WOW! what a difference a straight and true driveshaft can make...


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By texasmark1 - 14 Years Ago
knew something wasn't quite right... a bit too much vibration thru the doors and in the "seat of the pants". sure nuff, my driveshaft was not quite "true"...

had a new one made and WOW... no more body vibes, no more problem with the "seat of my pants"... this thing is smooth now!

just a reminder to check the big and small things, I guess...

hope this turns the light on for someone!

Mark

By Big6ft6 - 14 Years Ago
I'm afraid I might have this.  I had the car up on jackstand and was running it without tires to warm up the tranny fluid and rear end fluid before draining.  And she vibrated quite a bit.  I am hoping when she is on the ground and has a load it won't be so bad...but maybe it is an unbalanced shaft?
By MoonShadow - 14 Years Ago
Sorry, I just rechecked your post. No wheels and tires! Anyway it could be brake drag. When running with no wheels did you put a lug nut on to hold the brake drums in place?  Check the universal joints.

After sitting for soo many years you may have some flat spots on the tires. Were any of the tires flat? I would check tires and wheels. Chuck in NH

By texasmark1 - 14 Years Ago
with a vehicle as old as the ones we love, checking the driveshaft for "trueness" probably ought to be SOP when restoring... mine was apparently "repaired" somewhere back in time before I bought the car.  when done with the restoration, I just starting driving it without taking this one fairly simple step.  After chasing the bad feeling down several alleys, I finally got around to having the driveshaft checked... wish I would have done it earlier!

Mark

By Hoosier Hurricane - 14 Years Ago
Nate:

If the jackstands were under the frame, and the rear axle hanging free, the U joints may have been working at an extreme angle and binding as they turned, causing a vibration.  There is a possibility of a frozen U joint also, same symptoms.

By Big6ft6 - 14 Years Ago
Hoosier Hurricane (4/13/2011)
Nate:

If the jackstands were under the frame, and the rear axle hanging free, the U joints may have been working at an extreme angle and binding as they turned, causing a vibration.  There is a possibility of a frozen U joint also, same symptoms.

Hoosier, yes the jack stand were on the frame and the suspension was fully unsuported and hanging.  I hope that was it!  Jeez...I can't wait to drive her on the street.  But the title is a 2.5 hour drive away...won't be getting there for a while.  I might just have to be a rebel and take her around the block.

By Pete 55Tbird - 14 Years Ago
Your post jogged my memory. Back in the day, to balance a driveshaft we used two large hose clamps at a 120 degree angle to each other and a piece of chalk to mark their location. If the vibration got worse then you rotate the location of the clamps on the drive shaft and try again until it gets better. At the location that the vibration is the lowest you can add more weight ( added clamps) for best results. Hey it works. Pete