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Do you need to balance drive shaft?

Discussion in 'Heavy Duty Diesel Truck Mechanics Forum' started by Shotgun94, Feb 28, 2020.

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  1. Feb 28, 2020 #1
    Shotgun94

    Shotgun94 Medium Load Member

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    So I’m doing I’m U-joints and carrier bearing as preventative maintenance.
    Do I need to get the drive shafts balanced as well?
    The drive shaft didn’t fall of so it’s not dented but was wondering your opinion.
    Thanks
     
    Shotgun94, Feb 28, 2020
    Shotgun94, Feb 28, 2020
    #1
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  3. Feb 28, 2020 #2
    x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Driveshafts are some of the most neglected items ever. If your new joints and so forth runs fine with the old shaft in place and that tractor is happy leave it be. If it's not? roll it on the ground to see where it's bent. If bent drop a new shaft on there.
     
    x1Heavy, Feb 28, 2020
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  4. Feb 28, 2020 #3
    AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    If you've got no vibrations or reasons to suspect its out of balance (ie a weight appears to be missing) I wouldn't worry about it.
     
    AModelCat, Feb 28, 2020
    AModelCat, Feb 28, 2020
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  5. Feb 28, 2020 #4
    truckdriver31

    truckdriver31 Road Train Member

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    better make sure them joints are inline with each other. it will shake bad if not
     
    truckdriver31, Feb 28, 2020
    truckdriver31, Feb 28, 2020
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  7. Feb 29, 2020 #5
    Shotgun94

    Shotgun94 Medium Load Member

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    well, the joints and carrier bearing are bad, had a bad vibration and freeplay I could move with my hands.
    So with that, should I get it balanced still?
     
    Shotgun94, Feb 29, 2020
    Shotgun94, Feb 29, 2020
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  8. Feb 29, 2020 #6
    truckdriver31

    truckdriver31 Road Train Member

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    are the weights still on the drive shaft. i have replaced joints and carrier before. and not balanced shaft
     
    truckdriver31, Feb 29, 2020
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  9. Feb 29, 2020 #7
    Goodysnap

    Goodysnap Road Train Member

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    I most certainly would balance it if you have a complaint. I usually just let the driveline shop do the re joint and bearing change cuz it's worth the labor for them to just get er done.

    The other option is- mark the shaft before removal. Change all the parts and put it back the same way. If the shake is still there you could balance later.

    Typically if you mark and put it back you should never need a rebalance unless you shed a weight or something is bent.
     
    Goodysnap, Feb 29, 2020
    Goodysnap, Feb 29, 2020
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  10. Feb 29, 2020 #8
    Shotgun94

    Shotgun94 Medium Load Member

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    I saw they are still on it, the stick on type weights.
    I don’t want to be cheap but also don’t want to spend money that doesn’t need spending. I had one shop tell me $125 to balance it depending on what is wrong with it and $35 per u-joint and I’m doing all the drive shafts bc i don’t want to have anything go bad later. And $125 for the carrier bearing. I got the parts bc I don’t want to be upcharged on the parts.
    Another shop shop said $20 per u-joint
     
    Shotgun94, Feb 29, 2020
    Shotgun94, Feb 29, 2020
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  11. Feb 29, 2020 #9
    Shotgun94

    Shotgun94 Medium Load Member

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    Seeing how this is my first time doing this and I don’t want to have to do this twice i think I’ll send it off to the guy. He said he makes punch marks to show you the direction on reinstalling it.
     
    Shotgun94, Feb 29, 2020
    Shotgun94, Feb 29, 2020
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  12. Feb 29, 2020 #10
    Shotgun94

    Shotgun94 Medium Load Member

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    Can you balance drive shaft while still on the truck or do you have to have it removed still?
     
    Shotgun94, Feb 29, 2020
    Shotgun94, Feb 29, 2020
    #10
    tow614 Thanks this.
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