Notices
1999 - 2016 Super Duty 1999 to 2016 Ford F250, F350, F450 and F550 Super Duty with diesel V8 and gas V8 and V10 engines
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: Real Truck

What's inside a driveshaft?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 7, 2011 | 07:02 PM
  #1  
79CEEJAY's Avatar
79CEEJAY
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 656
Likes: 0
From: South of you
What's inside a driveshaft?

Well after u joints, center support bearing I still get a vibration at varying speeds. Pulled the shaft and took it to the local driveline shop. He says mine is very strange because the harmonics are all over the place. He put a weight to one side, then imbalance shifts to the other. He puts a weight on the other, it then shifts to the other end.

He thinks it may have some sound deading inside, possible cardboard or foam that s lose and shifting. He can't answer for sure because it's the first Super Duty shaft he has worked on that he couldn't balance and has never cut into one. He said I can't charge you because I didn't fix it, so I have reason to believe he is pretty trustworthy.

He suggests I replace the shaft....... he didn't even quote me at first he suggested e bay or a junkyard, so he's not trying to sell me a new unit..but if that didn't work he could certainly build me a new one.

Can anybody concur before I go driveshaft shopping??
 
Reply
Old Aug 7, 2011 | 07:23 PM
  #2  
84deisel's Avatar
84deisel
here sometimes
20 Year Member
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 374
Likes: 8
From: Algona ,IOWA
Club FTE Gold Member
Sounds like he is inexperianced with truck shafts. I would find a shop that works on fleet trucks.The last shaft I saw was the one the owner ripped in two on his 550 and it had a little cardboard inside.
 
Reply
Old Aug 7, 2011 | 07:40 PM
  #3  
onedcharette's Avatar
onedcharette
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by 79CEEJAY
Well after u joints, center support bearing I still get a vibration at varying speeds. Pulled the shaft and took it to the local driveline shop. He says mine is very strange because the harmonics are all over the place. He put a weight to one side, then imbalance shifts to the other. He puts a weight on the other, it then shifts to the other end.

He thinks it may have some sound deading inside, possible cardboard or foam that s lose and shifting. He can't answer for sure because it's the first Super Duty shaft he has worked on that he couldn't balance and has never cut into one. He said I can't charge you because I didn't fix it, so I have reason to believe he is pretty trustworthy.

He suggests I replace the shaft....... he didn't even quote me at first he suggested e bay or a junkyard, so he's not trying to sell me a new unit..but if that didn't work he could certainly build me a new one.

Can anybody concur before I go driveshaft shopping??
if you cant find one on ebay then the best bet is to just have one built. i had one built a few years back for a 51 f100 and it wasn't super expensive. he can even use the "ends" off of yours. the problem with most junkyards and drive shafts is when they use a fork lift to raise the vehicles to drain the fluids they more than likely they tend to bend the shafts.
 
Reply
Old Aug 7, 2011 | 08:58 PM
  #4  
Hybris's Avatar
Hybris
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,038
Likes: 0
From: Olathe
I thought drive shafts were usually solid milled aluminum or in some cases milled steel?

I mean a hollow shaft would be lighter but even then why add the sound deadening material?
 
Reply
Old Aug 7, 2011 | 09:23 PM
  #5  
Mark Kovalsky's Avatar
Mark Kovalsky
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
25 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,722
Likes: 2,648
From: SE Florida
Driveshafts are hollow with sound deadening inside, usually cardboard.
 
Reply
Old Aug 8, 2011 | 01:16 AM
  #6  
Persona's Avatar
Persona
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 84
Likes: 1
From: Shuswap
Originally Posted by Mark Kovalsky
Driveshafts are hollow with sound deadening inside, usually cardboard.

x2, I used to build them quite often when I was still machining. If the cardboard is loose then yes, it will spin inside the tubing causing what the OP describes. Drivelines are (typically) made from mild steel or aluminum tubing, solid would be too heavy and isn't needed.
 
Reply
Old Aug 8, 2011 | 02:51 AM
  #7  
TexasRebel's Avatar
TexasRebel
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,752
Likes: 5
From: Stillwater, OK
the answer is:

Sailboat fuel.
 
Reply
Old Aug 8, 2011 | 05:30 AM
  #8  
79CEEJAY's Avatar
79CEEJAY
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 656
Likes: 0
From: South of you
Thanks everybody for the responses.

Seems like the superduty shaft does have cardboard inside, and it seems as though mine has shifted or is lose and is moving around.

I don't like the e bay or junkyard idea...for reasons mentioned, PLUS the used shaft may have the same issue as mine. I will either go ahead and have them build me a new one, or see what I can do at the stealership....I looked it up at Tousley Ford, and without freight they can sell me a new one for less than I can have one built for...so we'll see.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-3

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-4

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-5

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-9

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
Old Aug 8, 2011 | 08:41 AM
  #9  
krewat's Avatar
krewat
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
Club FTE Gold Member
Well, the correct thing to do would be to bring it back to the driveshaft guy and say "cut it open and fix it". You're going to spend money on it one way or the other, and having a decent driveshaft place make a brand-new/rebuilt one with yours as a guide is the right way to go.

And, it'll be balanced right - even a brand-new one from Ford can be screwed up from the get-go.

But that does look enticing to get one from Ford for less than having one made.
 
Reply
Old Aug 8, 2011 | 01:09 PM
  #10  
mwsF250's Avatar
mwsF250
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,564
Likes: 11
From: Wayyy NoCal, USA
If money was tight, I would be tempted to drill a hole through the end of the yoke (stress free zone) and shoot some expanding foam into it and then get it balanced. If it works, done. If it doesn't, didn't cost much to try.
 
Reply
Old Aug 8, 2011 | 04:41 PM
  #11  
79CEEJAY's Avatar
79CEEJAY
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 656
Likes: 0
From: South of you
Originally Posted by Krewat
Well, the correct thing to do would be to bring it back to the driveshaft guy and say "cut it open and fix it". You're going to spend money on it one way or the other, and having a decent driveshaft place make a brand-new/rebuilt one with yours as a guide is the right way to go.

And, it'll be balanced right - even a brand-new one from Ford can be screwed up from the get-go.

But that does look enticing to get one from Ford for less than having one made.
I thought about having him cut and lets see just whats inside. He said he could reuse my yokes and slip joint if I want and he could make up a new shaft for me and save me some cash, but I can get a Ford part for within $100 of his and everything will be new. He also said if I get a new Ford piece he could check the balance on that too.....Plus every time I try to get cheap, something screws up and it ends up costing more than if I just went the "more expensive" way to start.
 
Reply
Old Aug 8, 2011 | 04:47 PM
  #12  
79CEEJAY's Avatar
79CEEJAY
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 656
Likes: 0
From: South of you
Originally Posted by mwsF250
If money was tight, I would be tempted to drill a hole through the end of the yoke (stress free zone) and shoot some expanding foam into it and then get it balanced. If it works, done. If it doesn't, didn't cost much to try.
I actually thought of doing that. Figured if I have to replace it anyway one way or the other, it can't hurt to try this.

Although I did speak the the driveline shop owner today and he is shying away from this. He is thinking that since the harmonics are moving up abnd down the shaft, it could be that and possibly a combination of other things working together to cause the issues I am having....I guess basically the only way he can guarantee it is right is to rebuild the entire shaft, or replace it with a new factory unit. I just don't think he would turn down the business and he seems like he knows whathe is talking about since he doesn't really want to try and experiment. He only wants to do what he knows to be proven.

Plus, I don't think he wants me coming back in every week with the same problem and he ends up working for free.
 
Reply
Old Aug 8, 2011 | 10:53 PM
  #13  
bsfarmer's Avatar
bsfarmer
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Could be the slip shaft just flat out wore out. Mine was shot at 195K miles. Actually my slip yoke had a bunch of play in it, and I twisted the shaft, only way we could tell was it was dented in on one side. You also could have twisted yours somehow and you just can't visibly see it. Most driveshafts are same thickness as exhaust pipe, sometimes it doesn't take much to put a little twist in it.

I wanted a unbreakable driveshaft so I called Jess at High Angle Driveline and had him make a whole new driveshaft with a new 1350 series CV and a 1410 joint at the pinion yoke. Super easy to deal with as he builds shafts for sled pullers, trophy trucks, and rockcrawlers. It's cheap insurance as I'm pretty hard on my truck. Nothing wrong with a factory Ford shaft, I just wanted to upgrade.

Regardless it sounds like you just need to order a whole new driveshaft and fix it right the first time.
 
Reply
Old Aug 9, 2011 | 09:21 AM
  #14  
mtdigger's Avatar
mtdigger
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 362
Likes: 1
From: middlesex county, nj
Sailboat fuel..... aka....whole lotta nuttin, sound suppression ? I can hardly hear the radio...a straight piped 7.3 is all the music I need
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
nhill2090
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
21
Jun 30, 2021 07:06 PM
postalxj
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
7
Dec 19, 2009 01:10 PM
windmillteetertotter
Excursion - King of SUVs
2
May 14, 2004 02:57 AM
diesels revenge
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
4
Oct 13, 2003 07:51 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:54 PM.

story-0
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-2
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-4
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-8
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE