Driveshaft Vibration - New Shaft Sources?

[decipha]

I have a bone stock 03 marauder and up until a couple days ago its been problem free. I now developed a vibration at speed. In my expert opinion it feels as though the driveshaft is out of balance. The car is bone stock and nothing has changed so maybe its just that time. Ive been looking for stock replacement driveshafts and coming up completely empty handed. We do not have any driveshaft shops around the new orleans area that can touch aluminum. For good measure i threw the car on the lift last night and changed the gear oil. I did a good look around while in there and the rear end, pinion yoke and tailshaft housing all seem perfect nothing worn or excess clearances etc... I didnt suspect much as it makes 0 noises.

If anyone can point me in the right direction that would be very helpful. Im thinking it may be the u joints are worn and am hesitant to replace them without being able to get it rebalanced but it seems as though I may not have any other options.

[Comin' in Hot]

As long as it goes back together the exact same way when you replace the u-joints, you should be OK without balancing it. I’ve done it twice without issue, I mark everything with a sharpie. Make sure you do not bend the aluminum ears when you press that you joint out. I have support the aluminum ears with a cut to fit block of wood.

[justbob]

What Derek said ^

Unless you reached critical speed (well into the triples) then the shaft should be just fine. As for the U joints, they typical clunk loudly when switching from one gear to the next, not so much vibrate at speed.

Are you 100% positive this isn’t coming from a tire? When the fronts on these cars get down to a certain point they tend to have an annoying vibration at highway speeds, and not located in the steering wheel, more so the seat of your pants and the floor. Twice now I’ve replaced fronts because they wouldn’t balance even though the tread had a wee bit of time left in them.


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[Curless]

Yep, what these guys said... They can spin it up and let you know if its bent or not. Usually never an issue unless you run them for a long time at high speeds...

[Dragcity]

I pulled my driveshaft to install a drive shaft loop and found one u joint bound a little. No indication in driving normal, track or highway speeds ++.

A bad u joint will indeed shake a whole car. Daughters car had a broken ear on hers, shook the car like crazy.

U joints, good start....

[sailsmen]

I had worn out U Joints, would hear a clunk. No vibration.

[WhatsUpDOHC]

How are your rear rims?

[fastblackmerc]

How do you know it's the drive shaft? What are the symptoms?

[Fastbob]

More likely it has tossed a wheel balance weight or a tire has a separated belt. Although a really bad u-joint could be the cause.

[crouse]

Failing U-Joints will sometimes squeak at low speed.

[tbone]

I had a defective brand new tire on my Mazda. Sidewall had a bubble in it on the inside. Had to live with the vibration for a year before I figured it out. Gave Discount Tire an earful because I brought it back twice for inspection and rebalance. I even replaced the rear shocks which was a pain because all the plastic has to come off the trunk area to reach the top bolt.

So check your tires carefully.

[decipha]

follow up, sry it took so long to get back to this but life.

The vibration was the u joints.

right after i made this thread I spun the rear wheels up, one tire was .5 grams off the other 1.5 grams, as much out of balance as that was it made absolutely no difference still vibed exactly the same afterward. It was disturbing that it was that far out. I just put brand new coopers on it not even 2 oil changes ago.

After that, I yunk the shaft and replace the u joints with moog #270 greaseable joints. The vibe is completely gone. I didnt noticed until after changing them but before at very low speeds she had a very faint vibe that I hadnt even notice before. Now with the new U joints she rides like silk. Shes a brand new car now.

Big relief, nothing irritates my soul more than an annoying vibration other than maybe a rattle. Thankfully she has none now.