1996 850R Wagon - strange vibration while in reverse

dmack87 · Post by **dmack87** » 14 May 2015, 10:00

This is a weird one, and I am not sure where to even start. Hoping someone out there may have encountered something similar. My wife's car drives fine, and idles fine on a level surface. Our driveway is about a 10% or less grade. When I start the car in the garage and put it in reverse, all is well. As soon as a back onto the driveway, I get a very audible wawawawawawa sound and a fairly strong vibration throughout the car. It's almost like antilock brakes working on ice. If I put it in drive on the incline, the vibration disappears. If I put it in park on the incline, the vibration is reduced 90% or more. After driving a block or more, the issue seems to go away, but upon returning to the driveway it's back. Any thoughts on where I should start looking?

Many thanks!

Darren

Post by **scot850** » 14 May 2015, 11:40

Rear parking brakes sticking. Cable (s) seize and free off when you drive forward. Also, it could be a parking brake shoe that has separated from the steel portion.

Jack the car the rear of the car up. leave the rear wheels on(car on jack stands!!) and pull the parking brake on, or ideally leave it on. Release the parking brake leaver and try and turn each wheel. If you can't turn one or other, there is one of the 2 issues going on with the parking brake.

Neil.

dmack87 · Post by **dmack87** » 14 May 2015, 11:52

Thanks for the suggestion. That sounds possible, but why would the vibration continue if the car is not in motion, or in park on an incline? It seems like that would only cause vibration when moving?

Post by **misha** » 14 May 2015, 12:24

Front lower engine mount,just by the crankshaft or transmission mount.What is the condition of upper torque mount?

dmack87 · Post by **dmack87** » 14 May 2015, 13:18

Misha,

What a call! Here is the upper engine mount:

and here is what I have seen of the lower engine mount so far:

I also have a massive oil leak under there. Doing pcv this weekend, but I think it might be too late as far as seal damage and may be doing some terrible seal replacements. The leak is dripping right onto the lower engine mount (along with about everything else under there. That coupled with age probably killed it. Is there anything else I should be looking at when doing the mount replacement?

Again, a great call based on limited info! Thanks also to Scot850 for the parking brake suggestion. I think that might have described the issue if it only occured under motion, but a good suggestion none-the-less based on the info provided.

Time to order some mounts and look for a how-to.

Thanks!

Post by **misha** » 14 May 2015, 13:44

Nothing else can make loud vibration and shaking the whole car like that mount.The same piece of mount i found few years ago when i bent a protective plastic shield to check is it still there.

When you start changing that mount,you will need two jacks.One to lift the car and to remove the wheel and other one to put just under oil sump.A piece of wood that will fit between the sump and jack is required in order to support oil sump properly while you changing the mount.You will need to lift the engine a little with a jack under the oil sump to remove the mount and to install new one.After you put it in it's place,you will need to nivelate an engine a litlle with a jack to properly install a new mount.

I bought Meyle mount and so far....it's fine.My advice is Meyle,Lemforder(OEM),Febi Bilstein.Do not install no name or unknown brand mounts because they will not last.

Good luck!

dmack87 · Post by **dmack87** » 15 May 2015, 14:05

Ordered up my parts from FCPeuro.com. I am replacing the transmission torque mount, the front and rear engine mounts, and the one down by the passenger tire. Thanks again for the help.

Post by **misha** » 15 May 2015, 14:50

All of them are bad?

dmack87 · Post by **dmack87** » 16 May 2015, 06:16

Top one is severely cracked and dry, as are the front and rear, but not broken. Lower one on the side is in pieces. I figure the car is almost 20 years old, and if the rubber on the lower is falling apart, the others that are showing wear and age are soon to follow. As we have no intention of getting rid of this car, I am just doing them all.

dmack87 · Post by **dmack87** » 29 May 2015, 09:27

Just as a follow up, replaced the lower passenger side engine mount and the vibration issue was fixed. Still need to do the other mount, but they are not disintegrated like this one. Thanks for the help!