If you have ever heard the term “drivetrain” used in reference to your vehicle, this is the system responsible for transferring power from the engine to your vehicle’s wheels to make it drive. The term drivetrain pertains to essential components of your vehicle including the transmission, driveshaft, differential, and wheels. In this month’s blog post, we explain the purpose of the one key component, the driveshaft. We explain the driveshaft’s purpose and examine the problems and signs to look for when there may be a problem with this critical part of the drivetrain.
What is the Driveshaft?
The driveshaft has a very specific role in the drivetrain – to transfer the torque (i.e.. rotational force) from the transmission to the differential. From there, the differential provides the torque to the necessary wheels to produce movement.
The driveshaft goes under various names, depending on the type of drive system within your vehicle (such as front or rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive). The driveshaft may sometimes be called the propeller shaft, Cardan shaft, or simply the prop shaft.
The driveshaft is a long, cylindrical steel shaft, that may be solid or hollow and the position of the driveshaft under the vehicle may vary depending on the type of drive system.
Driveshaft Problems
Your vehicle’s driveshaft spins at high speeds to transfer the power to your wheels, and so it must be balanced and weighted accordingly. If something affects the driveshaft, it will impact the ability to drive your vehicle.
Some of the more common causes of driveshaft problems include:
- Hazardous road surfaces such as potholes, which can damage the driveshaft.
- Worn bearings can disrupt the driveshaft’s ability to spin and provide power to the remainder of the drivetrain. Bearings are metal balls that help reduce friction within spinning components.
- Excessive vehicle weight or overloading of the vehicle – such as pulling heavy loads.
- Wear, tear, or corrosion of the universal joints. The universal joints are the connectors between the transmission and the driveshaft.
Symptoms of a Bad Driveshaft
Since the operation of the driveshaft is critical to the drivability of your vehicle, there are some symptoms that you may experience that may be associated with a bad driveshaft.
- Vibration: Vibration can be a sign of many different vehicle problems. But with a driveshaft, excessive vibration is a sign that there is damage to your driveshaft. Usually, the vibration is the result of worn or damaged universal joints. Avoiding this symptom can result in further damage to your overall drivetrain, so it must be addressed promptly.
- Turning Issues: If you are having difficulty turning your vehicle, or unable to do it at all, this is a possible symptom of a broken driveshaft. Again, this issue must be remedied quickly because it represents a safety concern.
- Unusual Noises: Unusual noises are also another common symptom of many different vehicle problems. However, if connected with the other listed symptoms, this may indicate a driveshaft problem. Universal joints that are worn, or not properly lubricated, can result in unusual sounds coming from the underside of the vehicle such as rattling, clanking, scraping, or knocking.
- Erratic Acceleration: If the vehicle is erratic or shudders when moving from low speed to high, this could be a symptom of a bad drivetrain. The issue may stem from worn or damaged universal joints.
Because many of the symptoms of a bad driveshaft may resemble other vehicle issues, it’s important to have your vehicle inspected by a service professional to determine the root cause of the vehicle problems. If you have concerns that you may have a developing problem with your driveshaft, contact us here at Shade Tree Garage to schedule an inspection of your drivetrain.