Twisted Half Shaft????

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Mar 3, 2003 | 08:26 PM

WHRITZY

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Instructor

Joined: Aug 2001

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From: Atlanta GA

Twisted Half Shaft????

Just took my 90 to wheel place and had new wheels installed. While speed balancing the drivers side rear wheel, the guy had problems as the wheel would not balance and appeared to be jumping around pretty good. He took wheel off, put a couple of lug nuts on hub, and we ran car again. The half shaft appeared to be out of balance/bent/twisted, whatever...I could see it moving up and down as it rotated and the brake disc was moving in the caliper......I take it I have a bent half shaft.....how, I don't know. This car has 26k on it, and it's been down the drag strip maybe 10 times in its life....oh yeah, when I drive it, I don't feel a thing! You'd think I could feel something as much as I could see the thing not rotating smoothly.....does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks! :confused:

Mar 3, 2003 | 08:34 PM

scorp508

Team Owner

Joined: Mar 2000

Posts: 83,383

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From: Boston, MA

Re: Twisted Half Shaft???? (WHRITZY)

Ahh yes the good ole' torque L98 snaps another. :thumbs: Seriously though, it doesn't take all that much to twist one of these if you catch it juuuust right. Replacements aren't all that expensive and are easily installed. :)

Mar 3, 2003 | 08:37 PM

ethan1321

Instructor

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From: Boise ID

Re: Twisted Half Shaft???? (WHRITZY)

Sounds strange. Did the tire shop have the car supported by the suspension? If the suspension was allowed to sag this can put the hub and rear end so far out of alignment that the hub would have to move up for the half shaft to complete one revolution. Giving the illusion that the shaft is bent.

Hope this helps.

Mar 3, 2003 | 09:04 PM

WHRITZY

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From: Atlanta GA

Re: Twisted Half Shaft???? (WHRITZY)

As a matter of fact, Ethan, they lowered the car while it was on the lift onto two things that appeared to me to be sophisticated jack stands....thereby, in my opinion, supporting the rear end of the car by the suspension. The passengers side rear did not have the problem...possibly he had the drivers side stand misplaced?

Mar 3, 2003 | 09:07 PM

scorp508

Team Owner

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From: Boston, MA

Ok ..... hold a straight edge on the side of the halfshaft as you turn the wheel. Also measure from end weld to end weld in a few places to see if you get the same measurements all around.

Mar 3, 2003 | 09:13 PM

WHRITZY

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Aug 2001

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From: Atlanta GA

Re: Twisted Half Shaft???? (WHRITZY)

Thanks for the help, Scorp....I'll give it a shot in the am...btw, any good places to buy the 1/2 shaft and, should it need it, should I buy all accompanying parts., i.e. new universals, etc?

Mar 3, 2003 | 09:48 PM

ittlfly

Safety Car

Joined: Feb 2002

Posts: 4,212

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From: Sun City West Az

Re: Twisted Half Shaft???? (WHRITZY)

QUOTE]Thanks for the help, Scorp....I'll give it a shot in the am...btw, any good places to buy the 1/2 shaft and, should it need it, should I buy all accompanying parts., i.e. new universals, etc?[/QUOTE]

Give Jeff Koop a call. Be sure to tell him you are a forum member.

Mar 3, 2003 | 09:57 PM

Mr Mojo

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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo

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Re: Twisted Half Shaft???? (WHRITZY)

A good idea for everyone is to paint lines along the length of the shafts.
When you see the lines twisting then you know the shaft is twisting and then you know when it's time to replace.

The halfshafts will usually go first, that's the way the car was designed anyway.