This is rather o/t since the problem is on my '78 Dodge pickup, but I figure it'd apply to any car with a driveshaft, so what the hell... For some reason, after I finally finished replacing the clutch on the truck, the driveshaft vibrates a bit at like 45-55mph, especially when coasting. Not like teeth-rattlingly bad, but it's enough to make me concerned. The driveshaft (which is ENORMOUS by the way, bigger than any other 1/2 ton truck I've ever seen) has a little metal tab welded to it on one side that I assumed was for balancing, but I forgot to mark it when I took it off, and I wound up driving like 80 miles on the freeway before I decided to take it off and flip it around, which didn't do much good. So basically, I'm wondering if I screwed something up other than the u-joint/driveshaft, and if the vibration is going to screw even more things up. It doesn't really vibrate at all at 65-75mph, so it's not vibrating most of the time, but I'm still worried about it. Also, what can I do to get it fixed?
Get that thing rebalanced 'fore you break somethin. Then put in a new set of U-joints just to be on the safe side and call it done.
Adam- Find someplace that works on big trucks (semi trucks) they usually balance driveshafts. If you can't get it done, I have a few junkyards around, where I'm sure we can find one. U-joints are pretty cheap, too. JOE P.S. Are you still shooting for coming up this week? It isn't the end of the world if you can't, but next week is a go on that rail. I confirmed it with them, already, so do what you can... My dad's gonna be coming up this weekend, anyway... So Monday would be fine, if your truck isn't happy about making the trip.
Nope, no new u-joints, I think they have to be pressed in or something, but the front one should be totally fine anyway (the rear one was practically welded to the yoke on the rearend from rust or something). Joe: I was planning on leaving Thursday morning, but a few extra days to get my crap together would be good too, heheh... I think the truck would make the trip fine anyway, it doesn't vibrate at freeway speeds, but every day for the last week I've thought of something ELSE I gotta get done... Should I plan on like Monday morning then?
Monday will be fine. I have a pontoon boat getting dropped off for repairs, in the morning, and I can work on it, till you get here. I can use a few days, too, so no sense in either of us getting stressed... but I do have to show some effort on that rail next week. Hey... Did you line the clutch up with a line-up tool... or just bolt it in? If it's off center, it'll get all goofy on you. If you want to pick up the u-joints, I'll help you put them in... Otherwise, like I said, we can just find you a different shaft. JOE
Do something NOW. Here is MY story... My 55 Ford always felt smooth to me, I never noticed ANY vibration, nothing notworthy anyway. Last July I was driving home from a cruise night, and got into it with some Mazda MX-6 on the highway. 5 mins later it was the worst vibration EVER. The whole car felt like a jackhammer. I thought it was the road, but it wasn't. It followed me home. The next day I went to look, but couldn't see anything. The way the wheels were spinning suggested the spider gears were bad. Dropped the pumpkin and El Polacko said it was all set. We replaced the rear axle bearings and pinion seal at this point. I took the driveshaft in to have it looked at, and they knew instantly what had happened. It was clamped in a vice by the shaft, not on a weld, and dimpled on both sides. It had taken my rear seal of my tranny off months earlier, but I didn't realize WHY. He also told me that I'd need a new bushing and seal in the tranny again. Long story short, we put it all together and found out when the yoke wouldn't slide into the tranny that my output shaft was bent, and the tranny useless. When all was said and done, I needed a new driveshaft, tranny, and all kinds of seals, and I was without the car for about a month and a half.
That's a pretty good deal... I might have to send mine (coupe) down there with you, sometime. Glad you got 'er rollin'. JOE
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