Lately I have noticed a vibration coming from the front drive train under acceleration. So I finally took it into the dealer yesterday and when I picked it up, they said the front drive shaft needed to be indexed? What the hell? I have never heard of that, have you? Of course, the vibration is gone now so I guess I shouldn't complain.

Thoughts?

 

Anyone??

 

Main Entry: 1in·dex
Pronunciation: 'in-"deks
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural in·dex·es or in·di·ces /-d&-"sEz/
Etymology: Latin indic-, index, from indicare to indicate
Date: 1571
1 a : a device (as the pointer on a scale or the gnomon of a sundial) that serves to indicate a value or quantity b : something (as a physical feature or a mode of expression) that leads one to a particular fact or conclusion : INDICATION
2 : a list (as of bibliographical information or citations to a body of literature) arranged usually in alphabetical order of some specified datum (as author, subject, or keyword): as a : a list of items (as topics or names) treated in a printed work that gives for each item the page number where it may be found b : THUMB INDEX c : a bibliographical analysis of groups of publications that is usually published periodically
3 : a list of restricted or prohibited material; specifically capitalized : a list of books the reading of which is prohibited or restricted for Roman Catholics by the church authorities
4 plural usually indices : a number or symbol or expression (as an exponent) associated with another to indicate a mathematical operation to be performed or to indicate use or position in an arrangement
5 : a character <fist> used to direct attention to a note or paragraph -- called also fist
6 a : a number (as a ratio) derived from a series of observations and used as an indicator or measure; specifically : INDEX NUMBER b : the ratio of one dimension of a thing (as an anatomical structure) to another dimension


My other Truck is a Ford too.

 

Humor, got to love it!

This is a question that should have been asked of the service manager. Don't be afraid to make them explain themselves in detail. If you are not satisfied with their ability to communicate to you what was done (even if they have to use pictures, diagrams, text books even) make them get someone who can.

sounds like either a several hundred dollar "Bath" was taken or you missinterprated what was said. Could have been gear lash adjustment / clutch pak replacement or simple "lube job":-staun

 

The other part of this puzzle is that you don't tell much about your truck and are not specific about when it happens and how it manifests itself. GIGO, garbage in, garbage out...or in some cases you get Webster.

Seems like the problem is fixed. Hope you didn't pay too much for something you may have been able to do yourself. In the future more details up front may help. There is nothing wrong with not knowing all the terms others use in their business. If the other person does not answer to your satisfaction, go somewhere else.

 

Oh no, I didn't pay, it is still under warranty. The problem was, under acceleration I had a small vibration coming from the front of the truck. You could feel it in the gas pedal. I did call to get a explanation and the Service Manager said he would call back and I haven't heard back yet. Well needless to say, I'm not going back there and it is fixed whatever they did.

 

I have seen other conditions where indexing certainly has it's benefit. If you ever see a tire technician try to balance a severly IMbalanced wheel/tire combo, one thing he will try is to mark, or INDEX the tire to the wheel, and then dismount it and put it back together in a different position to try to counter some of the problem. Perhaps they did a less technical spin on your Expy, and just broke down one end of the front drive shaft, spun it 90 ot 180 degrees, put it back together and tried it out. Makes sense - or maybe your front drive shaft became imbalanced (they have weights welded to them. take a look), and re indexing the shaft coutered the shake. Inspect your front shaft for what looks like a spot weld where a weight may have been, that may have slung off. I am not 100% sure the shafts are balanced this way on the Expy, but would have to assume that they are.

 

Indexing the driveline refers to the posistion of the yokes at both ends of the driveline. The yokes at each end of the driveline should be parallel with each other. The driveline is splined in the center, if the front and rear ends of the driveline are assembled even one spline off of parallel, it could cause a vibration.

 

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 06-Mar-02 AT 07:53&nbsp;AM (EST)]Generaly when the drive shaft is "indexed" they simply unbolt it from the diferential and transfer case, rotate the drive shaft 90 or 180* and reinstall. I believe the one in the Exp would have to be rotated 180* It is correct that true indexing would be the splined portion of the driveshaft. The shaft is ballanced after assembly so care should be taken to properly mark (index) the drive shaft before you take it apart. The purpose of rotating the shaft is to change the harmonics between related rotating parts.