't torn and make sure the bolts are good and tight. I have my money on a failing throwout bearing, but there are so many more things that could feel like a clutch vibration. Good luck troubleshooting.

bearsbmw · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2008, 05:17:41 PM »

Quote from: Jimmy Lewis;61242

I'm sorry to say it but the M42 is not going to be bending any driveshafts. They are certainly not a weak link in the driveline, there are many more things that would fail before the driveshaft deforms: torn guibo, broken axles, torn diff mount, blown diff, etc. I would make sure the guibo isn't torn and make sure the bolts are good and tight. I have my money on a failing throwout bearing, but there are so many more things that could feel like a clutch vibration. Good luck troubleshooting.

I agree it could be a million thing's but I bent the single bolt on the bottom of the diff mount by droping the clutch and people told I was full of shit but it happend...anyway it's easy to jack the rear of the car up and throw it in gear and listen and look for the problem.. goodluck!

txleadfoot · « **Reply #7 on:** November 19, 2008, 05:30:17 PM »

could be a contaminant on the flywheel, causing the judder. do you have any leaks back there?

drevilkep · « **Reply #8 on:** November 21, 2008, 07:27:03 AM »

Mine is doing this now as well. Started doing it on my way home from work this week so I looked under the car when I got home: It's a torn differential mount. :mad: Luckily I was planning on replacing all the driveline rubber at some point so I have the new mount, ready to install.

Marcp · « **Reply #9 on:** November 24, 2008, 02:54:20 PM »

The axle tramp is the rear beam bushes, I have the same problem right now.

cheesebox · « **Reply #10 on:** November 26, 2008, 05:16:00 AM »

Quote from: drevilkep;61409

Mine is doing this now as well. Started doing it on my way home from work this week so I looked under the car when I got home: It's a torn differential mount. :mad: Luckily I was planning on replacing all the driveline rubber at some point so I have the new mount, ready to install.

Thanks Drevilkep. I've just started a new thread kind of based on what you've said:
http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7346
Hoping you can detail the items you're replacing in there...

drevilkep · « **Reply #11 on:** December 01, 2008, 05:41:52 PM »

So I replaced my rear diff bushing and that seemed to help my rear axle tramp problem... until today. It doesn't happen as often now... but it's still there somewhat.

VacMan · « **Reply #12 on:** December 02, 2008, 01:01:17 AM »

Quote from: drevilkep;62066

So I replaced my rear diff bushing and that seemed to help my rear axle tramp problem... until today. It doesn't happen as often now... but it's still there somewhat.

My 318 has the same issue. We replaced the diff mount and it helped a little, but I'm pretty sure it's sub frame mounts that are at the core of the problem.

TomO2UT · « **Reply #13 on:** December 10, 2008, 12:34:03 PM »

It's interesting that several people are having this problem.

Both my 200k miles 318iss do it, especially when backing up a gentle incline. The black one has since I bought it 2 years ago. A very good mechanic couldn't find any problem. I wonder if the judder caused a new $26 flex disk to deteriorate so quickly (like 10k miles). It still does it with the new $46 flex disk, just not quite as bad.

The red car was perfectly smooth when bought last year, but ever since I got an engine rebuild and a new clutch a few months ago it does the same judder--worse in reverse. Just last weekend I noticed that it now has cracks in the flex disk and that one of the CV boots is torn and that CV joint is very loose.

The driveshaft U-joints and diff mounts on both cars look and feel good, but who knows for sure? One mechanic told me that it could be the flywheel, and that it should have been replaced with the clutch.

We have got to narrow this problem down--trial-and-error will obviously break anyone's budget. I'm not enough of a mechanic to keep taking my driveline apart, and am about ready to give up and buy a (low mileage) e46.

TomO2UT · « **Reply #14 on:** December 13, 2008, 11:16:15 AM »

CV joints on the red 318is were toast--boots were torn. I bought a pair of used axles, had new boots installed, and it seems the problem is solved, based on a drive around a few blocks.

Am looking forward to rebuilding/replacing CV joints on the black car (318is).