Driveshaft shudder

crizpy · Post by **crizpy** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 12:50 am

Ive got a ln61 surf and put an Old man emu 2" lift springs in the rear since then i cant seem to sort out a shudder..I had a shudder when going traveling through 20-30k's I went to a mechanic and they suggested getting these truiangle wedges that go below leaf springs to change angel of diff so i got them and they were good took away %90 of shudder .. BUT i then had a shudder/rumble at 80-90k's down moterway, so i was looking under the veichle and noticed my driveshaft damaged was grinded by a rock when stuck in the mud one day.. so i got a new driveshaft from the wreckers Good clean looking one This has fixed the irritating shudder at 80-90 on moterway. But has bought back a really Violent shudder 30-40k's..
any ideas where i go from here Really irritating me how to get rid of it..
do yous thing gearbox spacers would help to lower gearbox for driveshaft my other option is getting driveshaft balanced anybody know what this costs and if it could be my problem.? and im thinking i might try taking those wedges back out..
any other ideas??

MudBum · Post by **MudBum** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 9:54 am

The wedges that have been fitted, rotate the diff, and help to bring your driveshaft angle back down after you fitted the lifted springs. If most of the shudder went away after fitting them, i would leave them in. The shudder you now have is most likely one or both universal joints on your S/H driveshaft as it wasn't there with the old D/Shaft. I presume you have used four matching sized bolts to fit the driveshaft? Because of the speed the shaft rotates a different size nut and bolt can put it out of balance, causing vibration/shudder.

Steve_t647 · Post by **Steve_t647** » Tue Mar 20, 2007 10:14 am

I agree with mudbum there is a quick way to prove it, could be the center bearing has gone too.

1) get under the car and see if there is any movement at the centre bearing up down left right, if so the bearing is shagged possibly due to the vibration.

2) disconnect the rear drive shaft and drive center bearing to diff section and frive around front wheel drive and see if the shudder is there I suspect the spline is worn or one of the universal joints, see how loose and floppy the universal joints (kardon joint's I think they are on the lux) are, this is where the movement was coming from in my dad's ute and new driveshaft was the answer.

2A) if you have another hilux around steal the driveshaft off it to replace the last section of shaft and see if it still occurs with another driveshaft.

3) If theyare OK look at the engine and gearbox mounts check the bolts are there and the mounts are in good condition, I think 1 and 2 will show where the fault is.

tristanp · Post by **tristanp** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:03 pm

spend the 30$ and get a magnetic angle finder from an engineering wholesaler
the gearbox and diff should be within 5' of each other( diff is easier to move than the gearbox ), the closer you get it the better it will be.

eg. gearbox hanging down 10'
make the diff tilt up 10' so the universals are operating at the same angles of misalignment

link

link
also check you dont have a double cardin joint up at the gearbox end, as this is a whole different kettle of fish

turoa · Post by **turoa** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:23 pm

My pinion is like the second diagram (angled up) :wink:

niblik · Post by **niblik** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:34 pm

just gotta be weary 2s, if ya point ya diff pinion too skywards, when ya get the arse end flexing, it'll tend to get the u-joint angles all out of kilter again..

try to keep it straight.. that way when it goes either up or down, ya not too far from the preferred angle..

turoa · Post by **turoa** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:37 pm

What do you mean nibby?

niblik · Post by **niblik** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:45 pm

so if ya get the back end flexin in an obstacle, ya dont have the drivetrain flexin like the first picture, but inversely..

Sadam_Husain · Post by **Sadam_Husain** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 8:51 pm

:study:

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 10:10 pm

Have you checked to make sure the unis on the driveshaft are lined up?

It could be the one from the wrecker has been separated at the slip joint and then put back together in the wrong place. The yokes must be in the same plane, so if you pull it apart and put it back together a few splines out it will vibrate.

I know Zuk driveshafts have dots punched into the end of both bits that need to be alligned.

Ben

crizpy · Post by **crizpy** » Wed Mar 21, 2007 11:37 pm

Really good help thanks for the posts, Ive decided on a plan when I get a chance within the next week.. (work and a little baby keep me busy) Ill pull the driveshaft off have a look at the slip joint see if looks on right compared to my Old driveshaft.. ill the swap universal at slipjoint Just to trial... i see how that goes and if any shudder changes.. If no luck I will then take it to have New universal joints Found them around $30 each and get the driveshaft ballanced, Next plan after that if no luck ill look at twisting the diff upwards further and look at output bearing.
by the sounds of the reply's new universals and slipjoint check and balance should solve it..
ill keep ya updated

Heath · Post by **Heath** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 1:30 pm

HAd a similar problem when I lifted my old hilux. The Universal joint was stuffed (sealed at the factory type unit) beyond belief - fell apart when removed. If you replace them get the ones with grease nipples. When driving home I noticed the noises hafd gone but I had a hell of a shudder. When I checked underneath the ujs were out of alignment (mechanic had reassembled drive shaft 90 degrees out). I unbolted tthe diff end, pulled it apart and rotated it until all was lined up and then reassembled. result was the vibes gone, well almost but the centre bearing was looking a little tired so I suspect that may have contributed to the problem.

Heath