Driveshaft Vibration?

[trentw]

Hi,

 

My 2001 Chev Tahoe 5.3L 4WD seems to have developed a vibration when travelling at highway speeds between 60-70mph. Speeds above or below are not affected. The vibration is pronounced when decelerating(coasting, not braking).

 

I noticed the vibration after changing the u-joints(front & rear). I was careful to mark the drive shafts and return them to their original position.

 

By experience I've found that any newly developed problem when working on a vehicle is likely related to the last thing I've touched, regardless how unlikely it may seem...

 

Is it likely that I've fubar'd my drive shaft somehow or should I start looking at wheel balance, etc? I'm somewhat stumped given the old u-joints made a lot of noise, but the truck had no vibration. Any suggestions?

 

Thanks in advance for your time,

 

Trent

[mmmikkke]

Maybe you got a defective replacement u-joint. Or maybe something's not flexing properly, as in maybe a needle bearing is laying at the end of the star-shaped casting rather than being in line with all the other needle bearings.

 

Did you have any trouble getting the replacement joints installed?

[trentw]

I took the driveshafts out myself but had the u-joints replaced at a local shop. Everything looked fine when I reinstalled them.

 

I'm curious as to why the vibration only occurs when decellerating between 70 to 60mph.

[ChevyTech007]

Are you sure you put the clips on the caps that go in the pinion flange. I have seen people leave them out and it allows the caps to walk out causing a vibration. Check this soon, if they come all the way out it ain't going to be pretty.

[trentw]

All the clips are in place...

[pm26]

Is there a driveshaft support bearing on this driveshaft? Our local dealership damaged the bearing mount rubber bushing on my old truck and it developed vibration at certain speeds.

[trentw]

There's no driveshaft support bearing that I can see...

[jaxondes]

Have your driveshaft balanced. My 02 S-Blazer had a bad vibration around those speeds, I changed the u-joints, didn't help, then I had it balanced, vibration gone!

[trentw]

Well, I took another look at the drive shaft and found an indentation. It appears that the shop that put the u-joints in for me squashed by drive shaft a little.

 

It looks like a door ding from a shopping cart. Is that enough to cause the symptoms I'm having?

 

Can anybody tell me whether this can be corrected? Can this be balanced out or am I needing a new drive shaft?

 

Thanks again,

 

Trent

[mmmikkke]

I'd guess a new driveshaft would cost you $150, but the aggravation and time wasted of a balance job gone wrong is probably even more expensive, even if they balance it for free.

 

I had one balanced once and they just kept making things worse until finally I just ordered a whole new driveshaft. That fixed my problem.

[trentw]

Well, turns out the shop that did my u-joints bent my rear drive shaft in a vise. I had the shaft re-tubed and it's a smooth ride again. Now I need to get my money out of the shop...

 

Thanks to everyone who contributed. I appreciate the help.

 

Cheers,

 

Trent

[Draenor]

Well, turns out the shop that did my u-joints bent my rear drive shaft in a vise.  I had the shaft re-tubed and it's a smooth ride again.  Now I need to get my money out of the shop...

 

Thanks to everyone who contributed.  I appreciate the help.

 

Cheers,

 

Trent

 

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That was nice of them.