The drone.. - droning resonance at about 45mph

bandito

bandito

New Member
Hello,
Despite new tyres and wheel alignment, some drone/shake/big noise
sets in while moving the car at about 45 mph (even rolling downhill,
engine idle, not in gear). The noise resides at about over 55 mph.

What could be the cause of the resonance?
(bent dione tube from false jacking?)
What could possibly be done about it? (rebuild from scratch?)

Best Regards,
Bandito.

(otherwise, she is shaping up very nicely!)
 
Mine suffers with a droning tyre noise. I've always put it down to the cars don't like modern radials, and that it's also an inherent problem with the front end of a P6, as there is very little to dampen road noise, with the spring acting against the bulkhead.

One person recommended that I try a set of reproduction original tyres, but when I found out how much, I thought, I'll turn the radio up! :laugh:
 
First off need to track down where this is coming from!

Wheels / tyres: Check they are round (!!) and that the wheel is not bent. Do this by jacking off ground and spinning them against a fixed pointer. You might be amazed at the result!

Could it be from the propshaft or gearbox tailshaft bearing or diff bearing? Dry / seized prop UJ's are notoriously difficult to spot without stripping them!

Ditto for half shaft uj's

Worn dampers can generate a speed sensitive shake, but you'd have spotted them from the wallowing?

If its in the front wheels / suspension you'll get it though the steering, if not look aft of the gearbox!

That should be a starters for 10, looking forward to the next installment!

Best of luck

Chris
 
I have a similar problem with mine although it started at about 80mph and has gradually been kicking in at lower speeds, after 18 months of searching I hope I have found the route cause.

On the end of the front suspension arm is a rubber dome that seats into the front spring ( Item 37 in the repair manual diagram ) this has completely perished and disintegrated, so thats this weekends job

That or the front wheel bearing that also needs replacing
 
Wheel bearing noise usually occurs at slow speeds, especially noticeable when slowing to a stop. Generally disappears or is covered by other noise at higher speeds.
I fought the drone for a long time , trying driveshaft alignment and other things. Finally gave up. It's a Rover thing, I think.
Dick West
 
never had this in a v8 but my 2000sc auto does it around 55-70, ok either side of that! cant find any thing wrong sounds like its from the front near side but as could see no wear or play just keep the windows open now!
 
same here,my 2000tc auto does the it around 30-50 mark,i,ve checked everything but can,t find anything wrong,i agree with Eric,,,.....turn up the ICE
 
So, a week later...

The drone is still there, but somebody enlightened me to the fact that
the underside of my gear leaver does not look at all as it perhaps should.

This information cost me 35£.

Now the obvious question is, how does the underside of my gear leaver look?
What shape size and colour is any sort of dust cover to keep the dirt out?
Who is able to figure, which bits are missing?
I found a few promising bits in the bits box that came with the car.
To whom may I now take the lot to get it fixed?

All the Best,
And thanks for looking.
Bandito.
 
Hi bandito, try getting a look at a parts book, they can often give a clearer idea of what should be there than a workshop manual.
Alternatively could you get a digital photo of what you've got and post it on the forum so we can all see? And if poss a pic of the bottom of the lever.
Can I have £35 now please?
 
Theres no dust cover. The bottom of the stick is open to all that the prop can throw at it. Theres a pear-shaped moulding on the end of the stick. If it's missing the stick will be floppy & rattle a lot. Probably not the cause of droning. The nylon bushes in the remote could be worn or missing too but again, probably won't drone.
Maybe the person said it looked wrong as he couldn't see the gearstick at all as the propshaft is in the way & needs to be removed to access the bottom of the stick
Easy £35.
 
there is a dust cap/rubber thing on top of the gearstick
6ea6a9cf.jpg
 
Newsflash, update!

A self locking nut on the flange of the gearbox back end
has worked itself loose. A new nut properly tightened down and secured
apparently stopped the drone.

I have now some brand new prop shaft UJs going spare.
Any takers?

Thanks for all advise,
extremely encouraging as usual, when these car problems
seem to become unsurmountable.


:cool:
 
Really delighted to hear that, Bandito! With an 18 year lay up behind it, I'd still keep in mind UJ's wheel bearings, brake system rubber etc etc for the winter lay over - just takes the pressure off a bit for now! I wonder if that was why the car was layed up in the first place?

Get out and enjoy the rest of the summer!

Chris
 
Hi Bandito, as I said previously, keep persisting with the problem and eventually you'll solve it! Well done.
With regard to the rear flange retaining nut working loose, that's quite a common problem. You were lucky because the stud the nut fits on also can snap off from the end of the mainshaft. Then it becomes a bigger problem to fix.
As we all got so fixated on "the drone" and the associated vibration, we missed an opportunity to solve the problem earlier, when the nut works loose or snaps off, If you drive the car with your hand on the gearlever, in 1st, 2nd and 3rd and go on and off the throttle, you will feel the mainshaft moving backwards and forwards thru the gearlever.
 
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