S-10 Aluminum driveshaft problems?

blue2kzr2 · July 31, 2005

I've gone to 2 non-GM shops for assistance with my vibration (I asked about it in another thread) and now squeak and shudder on take-off that turns into a chirp. One place, a Pep Boys of all places, spent 45 mins diagnosing it. The guy put it on the lift after driving around the parking lot and not hearing it, of course the alternator took today to come back with its own squeak. After looking at EVERYTHING under there, including telling me the front-end is tight as a baby's bottom, and my giving him a VERY thorough description of the problem, he took it for a longer ride. Came back and put it right back on the lift, he'd heard it. The problem is becoming much worse, and I NEED the truck for work, I either need to resolve the problem this week, or find a replacement.

This shop (2 techs in this shop had heard of the problem) and another (a Firestone place) both told me GM has had problems with the aluminum driveshafts in the S-10. Firestone told me, after my description of the problem, that they replaced u-joints in an S-10 thinking they were the cause and ended up replacing the shaft when the joints didn't repair the problem.

Have you heard of this problem? Is there a TSB, or better yet recall, on this issue? I guess I'd also need a part number so I can get a price from a few places. I know a guy that's giving me the name of a local driveline shop that builds shafts for 1000 HP race cars, said the guy would probably build one for around 300.

Pep Boys charged me NOTHING for the diagnostic, so I can't complain. He even brought me into the bay and had me listen as he turned the driveshaft.

Thanks in advance...

facn8me · July 31, 2005

Year model engine trans info would help mr GM tech

blue2kzr2 · July 31, 2005

Figured username and the topic description would be sufficient. 2000 S-10 ZR2. If he doesn't already know, that means 4x4, with a 4.3, automatic was picked instead of manual.

The main question is in regards to the shaft itself, likely used on several different S-10s...

GM-Tech · August 1, 2005

I'm not aware of any driveshaft problems on S-10's. There are no TSBs and definitely no recalls for anything like that. Recalls are almost always safety related items. They don't create recalls for general mechanical problems.

U-joints typically start out making the most noise in reverse. It's a cyclic squeak as the driveshaft turns. Two squeaks or chirps for every revolution. Sometimes, if you look closely, you can see a powdery rust around the bearing cap(s) that's the problem.

blue2kzr2 · August 1, 2005

Mine's only in Drive, nothing in reverse. It's definately a DS/U-J issue. I do get the cyclic squeak...

If you recall, I'm the one that had the intermittant vibration issue. It has now escalated to this, and I may relegate the truck to around-town use until it's fixed, it vibrates like mad on the highway sometimes. The tech that looked at it today couldn't diagnose it as u-joints initially, and once he heard it he didn't say I needed u-joints, he said I needed a new DS.

GM-Tech · August 1, 2005

The tech that looked at it today couldn't diagnose it as u-joints initially, and once he heard it he didn't say I needed u-joints, he said I needed a new DS.

The driveshaft is just a solid piece. It's extremely rare for anything to be wrong with the driveshaft itself, unless it's been hit or is bent for other reasons. Otherwise, there's basically no moving parts except for u-joints or in some cases, center support bearings, which can be replaced individually.

blue2kzr2 · August 1, 2005

So if they had a bad experience where replacing u-joints didn't solve the problem, they didn't replace them properly? I'm getting a reccomendation for a driveline shop on Tues. I'll try to get an appointment with him ASAP and see what he'll charge for the work and what he thinks the problem is. I'm just waiting for something to fail, my dad rode in the truck yesterday, and again today, thought it was getting worse just in the one day, and I have 30-40 miles each day for work, so I gotta get it fixed soon.

I'm glad I didn't pay anything for the diagnosis. I'm still gonna start looking at different trucks, leaning towards a Trailblazer.

I thought the bad DS story was BS, as I said above, but having 2 places tell me the same thing, I started to believe it. I thought that may not be the case because I thought there were caps that pressed into the ears of the DS that the ends of the u-joint fit into for the pivot.

GM-Tech · August 1, 2005

So if they had a bad experience where replacing u-joints didn't solve the problem, they didn't replace them properly?

I have no idea what problem they were trying to solve. I can only repeat what I've already said. I guess my question to them would be, "What exactly is wrong with the driveshaft itself that requires it being replaced?"

blue2kzr2 · August 7, 2005

Problem is resolved! Got the u-joints swapped today, could tell as soon as I started moving that they were the problem. The guy that did them said the rear one was REALLY tight, almost locked up. Maybe I'll get better MPG.

On a side note, this was all to make the truck more saleable, I plan on searching for or ordering an '06 Grand Prix once the info is available. Hoping to sell the truck before purchase time comes...

Shu · August 9, 2005

Problem is resolved! Got the u-joints swapped today, could tell as soon as I started moving that they were the problem. The guy that did them said the rear one was REALLY tight, almost locked up. Maybe I'll get better MPG.

On a side note, this was all to make the truck more saleable, I plan on searching for or ordering an '06 Grand Prix once the info is available. Hoping to sell the truck before purchase time comes...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Looks like I was three days late with my reply:) I too used to have a 2000 S-10 and in 80000 miles it went through two rear u-joints and made the exact noise and vibration you described. Sorry a few days late, but glad to hear you got her fixed.

blue2kzr2 · August 9, 2005

Thanks anyway. I had pretty much diagnosed it on my own. I had thought almost from the beginning that it was u-joints, but wanted someone else to confirm it. Rides and accels smoothly now...