Judder

[norwichphoto]

My car has started to develop a judder. It manifests itself whilst decelerating, at around the 30mph area +- a few miles. Car pulls up straight. It seems to do it in neutral as well as drive, but that doesn't necessarily rule out a transmission problem. It doesn't seem to do it whilst accelerating.

Any thoughts?

[Shoppinit]

Could be inner CV joint or central propshaft bearing.

30mph is where the box changes down too (slightly annoyingly), so it might be the torque converter lock up clutch. Or maybe it's just that the change down to 2nd introduces more engine braking, proportionally, causing the vibration to be felt in one of the above.

Does it do it if you hold 1st or 3rd with the tiptro when decelerating past 30mph? Not sure you can get the box to do 1st at 30. Maybe just use the tiptro to prevent gear change to rule out TC.

[Shoppinit]

Oh, just spotted it does it in neutral. Do those tests anyway. You never know. That would seem to rule out anything engine regime related, too.

Does it do it if you don't brake?

[norwichphoto]

Will try those tests.

I can feel it through steering wheel so its a front axle issue. I'll see if I can use tiptronic and force a different gear.

[Shoppinit]

I wonder if the tracking has gone out. Maybe check the condition of your bushes.

[norwichphoto]

It doesn't seem to do it whilst coasting.
It doesn't appear to do it whilst maintaining a steady speed around this speed.
So I think its something worn which as magnified during the braking process around that speed, so will check lower arm bushes first.

[norwichphoto]

Hmm. CV joints and propshaft joints all seem to be OK. No excessive play in wheel bearings. A little too much run-out on rear discs (they're original). When driving it feels as if its front axle related, but there are times when its turned out to be the tail wagging the dog.