Driveshaft wiggle?
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 275
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Driveshaft wiggle?
I have a question. I have a 74 F250 390 C6 with a two piece driveshaft. I have notices a vibration when starting from a stop so I checked the u-joints and they seem tight but the carrier bearing I can move back and fourth about a quarter inch or so. Is that a normal amount of play?
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
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If a carrier bearing dies like that, it's usually because there's some other problem. Does the shaft have any dents or anything like that? The u-joints should have no play at all in them, even if it just seems like a few thosands, its bad.
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Tuned
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 275
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Yea the u joints are tight. Maybe I should change them just to eliminate the possibility. One thing that does wiggle a lot is the tranny and the rear end. That is to say you can turn the driveshaft and there is about a quarter inch or more in the rear end and a little less than a quarter inch into the tranny. I bought this truck less than a month ago ( sold 73 chevy and 2000 F150) and I am going through it so I don't really mind changing something just to make it new. Compared to those other trucks this thing is awesome. More character than the F150 and much stronger built than the 73 chevy. Even the ashtray is beefier.
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 182
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From: Oklahoma City
That amount of play at the rear end is normal because the gears do not mesh tightly. Play at the transmissions spline for the drive shaft should be nearly zero but a slight amount of play will naturally be there because of wear.
It's entirely possible that all is normal and you will just need to replace the carrier bearing more often. After all, the carrier bearings job it to carry the weight of the drive shaft and to provide stability. Therefore, it receives vibration and abuse from both ends.
It's entirely possible that all is normal and you will just need to replace the carrier bearing more often. After all, the carrier bearings job it to carry the weight of the drive shaft and to provide stability. Therefore, it receives vibration and abuse from both ends.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 828
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From: Baltimore
Have you checked the driveshaft slip joint? The spline has a plastic coating on it and when that wears off, that slip joint gets very loose. If yours is worn out, it will definitely cause some nasty vibration. I have replaced 3 of those joints in various trucks and all had a vibration before the fix. It went away after the driveshaft was repaired.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: hohenwald, tn
driveshafts are balanced also. could be that. as ujoints are cahnged over time they are supposed to be reassembled exactly as taken apart. i myself have screwed it up on one of my trucks. the vibration is not so bad, just enough to drive me nuts.