Drive shaft vibrating from 1st to 2nd gear

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DeepBlue636
Posts: 48
Joined: Apr 03, 2011 10:41 AM
Location: California

Drive shaft vibrating from 1st to 2nd gear

Post by DeepBlue636 »

Every time I take off from first to second it feels like my passenger seat is about to fall out of place , but my drive shaft is whats actually vibrating. Opened it up before and checked it out took it to a couple of mechanics and nobody knew what was wrong with it. Is this a serious problem? and what should I do to repair it. Any suggestion would be great.
Thank you
MShimon
Posts: 960
Joined: Feb 12, 2007 2:16 PM
Location: Seattle, WA

Post by MShimon »

I'm going to say it's the center support bearing (CSB) that holds the driveshaft up right near your seats. Mine was bad and it vibrated quite a bit, I had to find a rebuilt driveshaft since the u-joints were shot.
Das_Prachtstrasse
Posts: 5616
Joined: Sep 10, 2006 7:06 AM
Location: Melbourne, Doooown Under

Post by Das_Prachtstrasse »

This ^

Also, is your guibo in good condition?
DeepBlue636
Posts: 48
Joined: Apr 03, 2011 10:41 AM
Location: California

Post by DeepBlue636 »

I was afraid you'd say the u-joints where shot...ehhh and ya the guibo is in pretty good shape. Im gonna get to work on it asap thx for help ....hopefully my problem gets solved
Mike W.
Posts: 27207
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: California Whine Country

Post by Mike W. »

Yeah, U joint(s). My front one got stiff and did that. Eventually I could feel vibration even at 70 if I floored it. I broke all the rules, matched a different front half with my existing back half and never looked back for the next 130K til I sold it. It wasn't perfect new car butter smooth, but not bad at all. And nothing like it had been.
cleeves
Posts: 545
Joined: Mar 29, 2011 11:20 AM
Location: St. Louis, MO / Lawrence, KS

Post by cleeves »

+4 on U-joints.

Henry
shwaa
Posts: 143
Joined: Apr 30, 2011 2:55 PM
Location: Milwaukee, WI

Post by shwaa »

I just had my driveshaft replaces due to bad u-joint. New guibo, csb, driveshaft ... all installed per Bentley.

I now have a vibration similar to this. 1st gear starting out, it vibrates then goes away as RPM climbs. Same with second gear though the vibration is less. 3rd, 4th, and 5th are smooth without noticeable vibration.

I am guessing this may be related to bad subframe bushings (which I know are bad) and diff mount (which I am guessing may have been beat up by the bad driveshaft). Dogbones are new.

Do this sound reasonable to you guys ?
cleeves
Posts: 545
Joined: Mar 29, 2011 11:20 AM
Location: St. Louis, MO / Lawrence, KS

Post by cleeves »

shwaa wrote:I just had my driveshaft replaces due to bad u-joint. New guibo, csb, driveshaft ... all installed per Bentley.

I now have a vibration similar to this. 1st gear starting out, it vibrates then goes away as RPM climbs. Same with second gear though the vibration is less. 3rd, 4th, and 5th are smooth without noticeable vibration.

I am guessing this may be related to bad subframe bushings (which I know are bad) and diff mount (which I am guessing may have been beat up by the bad driveshaft). Dogbones are new.

Do this sound reasonable to you guys ?
Also look at the UCABs.

Henry
shwaa
Posts: 143
Joined: Apr 30, 2011 2:55 PM
Location: Milwaukee, WI

Post by shwaa »

cleeves wrote:
shwaa wrote:I just had my driveshaft replaces due to bad u-joint. New guibo, csb, driveshaft ... all installed per Bentley.

I now have a vibration similar to this. 1st gear starting out, it vibrates then goes away as RPM climbs. Same with second gear though the vibration is less. 3rd, 4th, and 5th are smooth without noticeable vibration.

I am guessing this may be related to bad subframe bushings (which I know are bad) and diff mount (which I am guessing may have been beat up by the bad driveshaft). Dogbones are new.

Do this sound reasonable to you guys ?
Also look at the UCABs.

Henry
No vibration in steering at all .. zero .. zilch. Is this still something to look at ??
DeepBlue636
Posts: 48
Joined: Apr 03, 2011 10:41 AM
Location: California

Post by DeepBlue636 »

Ya im gonna check it out....still havent seen any problems. my only choice is probably replacing the drivesaft -__-
shwaa
Posts: 143
Joined: Apr 30, 2011 2:55 PM
Location: Milwaukee, WI

Post by shwaa »

I will keep digging on mine as well. I will post what I find in hopes it helps you out.
Tony533i
Posts: 154
Joined: Jan 26, 2007 8:01 PM
Location: PA

Post by Tony533i »

My similar vibration came from a worn out centering sleeve at the front of the driveshaft. I put the car up on a lift and you could actually see the driveshaft deflect at the front when you ran it through the first couple of gears (Wheels off the ground).
shwaa
Posts: 143
Joined: Apr 30, 2011 2:55 PM
Location: Milwaukee, WI

Post by shwaa »

Did a better test yesterday. The vibration is 25 mph and below for me. It is there whether I am in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd gear as long I am below the 25 mph threshold.

I also only have the vibration on acceleration. No vibration coasting or engine braking.

This is a brand new guibo, driveshaft, and CSB.

Interesting little gremlin !!
nnarth212
Posts: 1953
Joined: Aug 10, 2009 6:06 PM
Location: San Francisco

Post by nnarth212 »

Perhaps part #1 (below #7) in the below, I believe Kohler has some knowledge on this one:

Image
shwaa
Posts: 143
Joined: Apr 30, 2011 2:55 PM
Location: Milwaukee, WI

Post by shwaa »

Thank you sir ... I will look into this although I don't know when it will happen. I will be sure to report results here.
TonkaTruck
Posts: 330
Joined: Nov 01, 2008 1:10 PM
Location: UT

Post by TonkaTruck »

I was told my CSB was in need of repair a couple months ago, now I have same situation as the OP.

I am having it replaced and will report if that was the problem.

I only noticed mine after driving for a long period of time. Short trips it doesn't act up.
Freight
Posts: 28
Joined: Dec 26, 2024 3:19 PM
Location: NY

Re: Drive shaft vibrating from 1st to 2nd gear

Post by Freight »

Anyone ever figure out what this was? 
turbodan
Posts: 9217
Joined: Jan 09, 2007 10:19 PM

Re: Drive shaft vibrating from 1st to 2nd gear

Post by turbodan »

Freight wrote: Jan 05, 2025 5:35 PM Anyone ever figure out what this was? 
Usually u joints. If your driveshaft is still original, it's been on borrowed time for a while.

Check the trans mounts too, if they're collapsed it affects the driveline alignment. 
Freight
Posts: 28
Joined: Dec 26, 2024 3:19 PM
Location: NY

Re: Drive shaft vibrating from 1st to 2nd gear

Post by Freight »

turbodan wrote: Jan 06, 2025 1:09 AM
Freight wrote: Jan 05, 2025 5:35 PM Anyone ever figure out what this was? 
Usually u joints. If your driveshaft is still original, it's been on borrowed time for a while.

Check the trans mounts too, if they're collapsed it affects the driveline alignment. 
Will do. It’s on the list now
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