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A4 vibration, 3rd gear only

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Old Sep 28, 2005 | 05:57 PM
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Default A4 vibration, 3rd gear only

This ONLY happens in third gear (regular Drive, not overdrive) from about 2500 rpms up to maybe 3500 rpms....maybe more - don't get much chance to get that high driving in traffic every day.

First and second gear are smooth all they way up. Third gear vibrates pretty bad.

Anyone have anything similar that might help me out??

Just so you're sure, I have an A4.....just rolled 60k miles.

Thanks
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Old Sep 28, 2005 | 07:08 PM
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I have that too. I have choked that up to the either the tires, shocks, or engine tune. I don' t get it all the time, is what is weird. I wanna' know what it is too, if anyone has input
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Old Sep 28, 2005 | 07:34 PM
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Default Hmmmhhhh....

I read somewhere last year in Hot Rod or Car Craft that someone was having similar problems w/ tranny vibration in third and it was internal. My 700r4 in my s-10 did that right before the overhaul and we found that the clutches had worn grooves in my drum causing the clutches to spin in the drum eccentrically. The teeth were also almost gone. I know this isn't good to hear and I could be wrong, just my .02
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Old Sep 29, 2005 | 06:53 AM
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Well, if that's a possible cause, I'll have to dust off the warranty paperwork

The small deductible is a BUNCH cheaper than buying a whole tranny.

I really really HATE taking my car to the dealer though

Thanks for the input.


Anyone else?
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Old Sep 29, 2005 | 08:12 AM
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my **** does it too.... but i was at about 22,000 miles when i swapped to a 12 bolt..... it feels almost like the drafshat or something is out of balance.... bugs the crap out me

but thats one reason why im swapping to a th350 and a dennys.
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Old Sep 29, 2005 | 12:34 PM
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Originally Posted by ty_ty13
it feels almost like the drafshat or something is out of balance....

I wondered if that might be the problem, but wouldn't it shake in second gear also?
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Old Sep 29, 2005 | 04:30 PM
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i asked that same question.... so i donno... but ill find out soon
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Old Sep 29, 2005 | 04:57 PM
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if it was something out of balance, the gear it's in wouldn't matter. i think it would be more speed related. as i had a bad vibration @ 35-50 and 65-80...i changed tires and problem solved.
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Old Sep 29, 2005 | 05:05 PM
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your drive shaft does not spin faster at 100mph than at 10mph if they are at teh same RPM... So balance problems will be rpm related.. you say it's 3rd but think how fast are you going in 3rd. lots of pumps in the road... If you have an unbalanced tire it could give you some bad *** vibs at higher speeds... If you can find an open road try getting into 4th. see if it goes away or gets worse... check your wheels and make sure all your balancers are still in place.


it could also be your tranny.. eh... Sucks I know i just replaced mine a month ago.
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Old Sep 29, 2005 | 07:12 PM
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Originally Posted by CONVERTED
your drive shaft does not spin faster at 100mph than at 10mph if they are at teh same RPM...

I think I know what you meant to say, but I don't think what you wrote is exactly right.....

Isn't drive shaft speed directly tied to wheel speed?

I think what you meant to say is that drive shaft speed is the same for X mph regardless of what gear you're in and what RPM you're at. So if I'm doing 60 at 2500 RPM in third the driveshaft is turning the same speed as if I'm doing 60 at 4500 RPM in second (hypothetical numbers not based on real math) If this is true and I have a vibration at 60 in 3rd gear, but no vibration at 60 in 2nd gear, then we would suspect the transmission as the problem.

Anyone agree with that or am I just blowing smoke up my own rear? or transmission?
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Old Sep 29, 2005 | 07:34 PM
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tried mine on way home... it just vibrates every where when under a hard steady load.... not WOT
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Old Sep 29, 2005 | 07:41 PM
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Originally Posted by ty_ty13
tried mine on way home... it just vibrates every where when under a hard steady load.... not WOT
Yours sounds like a tranny mount.....
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Old Sep 29, 2005 | 10:55 PM
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I posted in a thread on this very subject a year or so ago; I'd tell you do a search but I don't think anyone came up with any good answers. FWIW, my car did the same thing in 3rd only at 2200-2300 rpms. After I had the aftermarket converter installed, it got much better.
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Old Sep 30, 2005 | 12:01 AM
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My car done the same thing. It was the rearend. I replaced the bearings and shims.
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Old Sep 30, 2005 | 08:00 AM
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Originally Posted by 01ArcticSS
Yours sounds like a tranny mount.....
i got a new tranny mount a little while ago... hopefully it goes away... like i said i'll find out soon enough
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Old Sep 30, 2005 | 07:26 PM
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my car did the same thing, even when i first got it with 9k miles on it. After 3.73's, stall, new tires and driveshaft its still there. I notice it more now with the stall because i keep it in 3 around town. 40k miles later my tranny is ok (knock on wood)
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Old Nov 30, 2005 | 11:27 AM
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i have less than 500 miles on my transmission since the rebuild, i got new 3-4 clutches and new bands (the whole 9 yards).. my car shook in third before the tranny blew and it still shakes after the rebuild.. i dont think its the 3-4 clutches, thats all im saying...

has anyone ever solved this problem on their car??
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Old Nov 30, 2005 | 06:48 PM
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i wouldnt listen to that ktk guy.....

but i think its just something with 4l60e cuz my 4.3 sonoma did it and it had a 3k stall in it and my car now does it too same with my silverado just something that it does.. i wouldnt worry about it untill it breaks..just my .o2
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Old Sep 10, 2011 | 02:47 PM
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I have been researching this for mine for a while. Some people say to check the U-joints for play, and pinion angle. Driveshaft balance which makes no sense to me since it doesnt do it in 1st or 2nd or OD, but when you drop down to 3rd at interstate speed you can hear the change in the cupholder rattling. its a bad feeling vibe. i am thinking its either the trans tail housing yolks, or ujoints. i have a brand new 3200 stall and it was doing it just as bad before so i dont think that has anything to do with it. i am probably going to take it to the dealer and make them figure it out. when i find out i will let you know. FLT and performabuilt say one way to test is to drive down the road at 60mph drop it in 3rd and speed up and while still holding the gas depress the brakes. see if i goes away....another thing is kick it into neutral and raise the rpm up to where it was. seems stupid but hey they are supposedly the pros. cant say i have any better ideas. another area of concern is Torque arm. it puts some stress on the trans for show.
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Old Sep 12, 2011 | 06:25 PM
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Originally Posted by CONVERTED
your drive shaft does not spin faster at 100mph than at 10mph if they are at teh same RPM... So balance problems will be rpm related.. you say it's 3rd but think how fast are you going in 3rd. lots of pumps in the road... If you have an unbalanced tire it could give you some bad *** vibs at higher speeds... If you can find an open road try getting into 4th. see if it goes away or gets worse... check your wheels and make sure all your balancers are still in place.


it could also be your tranny.. eh... Sucks I know i just replaced mine a month ago.
Wrong... Your driveshaft speed is directly linked to your wheel speed. This is why your trans has gears to lower the engine RPM. Im sure you probably just didnt think carefully about this and thats not your final answer.
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