Driveshaft Balancing

Diffs, axles, lockers, transmissions, portals, that kind of thing.
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landy
Posts: 105
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2004 10:48 am
Location: Albuquerque, NM

Driveshaft Balancing

Post by landy »

Thoughts? Was it a worthwhile investment? Any noticeable reduction in vibration? Cost? Can a reputable drivetrain shop do it?

Thanks!
undysworld
Norway
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Location: Blue Mounds, WI

Re: Driveshaft Balancing

Post by undysworld »

If your truck is out of balance, fixing it is a noticeable change for the better.

To test if your truck is out of balance, get up to top speed(-ish) on a straight road, and pull down the first locker to engage the front end. When down, there will be noticeable difference in driveline vibration. Releasing the lock lever will bring the noise back.

I inquired of a local drive line specialist, but they thought they'd need special adaptors to spin the shaft. The only shop I have heard about that did this work was near Dennis Williams' shop, Linden Engineering, in Littleton, CO. You might want to contact him for further info and/or cost.

Maybe others here have additional sources.
stiffler4444
Canada
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Re: Driveshaft Balancing

Post by stiffler4444 »

I am going to look into this as well. When I throw down my 4x4 locker, I lose all vibration, but under regular circumstances, anything over 80km's and I have a very loud vibration.
1972 710m
undysworld
Norway
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Location: Blue Mounds, WI

Re: Driveshaft Balancing

Post by undysworld »

Stiffler4444,

Very typical symptoms. The 710s seem more prone to it than 712s, due I assume to the longer internal drive shaft. I can't imagine it's good for the truck, but then I've never heard of actual damage related to the shaft being unbalanced.

I've experienced one that was so bad it was pretty unpleasant to even drive at that speed. Some guys just live with it.
krick3tt
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Location: Denver, CO USA

Re: Driveshaft Balancing

Post by krick3tt »

I am one of the 'just live with it' people. On longer trips (+500 mi) the drumming is sort of hypnotic. It rises and
falls like the ocean waves.
Anything that is loose, especially on the center dog house like change, sort of drives me loco. Have to find that thing and move it.

I have often thought of having the balancing done but, the down time and cost, including finding someone that can do it has been
the issue for me. If I had other front issues I would have it taken down and the project done.
Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him:
better take a closer look at the American Indian.---Henry Ford
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audiocontr
United States of America
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Joined: Fri May 01, 2009 1:30 pm
Location: Buffalo NY

Re: Driveshaft Balancing

Post by audiocontr »

That could be tires as well.
1973 712m
1968 Haflinger
1965 Pathfinder
1978 GMC Palm Beach (Hey, its got 6 wheels!!)
krick3tt
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Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2006 6:48 pm
Location: Denver, CO USA

Re: Driveshaft Balancing

Post by krick3tt »

If you are responding to my post...different tires, same sound and vibration. Ever since I have had the pinz.
Any man who thinks he can be happy and prosperous by letting the government take care of him:
better take a closer look at the American Indian.---Henry Ford
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Haf-e
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Re: Driveshaft Balancing

Post by Haf-e »

I changed over to a "balanced and lightened" driveshaft and it made a big difference - originally I had Dennis Linden just balance the original shaft and it didn't totally cure the problem - then I did a swap for one with the internal torsion bar removed from Scott at Expedition-Imports and it made a very big difference.

I did have the input bearing on the T-case go out - twice - prior to putting in the lightened driveshaft - I think it is taking a beating with the vibration - But I used to do a lot of road miles in my Pinz.

I think its worth the time and cost to do it - its actually a very easy project to do at home - the complete rear drivetrain (wheels/diff/axles/t-case) can all be left as an assembly and rolled out on the wheels. With two people I think its a 2 to 3 hour job. need a couple of large/tall jackstands and or some cribbing to raise the body high enough. Good time to check the input bearing on the t-case as well.
stiffler4444
Canada
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Location: Crystal Beach ON CAN

Re: Driveshaft Balancing

Post by stiffler4444 »

undysworld wrote:Stiffler4444,

Very typical symptoms. The 710s seem more prone to it than 712s, due I assume to the longer internal drive shaft. I can't imagine it's good for the truck, but then I've never heard of actual damage related to the shaft being unbalanced.

I've experienced one that was so bad it was pretty unpleasant to even drive at that speed. Some guys just live with it.
Agreed. I've heard that the 710's are worse. I guess it's more of a "perception" that it is doing damage, but over time, it has to affect something (other than my headache). Will just live with it until I have a reason to tear into it. :|
1972 710m
landy
Posts: 105
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2004 10:48 am
Location: Albuquerque, NM

Re: Driveshaft Balancing

Post by landy »

Any ball park estimates of the cost? Appears that only a few have had it done and it was done by Pinz a specialist?

I may just live with it, too. I rarely go fast enough such that it becomes very noticeable.
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