Driveshaft Centre Bearing Vibration
Symptoms
A vibration felt through the cabin floor at 80-120 km/h that increases with speed. May be accompanied by a mild droning noise. The vibration is speed-dependent, not RPM-dependent (persists in neutral at the same road speed).
Cause
The A80 uses a two-piece driveshaft with a centre support bearing. The rubber mount in the centre bearing hardens and cracks with age, allowing the bearing to misalign and the driveshaft to vibrate. Cars that have been lowered are particularly prone, as the driveshaft angle changes and places more stress on the centre bearing.
Fix
Replace the centre support bearing assembly ($100-200 for the part, 2-4 hours to fit).
The driveshaft must be dropped, the bearing pressed off and the new one pressed on.
While the driveshaft is out, inspect the universal joints (or CV joints on later models) for play.
A worn U-joint creates a different vibration pattern (more of a shake than a hum) and should be replaced at the same time.
On auto-to-manual conversions, verify the correct driveshaft is fitted, auto and manual driveshafts are different lengths and using the wrong one introduces vibration and accelerates U-joint wear.
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