Recently had my driveshaft replaced because the OEM shaft broke at universal joint one day as i proceeded from a stop on a hill. The shop i took it to had a steel driveshaft made. When i went to pick up the new shaft from the shop i noticed that the (excuse the lack of driveshaft component knowledge) ring that has a rubber gasket or o-ring between it and the shaft itself was not seated straight. And i know enough about the driveshaft that it is supposed to be perfectly balanced or bad things will happen. So i asked the girl if it was supposed to be like that. She says, yes we re-used ur old gasket because it was still good. And because i assumed she knew what she was doing and wouldve noticed something wrong by looking at it i just said ok and left a lil confused and wondering if i would be kicking myself in the butt later. So i went home and installed the shaft on my truck. Torqued to specs and all. I noticed only when i reached about 55-60mph A slight vibration that felt like was coming from the rear. And it would get worse at higher speed. But when accelerating it would smooth out but as soon as i let of the accelerator it would vibrate pretty good until speed was below 55mph or so and then would disappear. Eventually after driving for a few months without addressing the vibration issue my transfer case range fork went out. When i opened it up i found the plastic retainer clips or inserts that are on it were completely worn out and even some of the fork itself was worn. I replaced it 2 times so far. It just went out again and im fed up with replacing it because its a pain in my butt. So im wondering if anyone is able to tell me if the driveshaft ring thing being offset is causing the vibrations in the driveshaft and that is causing the range fork issues im having or if its something else. Please help!! You sharing your knowledge would be appreciated!! Thanks

 

you drove it like that for a few months.... why not take the shaft back right away so they could address the problem. Now you got shafted ! that vibration is causing major problems...

 

Yea im asking myself the same thing now. But it is my work truck and i needed it ASAP. I literally finished putting everything back together and the following morning i had a job scheduled that i needed it for. Im in the construction industry and use my truck to haul around job materials along with all my tools. I couldnt have my vehicle out of service for long. But now its costing me time and money over and over again. Im planning to take it back to the shop that i had the shaft made but i want to know if that ring towards the end of the driveshaft that sits on a rubber gasketis supposed to be flushed and centered or is it ok that its a lil loose and doesnt sit straight. And is that most likely the cause of the vibration.
Also, could the heavier steel shaft be a problem considering the factory shaft was aluminum, i believe? Would the difference in weight be too much for the transfer case to turn? I just want to be a bit more educated this time around when i go back to the shop.

Thanks

 

No the steel shaft isn't a problem, my truck has a factory steel shaft.
The ring though should be straight and tight. The only thing I can think it's there for is to dampen vibrations, so yeah I'd venture a guess that it's your problem with vibration.