Does a missing vibration damper explain my problems? bad u joint?

Mitsubishi Delica L400 production commenced in 1994 -- After much anticipation, the L400 arrived on Canadian Soil in 2009!
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jrdoubledown
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2016 12:57 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: Delica L400 Chamonix
Location: Halifax

Does a missing vibration damper explain my problems? bad u joint?

Post by jrdoubledown »

Hi folks, long time lurker first time poster. I've had my 1996 chamonix L400 2.8 td vin starting in pe8w i believe short wheel base here in halifax for 6 months and have correctly diagnosed and solved all of my problems (with the help of your fine posts and guides) so far, but this one goes beyond my knowledge. Just picked up a new vibration/grinding noise in the last few weeks. was happening intermittently but now seems to be full time. When i'm driving highway speeds and left off the gas i get an immediate vibration/shuddering accompanied by a grinding noise. Was really hoping it was related to rear pads and rotors, but changed them and she is still there. so after doing my research here first i jacked her up in the rear and noticed several disconcerting symptoms. First i have definately have a loud click from my rear u joint when i shift reverse to forward or back. 2nd with my baby in drive at idle only my left rear tire spins.... until.... i hit the brakes, then my left tire stops and my right spins. if i accelerate the right starts spinning but much later than the left. as she picks up speed she seems to hit a certain resonance (not the tire, comes from the driveshaft area), then when i let off the gas there is a rather unpleasant clang followed by a grinding noise, then my right tire does one rotation THE WRONG WAY and stops dead while the left tire keeps spinning at idle. not super a knowledgable mechanic but simply baffled by this one. i've taken a somewhat dark video of the driveshaft/u joint and the noises associated which i will upload shortly. so if anyone can advise me on what might be causing these symptoms that'd be great. secondly i've a trip from halifax to maine and back to attend a music festival planned for this friday. as you may know mechanics with the interest/knowledge to fix delicas are few and far between on the east coast, if someone could give me an honest idea of how likely i am to destroy my beast by attempting this drive in her current state that would be great. thanks in advance with out this site my baby would've died many time over by now.

ps after looking through many posts i found one pointing to my driveshaft vibration damper, which is in fact missing. a friend has a parts deli in nb and i should be able to get his, but can this really be the sole source of my series of problems. also if i can get his, the consensus seems to be that i just 'glue' it back on with the appropriate adhesive? thanks again folks sorry for the long post. sorta glad my issues forced me to participate in your lovely community.
Last edited by jrdoubledown on Tue Sep 06, 2016 3:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
jrdoubledown
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2016 12:57 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: Delica L400 Chamonix
Location: Halifax

Re: u joints, rear differential, vibration damper, or all of the above

Post by jrdoubledown »

this is my mediocre video of the problem, can take better tomorrow if neccessary, thanks in advance for any advice or assistance you can give
https://vid.me/MVOA

Jon
jrdoubledown
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2016 12:57 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: Delica L400 Chamonix
Location: Halifax

Re: Does a missing vibration damper explain my problems? bad u joint?

Post by jrdoubledown »

had a diesel mechanic stop by coincedentally last night. he says defiantely rear end problems thinks spider gear and or an axle/bearings. any advice on sourcing these bits?
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Firesong
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Vehicle: 1998 L400 Delica Chamonix
Location: Saskatoon
Location: Saskatoon, SK. Canada

Re: Does a missing vibration damper explain my problems? bad u joint?

Post by Firesong »

Go have the drive shaft balanced and u joints checked. You don't have limited slip differential so the one wheel is the drive and the other does what it does with no resistance up on the stands. I've chased noises down like crazy and an unbalanced drive shaft does crazy things.
jrdoubledown
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2016 12:57 pm
Member's Photo Album: http://www.delica.ca/Photos/
Vehicle: Delica L400 Chamonix
Location: Halifax

Re: Does a missing vibration damper explain my problems? bad u joint?

Post by jrdoubledown »

just had the rear u joint replaced. main nasty noise is gone and the mechanics (mr transmission in halifax, who i highly recommend) pointed out the sources of some of my other noises. right wheel bearing, you're next. thanks fer ur advice firesong.
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