Loose Driveshaft?
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Loose Driveshaft?
I can get under my 99 Ranger (Ext. Cab, 4x4, auto, with a 4.0L) and turn my driveshaft about 1/4 turn in total. Is that normal? I have a rough driveline shimmy when driving. Especially noticeable on the highway, but you can also feel this extra rattle/shake when traveling over other roads and you hit bumps and such. We were thinking that this loose driveshaft might be my problem,but I wanted to know how much play was normal. Is there anyway to tighten this up or does this mean a new rearend is in order? Thanks for any help.
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Yeah, it's got to be. It's been a couple of weeks since I checked, but I swear it was that much. I'll double check tomorrow. Last night on my way home I was cruising at about 65mph and all of a sudden the whole truck started to shake violently and the steering wheel was almost too much to handle and I had to pull off the road. Everything checked out and I was fine on the way home. It almost felt like the rear end started bouncing and it affected the rest of the vehicle. It was very strange. But I feel this driveline vibration on the highway all the time. I can feel it in the pedal, floor board, and my seat. I don't feel it too much in the steering wheel (compared to the others), so that's what has us thinking it has something to do with the driveshaft or rearend. I read something about a TSB for the slip-yoke, mine meets the diagnosis for this and always has. Vibration/jerk when accelerating from stop and decelerating. Could this possibly be locking up in the driveshaft?
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Hillsboro, MO
if you live near st louis, there is a place called driveshafts unlimited in arnold you can take your driveshaft to and they will balance it and put new ujoints on if needed. thats if your slop is in the shaft and not the rearend. and they are very reasonable.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Buckeye Country
Look at the U-joints when you give the shaft a twist. If you see excessive play (there should be none), than they are the problem. If there is play and the u-joints are tight, look at the rear-end and tranny. Does the tranny otherwise act weird? Excessive grear lash shouldn't cause such an intense vibration and it's probably either the u-joints or the shaft is out of balance. The next most likely problem is worn differential gears. Jack the truck up and with it in gear, check to see how much free roll there is when you try to spin the wheels by hand. If there is slop you will hear the clunking as well. Still don't see this causing those vibes at highway speeds though...
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Seattle
I remember that my '98 Ranger Auto had a similar problem where at a specific speed the truck would vibrate radically, then it would go away after either going faster or slowing down.
Turns out the bearing that the driveshaft rides on was shot and the transmission housing was cracked. I can't rememeber the name of the portion that was broken, it was the portion of the driveshaft that is right below the driver (torque converter??)
Turns out the bearing that the driveshaft rides on was shot and the transmission housing was cracked. I can't rememeber the name of the portion that was broken, it was the portion of the driveshaft that is right below the driver (torque converter??)
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Buckeye Country
A bent flexplate can cause vibes, as can bad bearings on the input and tailshaft. If the tailshaft bearing and seal is roached, you should be able to shake the driveshaft and feel the slack. That can also be the result of letting a driveshaft problem go on for too long before repairing it.
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