Shaking

[nysvx10]

I'm having a problem that i'm not quite sure about:
Upon deceleration and close to the stopping point my car shakes very badly, but not quite as badly as during acceleration, which is very bad. All is normal after about 10MPH. Sound seems to be coming from under center console...hate to think of transmission problems since it was rebuilt 30,000 miles ago and has problem free since, but could this be related to a 1st gear problem in some way. any ideas?
Thanks
Caleb

Before jumping to the transmission conclusion, have you checked the simpler and more obvious (and cheaper) possibilities?? Such as cross-member mounts, or engine mounts, which after 10-15 years could be in poor shape. How about looking at the brake rotors for warping, which can seem worse the slower you get when coming to a stop, causing things to vibrate.

Beyond that, something in the driveline may be starting to bind a bit, check your fluids to make sure everything is well lubricated, tranny, front and rear differentials, etc.

Good luck, let us know what it turns out to be.

[nysvx10]

Not rotors, just replaced, does seem like some sort of binding somewhere....

[mbtoloczko]

Have a look at the driveshaft. It can cause low speed vibration issues.

[nysvx10]

"Have a look at the driveshaft. It can cause low speed vibration issues."

Complicated? What to look for?

[Speedklix]

Originally Posted by mbtoloczko

Have a look at the driveshaft. It can cause low speed vibration issues.

this and mounts are where I would place my bet too. leaning slightly more towards mounts.

[nysvx10]

engine mounts or transmission mounts? Pretty easy and cheap to fix?

[mbtoloczko]

To inspect the driveshaft, its necessary to remove the center section of the exhaust. As long as the bolts aren't too rusty, it comes apart very easy. Be sure to have a new donut gasket handy for reconnecting it to the secondary cat.

After the center section of the exhaust is removed, you can start with a visual inspection of the driveshaft. You might be able to determine problem without removing it, but I think you'll want to remove it to get a good understanding of whether the driveshaft is causing the problem.

[nysvx10]

Why would mounts or the driveshaft only cause the vibration at low speeds, but then go away completly?

[nysvx10]

Is it very bad to drive the car under these current conditions, and isn't replacing the mounts as straightforward as it seems? How can I be sure it is either the mounts or the driveshaft itself?

[mbtoloczko]

The thing about inspecting used Subaru driveshafts is that it can be hard to tell if they have a problem. When I first got my car, it had a pretty bad high speed shake. I pulled the driveshaft, and there was nothing obviously wrong with it. Replaced it with another used driveshaft in similar condition, and the shake was gone.

[nysvx10]

I have an appointment at the shop on monday, but need to drive about 50 miles between now and then, almost all highway, so I hope nothing goes south.