I'm thinking that the E brake drum on my rear driveshaft might be causing my driveline vibration. wondering if I can pull the driveshaft, then remove the drum and re-install the rear driveshaft without the drum to see if my vibration goes away.

Thinking that when I remove the drum, I will have to put some washers on the flange bolts to take up the gap left by removing the brake drum.

Any thoughts on this?

Brian in Austin

 

Anyone have any thoughts on this? If not, I'm pulling the rear Drive shaft and E-brake drum for a look today.

Brian

 

Depending on how many washers you need to fill the void you may get a false positive. What leads you to the rear brake drum?

 

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Please explain what you mean by "false positive"

 

I think he means all those washers might give you some vibrations.
I don't know that for sure, but I wanted to follow this thread and see what you figure out. I hate stupid vibrations.

 

Check your Rotoflex in the rear. If it is all cracked and bunged up you might be getting a vibe from that.

 

Ding ding ding

 

I assumed he already checked it out and confirmed its in good shape. But, if I'm mistaken, definitely inspect the condition of the Roto Flex.

 

Often times you have to remove the rotoflex to see the issue. Bolted up it can still look fine. I would bet it is the drive shaft being the issue long before the brake drum.

 

Found it. It WAS the E brake on the rear driveshaft. I noticed that when I lightly pulled the ebrake lever while moving that I got a big pulsing through the e-brake lever that matched the driveline vibration.

I dropped the driveshaft, pulled the e-brake drum off (had to drill the head off the Phillips head screw securing it). And put 5 metric flat washers (smaller OD) over each bolt. bolted it all back up without the eBrake drum.

ALL of my vibration issues in the 25-35, 48-55, and 70 mph up are GONE.

So, the brake drum I removed is either warped from the prior owner driving with the eBrake on and overheating it,............or......the drum holes are wallered out from someone leaving the securing bolts/nuts loose (they were loose when I pulled the driveshafts to rebuild them).

Brian