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MG MGA - Horrible vibration

Hi everyone - I have just had a horrible weekend - I took my car to a show in the Lake district and on the way my friend following in his MGA ran into the side of me ( a lot of dents ) - however to make matters worse - on the way back from the local body shop, where I had the damage inspected, there was a horrible vibration - I thought I had had a puncture - but nothing wrong there - I revved the engine to get going again and the whole car was shaking ( none at tickover) - no sign that anything external is loose or broken - so it seems something inside has come loose or broken - I thought crank or flywheel so will need a complete strip down- any one out there any other ideas? - cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

Sorry to hear about the dents. Sometimes life serves lemons.

A broken fan blade will vibrate violently at any speed above idle, might even shake a little at idle speed. This usually goes off with a bang and often causes some collateral damage to the radiator or bonnet. Mine tore the radiator top pipe connector apart and put a small dent in the bonnet, leaving the fan blade piece lying on the engine mount.
Barney Gaylord

Cam

Sorry to hear the bad news. Was it a heavy sideways impact? Was it just skin damage or could the chassis have been bent?

Just to clarify it in my mind, can you confirm that this vibration is engine related and present with the car stationary?

On the plus side, good opportunity during the repairs to get your 5-speed fitted.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Thanks Barney - fan is all present and correct - Steve - yes - it vibrates like crazy when revved whilst stationary. Impact was a low speed one so only panel damage - still looks a mess though - body shop have given me a quote so they can fit me in next week , if I can get the engine running smoothly. One of our club members has just suggested checking the engine mounts - so I am now off into the garage to see what they look like (I'll just close my eyes when I pass the dented panels!!) - Cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

Cam

Probably an unnecessary point to make, but if you have door damage make sure the body shop knows they are aluminum skinned.

Steve
Steve Gyles

So Cam ,sorry to hear of your problems, have you found out what is causing the vibration? Bob
B WALKER

Well 2 other club members said the same thing - have you checked the engine mounts? - sure enough, jacking the engine on left hand side (other side hidden under dynamo) and the mount started separating from the rubber - so an order to Moss and the new mounts arrived this morning. Out into the garage to start - what a swine to get at - carbs and heat shield now removed and nuts removed from LH side - now need to remove RH side as well to get enough movement to remove and replace - and I thought it would be an easy job .
Thanks for the hint Steve - yes I told the body shop about the alloy and they have a contact who specialises in alloy - he can make a sphere out of a flat panel - hope he can do it the other way round!! - cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

I once got a piece of gravel wedged between the engine and a frame member (this car was not an MG, btw) and the car shook like mad until I got it pried out. Make sure the engine moves freely in its mounts.
David Breneman

Thanks David -just shows the rubber flexible mount needs to be there - got the new LH engine mount on this afternoon - rubber almost completely detached from metal backing - then and started on the RH side - undid the top nuts and the bracket fell off!! _ It had been held by only the bottom bolt and the bracket had sheared off - previous owner had a professional put a new clutch in years ago and they left the mounting bracket with only 1 of the 3 bolts fastened - just as well it didn't shear doing 70 on the motorway! So I need to get a new bracket from Moss on Monday and then hopefully all will be well in the engine compartment - then off to the body shop - cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

Well I had to go and fetch the bracket from Moss Manchester this morning (SAT.)- they had not managed to get it in the post in time - The offending bracket is removed and the new one now in place - together with new rubber mountings - it is putting back all the other ancillary equipment that takes the time!. I have attached a photo of the broken bracket - which is a substantial thickness of steel- to show how it broke while only being held by one bolt - cheers Cam


Cam Cunningham

Interesting little thread Cam. I bolted my mounts in myself with a full set of bolts, thank you! Unbelievable that anybody would leave even one out, but to only use one.... on an MGA too!
You have fitted locking washers haven't you Cam? If not you might soon be down to one bolt again!
Pete
Pete Tipping

Thanks Pete - yes both new bolts have the spring washers underneath them - I did notice that the new rubber mountings seem to transmit more vibration than the old ones - is this normal until the rubber settles down? - cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

This thread was discussed between 31/07/2007 and 13/08/2007

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