Do you have to rebalance a driveshaft?

Driving over rocks or heavy debris often causes drive shaft problems. Dented drive shafts cannot be rebalanced, they need to be replaced. Fortunately, you can fix minor imbalances by balancing the drive shaft, a procedure that requires minimal parts — only hose clamps.

Can you put a drive shaft in wrong?

The 2 piece shaft guys have a slip yoke in the middle. If they split the shaft and not re install it correctly, they will throw the shaft out of balance and cause an uncomfortable vibration.

What happens if driveshaft is out of balance?

A First order driveshaft vibration will cause one shake or disturbance for each revolution of the driveshaft. IMPORTANT: Anything that is out of balance will only cause a first order vibration, never any higher order vibrations. A component rotating the same speed as the driveshaft that is out-of-round.

Can driveshaft cause vibration?

A bent or damaged driveshaft can result in vehicle vibration. On rear-wheel vehicles, the driveshaft will rotate two and a half to four times the speed of the wheels. Due to the relatively large size of the rear-wheel drive shafts and high speed, vibration is significantly increased.

How is a driveshaft balanced?

To field balance a driveshaft, raise vehicle parallel to the ground so that the vehicle can be started and the tires and wheels can rotate freely. If after positioning the clamp at all four positions, the vibration is not changed, the vibration may not be the driveshaft.

Why do you mark the driveshaft components prior to removal?

It’s balance so it shouldn’t matter how it comes out and goes back in unless you take the actuall driveshaft apart. Then you would need to mark the yokes so you could put those back in the same way they came out.

What causes drive shaft failure?

Improper stiffness matching between the left and right smooth shafts, which results in a larger torque transmitted to the right spline, is the root cause of the drive shaft failure.

How much runout is acceptable on a drive shaft?

If you have too high run-out (bent tube), your driveshaft will not balance without welding excessive weight on one side. Dynotech recommends tube run-outs at 0.020 inch or less over the entire length of the tube.

What does phasing a driveshaft mean?

Phasing is the process of aligning the universal joint yokes on both ends of the drive shaft (or double u-joint)in a parallel fashion. If the joints are not properly phased, they will operate at varying speeds throughout each revolution which can cause second-order vibrations.

Does a drive shaft need to be aligned?

Driveshafts will always have all yokes aligned. Failure to phase and align a driveshaft properly will result in vibrations that will destroy the driveshaft, dyno, and/or engine, and improper phasing can cause serious bodily harm when the driveshaft reaches its failure point.

Can I put a single long shaft on my truck?

Liberty is a WELL ARMED lamb contesting the decision!! If you plan on lowering the truck a single long shaft will create you some major problems as well woth clearences.. Have a drive train shop check the balance and straightness of your shafts. Replace the u joints and carrier bearing.

What is the purpose of a 2 piece shaft?

A 2 piece shaft is to reduce the length of the shaft and the angles and stress that could be applied to a lengthy shaft. The two piece is actually better than the single long one. it splits the angles over the two shafts rather than applying them over the single shaft.

What kind of drive shaft does a Ford Ranger use?

Extended cab Ford Rangers * up through the 1997 model year use a 2-piece drive shaft to connect the transmission to rear axle. In 1998, Ford replaced the 2-piece shaft with a single shaft of either steel or aluminum.

What can I do to make my drive shafts less stiff?

Have a drive train shop check the balance and straightness of your shafts. Replace the u joints and carrier bearing. Also install the 3/4″ hevy wall tube spacer like I suggested in your other post. Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for Lunch.