What is the spline engagement of a driveshaft?
The most important factor when it comes to determining if your driveshaft is adequate for your vehicle is the amount of spline engagement that your driveshaft has when your suspension is at full droop and full compression. The more spline engagement that occurs between your main shaft and your slip stub means more strength your driveshaft has.
What are the symptoms of a bad driveshaft?
1. Intense Vibrations from Underneath the Vehicle One of the first symptoms of a problem with the driveshaft is vibrations coming from underneath the vehicle. If the driveshaft universal joint (U-joint) or bushings wear out, it can cause excessive driveshaft vibration.
What does a driveshaft do on a rear wheel drive car?
A driveshaft is the cylindrical shaft that transmits torque from the engine to the wheels. They are most commonly found on rear-wheel drive vehicles, and connect the rear of the transmission to the driveshaft. As the output shaft of the transmission rotates it spins the driveshaft,…
How can I tell the length of my driveshaft?
The key for figuring out how much spline engagement you currently have is to measure. Take the driveshaft off, remove the slip stub, and measure the length of spline. If you have a stock driveshaft you can also look up the numbers online. Then mount your driveshaft and cycle your suspension measuring again at full droop and full compression.
The most important factor when it comes to determining if your driveshaft is adequate for your vehicle is the amount of spline engagement that your driveshaft has when your suspension is at full droop and full compression. The more spline engagement that occurs between your main shaft and your slip stub means more strength your driveshaft has.
What happens if your driveshaft is too short?
Covering the extremes if your driveshaft is too short your main driveshaft can actually fall out of the slip stub which can cause massive amounts of damage to your vehicle when that shaft continues to flail around under the vehicle while under power, or just as dangerous connect with the ground and act as a pole-vault.
What should I do if my drive line is splitting?
If you are working with a split shaft, make sure to mark the shaft prior to splitting the shaft. When securing a shaft in a vise, make sure to clamp around the yoke and not on the hollow tube itself. This eliminates the chance of the hollow tube being damaged if clamped too hard.
The key for figuring out how much spline engagement you currently have is to measure. Take the driveshaft off, remove the slip stub, and measure the length of spline. If you have a stock driveshaft you can also look up the numbers online. Then mount your driveshaft and cycle your suspension measuring again at full droop and full compression.