Vibration when shifting down

[Seine_Dudeheit]

Hello,
I'm new here and I'm about to buy a 1992 Legacy 2.2 (136 hp) 5 speed manual.
There is just one problem: When shifting down and engaging the clutch (i.e. when there's engine braking), the steering wheel starts to vibrate. After a while, when the engine isn't reving up anymore, the vibration stops. This only happens when shifting down, other than that the steering and handling of the car are fine!
What can be the cause of such a problem? The car has done 190000 km now (about 118000 miles) and the clutch was changed at about 140000 km (87000 miles).

I hope it's nothing too serious because I would really like to buy that car, but I don't want to pay loads of money for expensive repairs either!

Regards,
Peter

[Legacy777]

Welcome,

I'd probably suspect the cv joints/axles.

[Arctic Assassian]

Are you applying brakes while slowing down? Or is it pure engine braking?

[Seine_Dudeheit]

I think it happened in both cases (I only had a short test ride), but I'm sure it happened when there was engine braking only!

[Arctic Assassian]

hmmmm... maybe u-joints in the driveshaft. or cv-s like josh said. is it an upand down vibration or a back and forth surging?

[Seine_Dudeheit]

If I would have to name the direction of the vibration, then I'd say it's an up and down vibration.
It's not some kind of movement, you can just feel the steering wheel vibrating (and the rest of the car, but it's most noticeable in the steering wheel).

[skid542]

If you're seeing/feeling most of the vibration in the steering wheel then I would guess CV's. They are pretty common problem on these cars. Take a look under the car and see if you've got a crack in either of the CV boots.

[scuzzy]

you could also just have clutch chatter, you said it stops when the engine stops revving up; how slowly are you letting out the clutch? if you're easing off of it slowly it might chatter.

[Seine_Dudeheit]

you could also just have clutch chatter, you said it stops when the engine stops revving up; how slowly are you letting out the clutch? if you're easing off of it slowly it might chatter.

Sounds like that's the problem. I bought the car yesterday, and on my 100 km drive home I had time to analyse the problem.
My earlier description of the problem turned out wrong I have to admit, the vibration can't be felt in the steering wheel only, the whole car shudders when it occurs.
The vibration also occurs when taking off, i.e. when slowly engaging the clutch, same as when I'm shifting down. When shifting up or while driving consistently there's no problem at all!
It also seems like it's getting better when starting with more revs.

Sounds like a clutch problem to me, now that you've mentioned it!
What is the cause of such a problem, and what can be done about it? I don't think it's the clutch disks that cause the problem, they have been changed about 2 years (and 30000 km) ago.


Edit: I also noticed a squeaking noise when the engine is idling and I'm in neutral that goes away when pressing the clutch pedal. Does that have to do with the other problems?

[New92]

Dont discount any part of the system untill you look at it. I bought my SS with a stage 2 kit less than 2 years old and after what I thought was a very light pedal feel I pulled mine apart to find the discs rivets cutting grooves into the fly wheel and pressure plate. The flywheel had a ton of scorching and cracks every where. Im beginning to think that the prior owners stories of a '92 ss dropping into first at 9k with dogbox were actual stories about him in what is now my car!