Front Driveshaft Issue?
Thread Starter
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4wd Low
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
Front Driveshaft Issue?
Hi all,
First time poster, long time reader.
So I'm noticing a lot of vibration (specifically am feeling feedback through the steering wheel) after 30mph and continues to get worse as i accelerate beyond that. My first thought was my factory front driveshaft is going bad... I went under the truck and move it around to feel for play in the U joints. No play. Also, I'm not getting any of the typical "clicking" or noise from when it's moving. Not running any codes either.
What do you guys think? I'm still convinced it's the front driveshaft, but I'm hoping for some other insight before I drop $400 + on a new Tom Wood or GBR front driveshaft, hoping that it will fix the problem.
Thanks
First time poster, long time reader.
So I'm noticing a lot of vibration (specifically am feeling feedback through the steering wheel) after 30mph and continues to get worse as i accelerate beyond that. My first thought was my factory front driveshaft is going bad... I went under the truck and move it around to feel for play in the U joints. No play. Also, I'm not getting any of the typical "clicking" or noise from when it's moving. Not running any codes either.
What do you guys think? I'm still convinced it's the front driveshaft, but I'm hoping for some other insight before I drop $400 + on a new Tom Wood or GBR front driveshaft, hoping that it will fix the problem.
Thanks
Camel Trophy
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 248
From: Longview, Texas
Since you aren't hearing a squeak it might be worthwhile to remove the front shaft, lock your CDL, and take a quick drive.
I've had several fail and I always heard a squeak. But I have also never felt play in the shaft (by hand) even when they were bad.
Another possibility is that the balance weight fell off your driveshaft, if there is no other sign of a problem.
I've had several fail and I always heard a squeak. But I have also never felt play in the shaft (by hand) even when they were bad.
Another possibility is that the balance weight fell off your driveshaft, if there is no other sign of a problem.
Winching
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 661
Likes: 52
From: Charlotte, NC
First thing I would check is the balance of the tires. After they are balanced and if you still have the vibration in the wheel would I look at the driveshaft as the culprit.
If you haven't rebuilt the driveshaft yet with grease-able u-joints, then do that first, like tomorrow.
If you haven't rebuilt the driveshaft yet with grease-able u-joints, then do that first, like tomorrow.
Banned
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 273
Likes: 46
It might also be the output flange on the front of your transfer case. Check this out https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...bration-78727/
Thread Starter
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4wd Low
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
Hi guys,
Thanks for the suggestions. I had my wheels balanced and an alignment done this morning. 3 of the 4 weeks were out of balance... Must have thrown a weight or 2 when I was driving.
Drove it home and the vibrations was almost entirely gone. I still notice a little more vibration after 30mph, but I'm chalking that up to me being absurdly sensitive, trying to notice any shaking like I felt before.
Thanks again for the advice.
Thanks for the suggestions. I had my wheels balanced and an alignment done this morning. 3 of the 4 weeks were out of balance... Must have thrown a weight or 2 when I was driving.
Drove it home and the vibrations was almost entirely gone. I still notice a little more vibration after 30mph, but I'm chalking that up to me being absurdly sensitive, trying to notice any shaking like I felt before.
Thanks again for the advice.
Rock Crawling
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 333
Likes: 22
Having researched this a bunch and dealt with these issues before (and currently dealing with them again unfortunately), I reckon this is how they should be diagnosed:
1) Figure out whether it's a driveline- or engine-related vibration. If there's vibration at idle, it's obviously to do with the engine. If it varies according to engine speed and goes away when you take your foot off the pedal, it's probably the engine. If it varies according to road speed, it's probably a driveline issue. If it's an engine issue, it could be a vacuum leak, misfires, and a bunch of other stuff. I'm going to focus on the driveline stuff here.
2) Assuming it's a driveline issue, see if there's any difference in the vibration when turning at the speed where it occurs. If so, the axles/CV joints and possibly other steering apparatus become main suspects.
3) If there's no change in vibration when steering, tires and wheels become the next suspects. Balance problems are common. A wheel weight can easily fall off, causing a balance issue. Rotating and balancing tires is also not tremendously expensive.
4) If balancing and rotating the wheels does nothing to fix it, it more or less has to be something driveshaft-, transfer-box- or transmission-related. This assumes that the balancing was done correctly. It may make sense at this point to change the transmission fluid and filter to see if that changes anything.
5) Assuming the transmission isn't the problem, we've isolated it to the driveshafts and transfer box. If you have a CDL, you may as well remove the front driveshaft earlier in the process before spending any money just to eliminate it. If you drive around on it and there's no vibration, you know it must be the balance of the driveshaft. Otherwise this is the point at which you should inspect the front shaft thoroughly. See if there are any welded-on weights that might have fallen off, or if the U-joints look crusty. Check the flange that connects the shaft to the transfer box, as this can get loose and cause a vibration. Get the shaft rebalanced, rebuilt or replaced as needed.
Does this make sense, or am I missing something?
1) Figure out whether it's a driveline- or engine-related vibration. If there's vibration at idle, it's obviously to do with the engine. If it varies according to engine speed and goes away when you take your foot off the pedal, it's probably the engine. If it varies according to road speed, it's probably a driveline issue. If it's an engine issue, it could be a vacuum leak, misfires, and a bunch of other stuff. I'm going to focus on the driveline stuff here.
2) Assuming it's a driveline issue, see if there's any difference in the vibration when turning at the speed where it occurs. If so, the axles/CV joints and possibly other steering apparatus become main suspects.
3) If there's no change in vibration when steering, tires and wheels become the next suspects. Balance problems are common. A wheel weight can easily fall off, causing a balance issue. Rotating and balancing tires is also not tremendously expensive.
4) If balancing and rotating the wheels does nothing to fix it, it more or less has to be something driveshaft-, transfer-box- or transmission-related. This assumes that the balancing was done correctly. It may make sense at this point to change the transmission fluid and filter to see if that changes anything.
5) Assuming the transmission isn't the problem, we've isolated it to the driveshafts and transfer box. If you have a CDL, you may as well remove the front driveshaft earlier in the process before spending any money just to eliminate it. If you drive around on it and there's no vibration, you know it must be the balance of the driveshaft. Otherwise this is the point at which you should inspect the front shaft thoroughly. See if there are any welded-on weights that might have fallen off, or if the U-joints look crusty. Check the flange that connects the shaft to the transfer box, as this can get loose and cause a vibration. Get the shaft rebalanced, rebuilt or replaced as needed.
Does this make sense, or am I missing something?
Thread Starter
|
4wd Low
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
Having researched this a bunch and dealt with these issues before (and currently dealing with them again unfortunately), I reckon this is how they should be diagnosed:
1) Figure out whether it's a driveline- or engine-related vibration. If there's vibration at idle, it's obviously to do with the engine. If it varies according to engine speed and goes away when you take your foot off the pedal, it's probably the engine. If it varies according to road speed, it's probably a driveline issue. If it's an engine issue, it could be a vacuum leak, misfires, and a bunch of other stuff. I'm going to focus on the driveline stuff here.
2) Assuming it's a driveline issue, see if there's any difference in the vibration when turning at the speed where it occurs. If so, the axles/CV joints and possibly other steering apparatus become main suspects.
3) If there's no change in vibration when steering, tires and wheels become the next suspects. Balance problems are common. A wheel weight can easily fall off, causing a balance issue. Rotating and balancing tires is also not tremendously expensive.
4) If balancing and rotating the wheels does nothing to fix it, it more or less has to be something driveshaft-, transfer-box- or transmission-related. This assumes that the balancing was done correctly. It may make sense at this point to change the transmission fluid and filter to see if that changes anything.
5) Assuming the transmission isn't the problem, we've isolated it to the driveshafts and transfer box. If you have a CDL, you may as well remove the front driveshaft earlier in the process before spending any money just to eliminate it. If you drive around on it and there's no vibration, you know it must be the balance of the driveshaft. Otherwise this is the point at which you should inspect the front shaft thoroughly. See if there are any welded-on weights that might have fallen off, or if the U-joints look crusty. Check the flange that connects the shaft to the transfer box, as this can get loose and cause a vibration. Get the shaft rebalanced, rebuilt or replaced as needed.
Does this make sense, or am I missing something?
1) Figure out whether it's a driveline- or engine-related vibration. If there's vibration at idle, it's obviously to do with the engine. If it varies according to engine speed and goes away when you take your foot off the pedal, it's probably the engine. If it varies according to road speed, it's probably a driveline issue. If it's an engine issue, it could be a vacuum leak, misfires, and a bunch of other stuff. I'm going to focus on the driveline stuff here.
2) Assuming it's a driveline issue, see if there's any difference in the vibration when turning at the speed where it occurs. If so, the axles/CV joints and possibly other steering apparatus become main suspects.
3) If there's no change in vibration when steering, tires and wheels become the next suspects. Balance problems are common. A wheel weight can easily fall off, causing a balance issue. Rotating and balancing tires is also not tremendously expensive.
4) If balancing and rotating the wheels does nothing to fix it, it more or less has to be something driveshaft-, transfer-box- or transmission-related. This assumes that the balancing was done correctly. It may make sense at this point to change the transmission fluid and filter to see if that changes anything.
5) Assuming the transmission isn't the problem, we've isolated it to the driveshafts and transfer box. If you have a CDL, you may as well remove the front driveshaft earlier in the process before spending any money just to eliminate it. If you drive around on it and there's no vibration, you know it must be the balance of the driveshaft. Otherwise this is the point at which you should inspect the front shaft thoroughly. See if there are any welded-on weights that might have fallen off, or if the U-joints look crusty. Check the flange that connects the shaft to the transfer box, as this can get loose and cause a vibration. Get the shaft rebalanced, rebuilt or replaced as needed.
Does this make sense, or am I missing something?
Camel Trophy
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 248
From: Longview, Texas
Jfall has a great suggestion. It might save a driveshaft.
I'd add... I had an odd driveshaft feel so I pulled it and locked the CDL. Smooth. But I wasn't getting a squeak. I called the shop and asked what was wrong with my still in warranty driveshaft. They said "have you greased the centering ball?". Um, no. I don't know how to do that. They laughed that "what an idiot" laugh (rightly so) and told me how to find the secret grease point. I greased it and still have the same shaft a year later. On any shaft I've ever seen (a few) the shaft has to be removed to fully articulate the centering ball and find the tiny hole for grease. You might try that as well.
I'd add... I had an odd driveshaft feel so I pulled it and locked the CDL. Smooth. But I wasn't getting a squeak. I called the shop and asked what was wrong with my still in warranty driveshaft. They said "have you greased the centering ball?". Um, no. I don't know how to do that. They laughed that "what an idiot" laugh (rightly so) and told me how to find the secret grease point. I greased it and still have the same shaft a year later. On any shaft I've ever seen (a few) the shaft has to be removed to fully articulate the centering ball and find the tiny hole for grease. You might try that as well.