528i - vibrations during use of trottle

eileen_fan · 07-17-2003, 03:42 PM

I'v got a 1986 528i (E28) with automatic transmission. During driving, it starts to vibrate (as if the engine is a little loose, or something, and the steering starts to vibrate as well) as soon as I give it a little trottle. When I'm not using the gas pedal, it rolles fairly nice and steady. The vibrations are not as bad so that I can't drive, but it's annoying.
Some time ago the "Driveshaft Support" (the one that supports and holds the driveshaft between the transmission and the differential) broke, and instead of getting a new one, I made a arrangement with a braklet that keeps the old one in place. My first thought was that the braklet made the driveshaft out of center, and that this made the vibration, but I would suppose that the rubber bearing would stretch, espesially during high speeds. And if the bearing was the guilty part, I would guess the vibration should be there all the time? Can't remember if the vibrations was there before making this arrangment with the braklet, had'nt used it for some time after it broke.
Anyone got other ideas than the driveshaft support?? I am not a experient mechanic and somehow resent the idea of taking out the driveshaft to change this.

rich2481 · 07-28-2003, 02:03 PM

well I woulds assume that once the center support bearing goes that the univeral joints should also replaced,

if the vibration happens just from sitting I would think it is age and wear on motor mounts, if you are going along without gas and it isnt as noticeable and then when you accelerate, it would be that the driveline is not is a stable position and you are picking up the vibration from that,

best to spend the 40 bucks to buy a new support bearing, when mine went out I found out my front U-joints was locked up on one bearing, well worth the money and no more vibration,

check around because the new U-joints are either welded or a special seat tool is used

Stray_Voltage · 08-03-2003, 08:58 PM

My E28 had the same symtoms when I first purchased it with around 88K miles on it. It was the front end~all steering and suspension related, but only presented the problem under hard acceleration at first, then after time acceleration, and after more time still, all the time. I would not rule out steering and suspension.

eileen_fan · 09-23-2003, 05:03 PM

Hi.
Still hav'nt gotten around to change the driveshaft support, and had more or less settled with the jerking. Then some guy who had a E28 earlier on, said he had the same problem, and tried about everything, without getting any closer to the problem. He was even told that the steering on E28 with alloy wheels was more or less impossible to get stable. Then he tired to take away some corrosion that had gathered on the top of the brake disc - and that was it.
Tried it my self and it made a big difference. Just put a screw driver onto the top of the disc, supporting it on the caliper, then rotating the disc, and managed to get rid of a lot of corrosion. Did the same on the inner part (closer to center) of the disc. Both front wheels. The vibration has not gotten away totally, but the change was so big that this should be the solution. I'll try to clean it completly later on, and hopefully it will be settled.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 09-24-2003, 08:08 AM

Sounds like it could indeed be your center bearing. Does it vibrate when you rev the car in neutral?