Vibration - Driveshaft????
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Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
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Vibration - Driveshaft????
Lookin' for a little help here. I had the rear end out of my 80 L82 to have the bearings and seals changed. Okay, that wasn't the original reason I pulled the rear end (everyone all together now) "while I was there anyway I decided to" have that done. I had new U-joints installed in the driveshaft and both propshafts.
Now that I have it all back together I have a vibration. It seems like a higher frequency vibration. I tried the trick of rotating the driveshaft 180 degrees and reconnecting to the rear axle. It seems like the vibration changed but it's still there. To be honest, I'd like for someone to explain why this would make a difference. Would it also make a difference if I swap the driveshaft front to rear? If I remember correctly the automatic cars used the same U-joint on both ends.
Or do I just need to have the balance on the driveshaft checked? Does this need to be done whenever U-joints are replaced?
Now that I have it all back together I have a vibration. It seems like a higher frequency vibration. I tried the trick of rotating the driveshaft 180 degrees and reconnecting to the rear axle. It seems like the vibration changed but it's still there. To be honest, I'd like for someone to explain why this would make a difference. Would it also make a difference if I swap the driveshaft front to rear? If I remember correctly the automatic cars used the same U-joint on both ends.
Or do I just need to have the balance on the driveshaft checked? Does this need to be done whenever U-joints are replaced?
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
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I've already had a driveline shop recommended to me by someone I trust. Looks like it's back up on the jackstands!
What would cause the shafts to get thrown out of balance? Just by changing the U-joints?
What would cause the shafts to get thrown out of balance? Just by changing the U-joints?
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Inside the woods living my passion
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
""Maybe the half shafts got mixed up from left to right and or they got flipped around (what once was outer now installed towards the diff.)""
That can throw them out of balance..
That can throw them out of balance..
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Race Director
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From: Inside the woods living my passion
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
My guess (and that's what it is..) is that one of the U-joints is in a bind. It's pretty easy to over-stress a yoke and put it out of alignment, if you're not careful about removing the old ones (rusty, stubborn). If you are removing the shafts anyway, see how freely the U-joints swivel, etc. before you go to the trouble of balancing shafts. Also, GM never balanced anything on the vehicle; all individual components were balanced separately...so that the end result was "in tolerance". Multiple-section driveshafts can be installed out-of-phase, but one-piece shafts can't be [as far as I know].
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
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Yes. Take the tranny yoke with you. They will balance it and give you a mark where to assemble it. It's the driveshaft. Halfshafts are so short, they won't cause the trouble that the driveshaft will. But have them checked.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
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if the u joints were pounded out as opposed to being pressed it is very likely there is a bind in one of them.they must swivil freely. a simple fix if you find the one is to press the shaft end back so the u joint will move freely.imo. tom
