It's been awhile since i've posted (definitely been reading), and now it's time to post again thanks to vibration at hard acceleration that just popped up recently. Hopefully someone can provide some insight on what i should be looking at. I really hate to take this thing to the stealership and i'm not too sure of a shop around here with CRD experience. The issue is strong vibration on the right side of the vehicle (feel it majorly through dashboard, can't tell if its right side of engine, trans or bottom) at 2000-2500 rpms with heavy acceleration that recently became much more noticeable in the last 500 miles. I've had both u-joints replaced (i'm assuming they were done right) and i've changed both motor mounts (both rattled nicely in hand) and the issue has become more prominent. I'm worried something else major is going to blow (i did lose a turbo previously)!
Vibration started very mildly awhile back, and felt like it was drivetrain as there was some slop when shifting, letting foot off pedal, etc. Get non-greasables installed, feels good, slop mostly goes away, but now i'm noticing more vibration around 2000-2500 rpm once in awhile and some clunk when shifting out of gear, etc. Replace passenger side motor mount (swapped in a nylon fan along with Hayden fan clutch as fan clutch died in the engaged position) and there is a noticeable general improvement in overall manners, but now the vibration at 2000-2500 rpm when under heavy accel is very noticeable. I assumed the bad mounts kind of hid it, and now that one side is good it's more obvious. Swapped out the drivers side (i did use the Harbor Freight adjustable head ratchet) and once again a noticeable general improvement in overall manners, drive train slop is pretty much all gone. The vibration at 2000-2500 rpm is still there though, and now i'm hearing alot more odd clunks, rattles, etc while in gear that seem to be coming through the firewall. I have noticed the vehicle isn't always as crisp with acceleration as she was before this noise, but i do have a bad thermo so i know she's running a tad cold (inline replacement lined up for this weekend).
When in park, the things sounds fine, nice and smooth, but in gear, i def notice some pitch changes and odd sounds, but nothing really loud. I'm planning on getting it on ramps this week and really take a good look at maybe something i missed when doing the mounts that's contacting the frame (exhaust, trans mount?) but i'm worried this is a sign of something else. If i'm easy on the go pedal it won't do it really when i go through this rpm range and sometimes i can be heavy on the accel and it really won't do it. I haven't been able to nail down if it's only when the tc is locked up. Sometimes it's only from 2300-2500 rpm. The transmission shifts fine, with good shifts, never had any issues with that and i have no idea what shudder feels like (never felt it in this vehicle). I did check my trans fluid levels and added a quart or so of ATF4 to get the dipstick right at the full mark when nice and hot after driving for awhile (it might have been a tad low after the 62k trans service i recently had done at a shop). The engine will rev high nicely in park with no noise whatsoever and there doesn't appear to be any difference whether in 2 wheel or 4 full time. I do try to avoid this rpm range when using a heavy foot since i don't know what it is.
Could the torque converter be on the way out, what are the symptoms? The pitch changes in gear have me worried. What are the symptoms of using the wrong fluid or bad filter when having a trans service (had the 62k performed at a shop)? What else should i be looking at, trans mount, something on the engine itself? Could anything get loose on the engine? I've got a lift on the jeep now, any stand out areas that might be checked for loose bolts that could manifest this way? When the turbo died i lost half my motor oil but the jeep wasnt running very long when this happened (drove off highway and turned off motor), could something pop up 3-4000 miles later from that? The jeep has ran great since the turbo and IC were replaced.
Any help, ideas or input is appreciated, i've spent alot of time going through the search for anything with the word vibration in it and i'm at a loss! I love this thing when its running good but it seems like everything needs to be replaced way too soon (i'm only at 63k).