driveshaft has never been off that im aware of

When towing i had all 4 wheels off the ground

 

Check the driveshaft runout...... you have been through most everything else with no effect.....

 

You don't understand the level of frustration...its endless.

Mainly because its a super annoying problem. but not bad enough that i can't get to work, but enough of a headache for me to continue to throw money at it.
10-12 hr days leave me little motivation to get out of the car when i get home.


driveshaft runout?
Finding a used driveshaft seems like a fairly cheap option.
I've seen quite a few selling for under 200. Mostly coming out of wrecked vehicles but i'd like to have a way to test it before throwing more money at it

 

Do you have the FSM ?? Page PR-5
On-Vehicle Service PROPELLER SHAFT VIBRATION
If vibration is present at high speed, inspect propeller shaft runout first.

The deal is if the driveshaft is not CENTERED WHEN ROTATING IT WILL WOBBLE..
Like a improperly balanced wheel....

Runout it to take a gauge and measure how far it wobbles.
You are only allowed 1.5mm ( .059" )

If you can grab the driveshaft and wiggle it BAD BAD...
U joints wear out, driveshafts get dinged.. diff input bearings get sloppy
and ANY of these can cause this problem...

A "GOOD" mechanic who has a runout gauge can measure this..

It "COULD" be as simple as unbolting the drive shaft and re positioning it...
Another " trick" was to use a hose clamp as a weight the same way you balance tires...

So read up & have it CHECKED OUT ( before swapping it )

 

Found a shop that specializes in driveshafts.

Going to be taking the car to him monday.
He said he spoke to someone that said that they had heard of quite a few z's with driveshaft issues.

This thing is starting to become worse than a boat

 

Oh no boats are FAR MORE of a money hole..!

 

new shop says its a bent axle, got underneath it and could tell that the drivers side rear was not spinning true.

 

Which side ( inboard or outboard ) is wobbling?

 

i think the axle rod is bent

 

Well it's a rather inexpensive part......

 

Yeah, im going to go ahead and order a new one and get it installed and see what happens.

If that was the problem. Then i will be leaving bad review for the other two shops that i paid it diagnose it

 

Same problem, using the KISS method to diagnose. Mechanic for a living and leaning on harmonic balancer/ drive line related. Not a tire issue. I think the bent axle has you tracking straighter than before. Its gonna be a while before I make time to fix probably. I will keep u posted though. Im shooting for the balancer in a few weeks to a month.

 

If it was harmonic balancer related, you would notice it in every gear at that same engine rpm. When my car was doing it, it was only MPH constant, if I put the car in 5th at 80 it was still there, and in neutral it didn't go away. An axle makes sense to me, it would be unusual, but stranger things have happened.

 

I do notice it in every gear but more readily at cruise in that rpm range. Its not as bad in 3rd or 4th but 5th and 6th at that rpm really are noticeable. The more load placed on the power train/ drive train the worse it should get which obviously it does. Like i said man I do it for a living 8 ) On another I don't disagree that it could be driveline related. It all about rotating mass to get that kind of vibration. I'm still mulling over a few things but not to quick to throw down cash on parts. Im sorry if I didn't provide enough additional info Italian Joe. I don't know how many people on here are mechanics but I think its safe to assume a lot of us wrench it here and there 8 ) I will get to my car in a few weeks but I got big wheels to grind LOL

 

I just want to be able to drive to work with having the confidence that I won't slide off the road

 

And replacing that 1/2 shaft ( if it wobbles as bad as you state ) will do just that !

 

A little update, Cars back in the shop getting an axle replaced.

Another mechanic who says hes "worked on alot of these".
Said that he doesnt think its the axle...ive already bought it, its going on.

After I told him the list of stuff I've done to it he says the only thing he can think of is theres something wrong in the pumpkin...great.

With all that being said, my chickens gettin cold.

 

You said "new shop says its a bent axle, got underneath it and could tell that the drivers side rear was not spinning true." IF that axle was not running true.. that is a problem.. Did you PERSONALLY see it " wobble " ( aka runout )? Has the driveshaft been measured for runout as well... that " I THINK " is the most reasonable cause ( based on your other work ) ......As far as the pumpkin being the ISSUE....There would have to be SEVEER bearing ware on the input / output shafts....

 

Get yourself one of these. Measure the run-out of each wheel. You can also use it to make sure that your drive shaft and axles are running true . . . .



http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/c...02/25960321-P#
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I did get underneath it and it looked like it was wobbling to me.
I took it to a shop around the corner (shop that put it up and showed me the wobble was more of a tire shop that said he didn't want to do an axle, I initially took it to him because the drive shaft guy I was going to take it to said this guy could take it out and bring it to him). The guy who replaced the axle said it had play in it and that he could free hand move it back and forth easily.

I have not had a run out done on the driveshaft. Multiple people have said the u joints are good and there is no play in it. (obviously this could be wrong)

So the axle has been replaced and it still wobbles.

The wheels were taken off and put on a road force to check and the runout was good.

If it was the runout on the driveshaft wouldn't the problem have materialized before now?