Rear Driveshaft for RT4WD help

dimaguila1

I have a 1990 RT4WD and the rear drive shaft is toast. Lots of vibration over 40 mph. Where can I find one of these? I'm sure I would have to scour the internet and find a salvage yard somewhere.

Any suggestions?

I've had the car for over 6 years now and I've loved it. It was mainly my winter car but now I'm thinking of selling it. I just dont want to put anymore money into this thing.

Just last year I replaced both front left and right control arms. A month ago I had the drivers side front axle replaced. Just bought brand new tires last week (because I thought all that vibration was the old tires). So I really don't want to put anymore money into this thing. I want to sell it but I'm thinking if I can find a cheap rear driveshaft somewhere I would at least do this last repair.

thoughts? Thanks in advance guys.

503Wagon

I'm pretty sure your rear driveline does not spin unless 4wd is engaged....I could be wrong though.....

beauregaardhooligan

The driveline turns any time the wheels turn whether it's engaged or not.
Get a hold of Russ at r.jacobson@rockfordcv.com, they can probably help you.
I have ordered new rebuildable uJoints from them, should get them tomorrow!

503Wagon

beauregaardhooligan wrote:

The driveline turns any time the wheels turn whether it's engaged or not.
Get a hold of Russ at r.jacobson@rockfordcv.com, they can probably help you.
I have ordered new rebuildable uJoints from them, should get them tomorrow!

Really? I suppose that makes sense. Spins with no power but gets power when the VC engages...good to know

DRMORTY

Maybe you can get it balanced? If that is the Problem.. Any drive-shaft shop can do it.. They can spin it to see if it is balanced.. Then you'll know.

& If that is not it.. Then start looking at your Rear Diff or Viscous Coupler?

Hope this helps..

503Wagon

My car shakes at mid rage rpms under load as well...I assumed it was my unbalanced wheels...I changed out my u joints....maybe it is my driveline...

beauregaardhooligan

An easy check is to rotate the wheels front to back. If the shake doesn't change, it's probably something in the drive line. I doubt the VC would cause a shake, though.

driftin90

Would the rear bearings do the same thing?

dimaguila1

The driveline turns any time the wheels turn whether it's engaged or not.
Get a hold of Russ at r.jacobson@rockfordcv.com, they can probably help you.
I have ordered new rebuildable uJoints from them, should get them tomorrow!

Yeah, I believe it's the ujoints that are bad. I'm going to call Rockford and try and get some of these...

http://www.rockforddriveline.com/Staked ... ctions.htm

thanks guys...will let you know if this solves it.

beauregaardhooligan

driftin90 wrote:

Would the rear bearings do the same thing?

Bad wheel bearings can ferSure cause a vibration, but it would not be the same.
Generally, wheel bearing noise changes when you turn
and drive shaft noise changes when you change speed.

lecoq

Any updates on this? I've got a vibration over 40 as well and I just rebalanced my wheels...

jasnall

I get a slight hum/vibration when I hit 60mph, it goes away once I hit about 75. So no hum/vibration above or below the 60-75 mph range. Driveline?

beauregaardhooligan

I'd suspect a carrier bearing, mine does that.
In my experience wheel balance problems show up at lower speeds, 35/45 mph.

schutt721

I have a slight vibration once I hit 40+ even after I replaced the u-joints. The guy I bought it from drove with bad u-joints for awhile..the guy at the driveline shop said I was close to losing the yoke but he was able to save it..they replaced the u-joints and balanced it...I still have the vibration

Question though..it didn't do this until we actually got a lil bit of snow (a few weeks before this I drove once in slush and it didn't do this)..once I hit 40mph and the the awd kicked in (assumed) I got a loud scared the chit out of me grinding noise where I would assume the viscous sits...what would that be from or cause that loud noise? would that mean my vc is fried?

I since then have removed the driveline and am waiting for a buddy help me look into it..

beauregaardhooligan

schutt721, have you tried driving it without the driveshaft in, does it still vibrate? Ask the drive shop if they can balance it on the car.
The RT4WD is not dependent on any particular speed to engage. When there is slippage from front to back it will lock up, regardless of the speed.
The grinding sound you heard might have come from something getting caught between the shaft and the floor. Check for rub marks on the driveshaft.
As far as I know, when the VC goes out it just stops working but doesn't make any noise.
Generally, uJoint noise/vibration changes when you accelerate or decelerate.

schutt721

^^ Yes I have driven it without it in, I currently have the driveline off and it doesn't vibrate. When i did have it in there was a slight vibration that was noticeable but not horrible.

In regards to the VC that is what I thought about the VC..if it is bad it just doesn't work. It was weird and loud. It did it a couple of times..once when I left the house to go somewhere and when I turned around to go home..

There were no rub marks on the driveshaft when I removed it also..

The weird thing is a few weeks prior it had snowed and I had drove the wagon in slush and it didn't make that noise

beauregaardhooligan

If the vibration doesn't change when you take your foot off the gas it's probably one of the carrier bearings going bad.
Did you have all 3 uJoints done?
Take it back to the shop that did the rebuild and see what they say.

schutt721

all three u-joints were changed and they balanced it as well...might have to do that and see what they say...

lecoq

Anyone changed the carrier bearing yet?