Hello !!

I have a problem that i hope someone have an idea about, my -94 vitara wagon jumps or shakes when i drive around town but it gets a little better at higher speeds. I think it has something to do with the rear axel.
does anyone know where to start looking into this ??


best regards Mike from sweden

Check the propshaft UJs.

Start with the normal stuff, tyre balance,
and steering ball joints, these can cause
slop and wobble

Wild

lug nuts?

Please explain what lug nuts is i´m not so good at tecnical english.

I¨m going to raise the rear of the car and put it into gear and have a look under to see if everything looks normal when turning.

Please explain what lug nuts is i´m not so good at tecnical english.

Wheel nuts.  The ones that you remove when changing a tire.

I¨m going to raise the rear of the car and put it into gear and have a look under to see if everything looks normal when turning.

As someone else suggested in an earlier post, look at the U-joint at the differential on the rear axle for leaking or external damage.  That would be the first place I would look.  Also Inspect the tires for damage, bulges, etc.  Take a look at the bolts that hold the U-joint end of the driveshaft to the input flange on the differential on the rear axle.  A loose or missing bolt can cause vibrations.  

jumps or shakes when i drive around town but it gets a little better at higher speeds. I think it has something to do with the rear axel.  

I dont think Steve is talking vibration. I used to have an SPOA  Sam that would start shaking violently and seemed as if the rear tires were jumping off the ground one at a time. This only happened if I was going about 35 mph and decellerated or used the brakes. If I drove hard all the time, there was no problem. It was my first Sam and I got rid of it before I figured it out. I did check all nuts and bolts. All was tight and nothing was broken.  Never figured that out...bad springs...axle wrap ? Steve, does this sound like your problem?

axle wrap would be hard to come by in the rear of a vitara... unless bushings are worn out, maybe the third link ball joing thingy? .... Im use to a bouncy shakey ride do to bias ply tires

jumps or shakes when i drive around town but it gets a little better at higher speeds. I think it has something to do with the rear axel.  

I dont think Steve is talking vibration. I used to have an SPOA  Sam that would start shaking violently and seemed as if the rear tires were jumping off the ground one at a time. This only happened if I was going about 35 mph and decellerated or used the brakes. If I drove hard all the time, there was no problem. It was my first Sam and I got rid of it before I figured it out. I did check all nuts and bolts. All was tight and nothing was broken.  Never figured that out...bad springs...axle wrap ? Steve, does this sound like your problem?

Yes something like that, and as you say if i drive hard the problem is smaller but it is still there....It rained all day today so i didn´t get a good chance to get under the car for a closer look (have no garage) but i´ll try again tomorrow

Well i finally got under the car today and i tried to bend and shake everything that may have something to do with vibrations but nothing semed to be loose or worn, i also have brand new shoks installed. One thing bothers me...when i hit the brakes hard (at low speed) there is a "bump" coming from the rear end, this also happens when shifting from first to second gear. Any ideas??

That is really starting to sound like the upper third link going bad... That or possibly the pinion bearing(the bearing in the front of the diff where the driveshaft connects in)

Check the upper Y link on the rear axle,
also check the bolts that hold it to the
axle, sound's like you should stop driving
the Trucklet before something bad happens

Wild

oki doki. Thanks for all good suggestions on solving my problems. I´m pretty sure that the "bump" comes from the pinion bearing area, and i have been told to accept it as it is because it can get worse if you tighten the End play and it´s nothing to be afraid of driving around with.

how´s that sound