Driveline vibration. Driveline upgrade ?

[94ExploderSport]

just added an add a leaf to my 5.5 super lift and now I have major driveline vibration.
I know if I just add a shim to fix the pinion angle it would do me fine but I'm thinking more alone the lines of getting the driveline lengthened or is there any other options that anyone has tried or heard of? Just cause my slip joint is only hanging on by a thread. I flexed over a speed bump and the driveshaft met the floor.

 

[frankcal]

I just recently discovered driveshaft spacers. I haven't been able to find much about them on here though. I bought one off ebay someone on here said they used but it didn't fit on my axle. The diameter was too small and the wholes would't line up. Gonna be trying one for an f150 from fabtech once I get done with the return process on the other one.

 

[Anime]

Driveshafts are actually pretty delicate, balanced components - if it 'met the floor', as in, hit the pavement hard, and then you re-installed it, it's probably vibrating because of the damage.

They may be made of steel, but they are just hollow tubes, balanced with weights, and with precision slip-joints and universal joints on either end. If one of the balance weights falls off, that's more than enough to throw the whole assembly off balance and vibrate at even low speeds.

You can have a driveshaft shop make you a custom driveshaft that is slightly longer if you want. That may be a preferable solution, cost-wise, versus just getting another rear driveshaft from another Explorer, or trying to locate a new factory one.

 

[jd4242]

Get your drive shaft extended. .think i went 3" on mine..i would pop mine out with my soa and add a leaf..i went 3" before i added 2" blocks and it still works fine..

 

[94ExploderSport]

ive only ever used driveline spacer for front drivelines never rear but i have vibration cause of my ujoint angle. gonna put in a 2 degree shim and adj from there. i just wanted to see if anyone had installed like a stock f150 driveline or something and worked.
but looks like extending it is going to be my best option.
thanks guys

 

[Maniak]

Just so you have a price..

When I had my driveshaft made for my SOA it was actually pretty cheap...

From my SOA thread...

My total cost for the rebuild, with new u-joints using .083 (I think that is right) thick tube was < $250.. That is including balancing and the fancy paint job (osha yellow).

Now, that is more expensive than a spacer, I just haven't heard enough good about using spacers so I didn't even think to try it..

~Mark

 

[madbutcher]

I bought a spacer from ebay just so i could use my Explorer till my new custom shaft was made and shipped to me..

Orderd my shaft from Tattons driveshafts on ebay:

Spacer: $49.99 http://www.ebay.com/itm/300488551352?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT (mounts on the transfer, not axleside)

Tatton shaft: $275 http://www.ebay.com/itm/330598150434?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT All custom and balanced at 100miles an hour (i went with the solid spicer u joints)

I am 100% happy with this setup

 

[2TimingTom]

Get your drive shaft extended. .think i went 3" on mine..i would pop mine out with my soa and add a leaf..i went 3" before i added 2" blocks and it still works fine..

Exactly. It's probably extended now to the point where the slip shaft is barely engaged and doesn't have enough engagement to prevent it from being a pivot point. See if you can wiggle it. There should be ZERO movement in that joint.

Get it extended. I got my front shaft extended, re-tubed (thicker, wider tube), balanced and a new u-joint for $140. The rear had a similar treatment but I don't remember the cost.

 

[jd4242]

Exactly. It's probably extended now to the point where the slip shaft is barely engaged and doesn't have enough engagement to prevent it from being a pivot point. See if you can wiggle it. There should be ZERO movement in that joint.

Get it extended. I got my front shaft extended, re-tubed (thicker, wider tube), balanced and a new u-joint for $140. The rear had a similar treatment but I don't remember the cost.

Huh??

I did get it extended,by 3 inches

 

[frankcal]

So I got a fabtech spacer for my rear drive shaft. I just installed it a few days ago but it seems to be doing the job so far.

 

[94ExploderSport]

went to my localish driveline shop and had it extended the guy said 1 1/2 would be good so I had him do that and also added a 2 1/4 pinion angle shim and bye bye vibration.