It's a 2008 1.9 TDI.

 

The car shimmies, most marked at 30mph speed range, which seems to be coming through the car, not steering, and you can also 'feel' a knocking sensation, especially under load. I say 'feel' as there's no sound accompanying the feel of the knocking. One marked characteristic is  that the knocking sensation goes the second you take your foot of the accelerator and go onto the overrun.

 

Any thoughts or past experience with anything like this.  

Get the driveshafts, couplings and wheel bearings checked.

Thanks; think that I'm ok with the bearings as its past its MOT and they do the full lever test on the wheel.

 

You mention 'couplings' what are those? I did wonder whether it could it be the CV as the gaiter is split and its been leaking, but not sure how that would cause the 'side to side' shimmying feel.

Could I check what test could be run on the driveshaft: is it something that you could check in a static state on a ramp?

It wouldn't pass an MOT with a split cv gaiter.

So it either has or hasn't an MOT? How long ago was MOT and how long ago did you notice gaiter split?

5 hours ago, mark antony said:

Thanks; think that I'm ok with the bearings as its past its MOT and they do the full lever test on the wheel.

 

You mention 'couplings' what are those? I did wonder whether it could it be the CV as the gaiter is split and its been leaking, but not sure how that would cause the 'side to side' shimmying feel.

Yes, the CV joints, you mentioning that at least one of the gaiters is split and leaking rings an alarm - this could very easily allow wear and damage to the joint. The 'shimmy' you mention could be from dynamic imbalance of the drive shaft if the coupling is badly worn.

Edited 2 March, 20251 yr by Warrior193
correction

I am having the same problem with my 1.6tdi. No feeling in steeringwheel, Feel it throuh the seat and as said disappears when you stop accelerating. Have checked front suspension aand drive shafts and they are fine. Only one I havent managed to check is the bush in the subframe. Reckon its coming from rear on mine but can't work out where. First thought of wheel imbalance but nothing through steering wheel. Will be checking rear bushes etc this week. Only other time similar feeling happened on another car was due to a mishapen tyre on rear. No bulges but tyre seemed to have twisted slightly. Michelin tyre only 1/4 worn which the tyre service said they get them like that a fair bit especially when getting older. Will post if I come up with anything. Being trying to track it down for months.

Got underneath the car and the offside driveshaft is leaking oil. Probably a good indicator as to where the problem lies, but by feel, there doesn't seem to be any excessive play.

On 04/03/2025 at 09:15, Alasdair1 said:

I am having the same problem with my 1.6tdi. No feeling in steeringwheel, Feel it throuh the seat and as said disappears when you stop accelerating. Have checked front suspension aand drive shafts and they are fine. Only one I havent managed to check is the bush in the subframe. Reckon its coming from rear on mine but can't work out where. First thought of wheel imbalance but nothing through steering wheel. Will be checking rear bushes etc this week. Only other time similar feeling happened on another car was due to a mishapen tyre on rear. No bulges but tyre seemed to have twisted slightly. Michelin tyre only 1/4 worn which the tyre service said they get them like that a fair bit especially when getting older. Will post if I come up with anything. Being trying to track it down for months.

That's exactly the symptoms I'm experiencing.

My drive shafts are the same. No play at all apart from a very slight amount on drivers side if I try to turn shaft. Probably less than 0.25mm and nothing from side to side. No leaks etc.

Is yours leaking grease from the CV boot or oil from Gbox? My old Octavia had a tiny little split and covered the front end and wheel with grease. Managed to catch it before it wrecked the joint. Have noticed my wobble seems to be worse on rougher tarmac and when cornering so now thinking might be front shocks although why it only happens when accelerating??? They both seem fine with no misting of oil etc but just wondering if they may be past it but how to check is another problem.

Alasdair

Thought that I'd update to help others that might be experiencing the same driving issue of shimming/shaking experience at low speed and knocking under load.

The long and short of it is that I've replaced the driveshaft....... and the car now drives fine. Result.

The odd thing was that while the low speed shimming/shaking was constant. The knocking was random. Some days nothing, other days you'd worry about making it home!

The other observation was that there was no discernible difference to the 'feel' in the amount of play on the joints between the old and new driveshafts, and I did wonder whether the replacement would make any difference. But it did, so all's well now.

Edited 27 March, 20251 yr by mark antony