Shaking problem - What do you think?

[ChasR]

Since we bought the Escort, it has a shaking problem when you put your foot down (a kind of bad scuttle shake). It goes away quite a bit if you take your foot off the accelerator, but I think it becomes worse again when you brake.

Am I correct in thinking the Inner CV joints have gone? It's had new lower arm bushes, and there is zero play as far as I can tell in the ARB bushes too. In terms of the driveshafts, they move from side to side a bit, with the left one also moving up a little too, with the car on ramps, making a similar click/clonk (I'd say more of a clonk), when the clutch is engaged to make the car move. I've decided to sort it out as I'm sure it's not super safe :lol:.

What do you think? The car is question is a 1989 For Escort 1.6i Cabriolet . Cheers

[tigran]

Before you muck about with the serious stuff just try a simple balancing check.

[grahamwithimps]

From my experience with other cars, do the cheap and simple stuff first. Wheel nut tightness, tyre pressures, wheel balance, check the tyres for bulges etc...

Graham

[jettadeluxe]

If you've got play in your driveshafts, I'd pretty much say its that, rather that the other non-driveshaft connected pointers above!

I'd have checked the other points if there was no obvious signs of what was causing the problem, but this seems to be the reason!

[ChasR]

I've checked to see the tyres are running straight and it's fine. I haven't checked the tyre balancing, but I guess I could, but it shakes so much to the extent that the bonnet shakes from side to side making me wonder if the balancing is at fault. I'll take it down to the tyre place anyway .

[briandamaged]

Mine does it as well.....just a gentle scuttle-shake at anything over 50. They didn't pick anything untoward up at MOT-time so I'll just live with it until it explodes in a clown-car fashion on the M5.