Judder on acceleration - Help please

[Fraz-ktf]

Hi.

My car judders on acceleration, more noticeable in 4th, 5th or 6th gear.  If I throttle-off, it goes and back on again, it comes back. (Even just slightly tickling the throttle produces the shuddering)

I've had all 4 wheels tracked and balanced but still it happens.  I originally thought it was due to overloading, as it was first noticed on a trip with a car full but it even does it with only me in it.

Any suggestions please?

[SiC]

When you say judder, is it a side to side judder or a forwards judder as if the engine is misfiring under acceleration?

If its the latter it could be an injector problem

[Chrispb]

Inner drive shaft joints give this problem and is quite common.

[Fraz-ktf]

When you say judder, is it a side to side judder or a forwards judder as if the engine is misfiring under acceleration?

If its the latter it could be an injector problem

It's not like a mis-fire kind of judder, more like very badly out-of-balance wheels, like the whole car "Trembles" but it stops as soon as I depress the clutch or throttle-off.

It's only done 56k and just passed it's MOT too, so I'd kind of hope that the Drive Shafts were ok.

If it's any use, the clutch is still heavy to depress?

[SiC]

In that case, as Chris said it could be driveshaft, or if the car has a dual mass flywheel (cant recall if it does) then that may be another possible culprit...maybe engine mount (s) are worth checking also.

[nkswinburne]

Had the same thing on my 03 1.8 tdi 115ps. It was the inner drive shaft causing it, would vibrate badly under load especially in 4,5 and 6th.

[Fraz-ktf]

It does have the DMF but a more accurate description of the judder is: It's like driving over rumble strips.  there is no vibration at the steering wheel but you feel the whole car shaking through your seat.  It seems slightly worse once the engine has warmed up.

If it were the inner drive shafts, how could I check them for play?

[Chrispb]

You need to get the undercover off then grip the shaft, pull and push motion while rotating wheel.
Have a look at the two links below.

https://www.fordmpv.com/smf2/ford-galaxy-reference-library/galaxy-mk2-gearbox-drive-stub-axel-and-half-shaft-(inner-drive-shaft)/

https://www.fordmpv.com/smf2/ford-galaxy-reference-library/galaxy-inner-cv-jointboot-renewal-mk2/