Driveshafts are an important part of any vehicle. They’re responsible for transmitting power from the differential to each of the driven wheels.
That means your vehicle won’t go very far with a damaged or broken driveshaft.
Depending on the damage and type of vehicle you’re driving, you may have the option to repair or replace a faulty driveshaft. In this article, we’ll discuss when you should have a driveshaft replaced, and when repairs are the better option.
When to Have Your Driveshaft Replaced
Tim drives a 4WD HiLux and loves to hit the trails with his friends and family. For his latest adventure, he’s headed down to the beach for some camping and soft sand driving.
But there’s a problem. One of his driveshafts has a split CV boot and it’s been a long time since he’s done any maintenance to the drive line, so grease has been leaking out of the joint.
Over the course of the weekend, sand, grit and salty water get into the CV joint. This damages the ball race and causes rust to form on the axle spline.
Eventually, this leads to excessive play in the CV joint, which Tim notices when his steering wheel starts to vibrate while accelerating.
Should Tim Have His Driveshaft Replaced or Repaired?
Since Tim drives an unmodified 4WD, we’d recommend that he replace the damaged driveshaft assembly, which will fix the issue he’s having with the faulty CV joints and rusty spline.
The driveshafts used in 4WD vehicles are typically designed with a maximum amount of tolerance for use over time. This means it’s probably more cost-effective to replace the shaft rather than trying to repair it.
With that in mind, Tim takes his HiLux to a driveshaft specialist to diagnose the problem. They find the split boot and the damaged driveshaft and source a replacement part. Replacing the old shaft with a new one is a quick and simple job.
When to Have Your Driveshaft Repaired
Barbara works at a mining camp in outback Queensland. Every day she loads her tools in a V6 Amarok that has been modified for the hard conditions. The Amarok is lifted, has a GVM upgrade and the driveline has been replaced with heavy-duty parts.
Barbara’s team heads off-road to get to their worksite for the day. She makes a small mistake over an obstacle and the underside of the Amarok takes a big hit on a rock.
The vehicle seems fine, but as Barbara attempts to drive away, steering becomes difficult and there’s a noticeable vibration in the steering wheel. She decides to call for a tow rather than doing further damage to the vehicle.
Should Barbara Have Her Driveshaft Replaced or Repaired?
We’d recommend that Barbara has her driveshaft inspected and repaired if possible. Heavy-duty components are built tough, so there’s a good chance that the damage is minor and can be repaired.
There are two challenges with this type of repair:
- Firstly, we need to inspect the rest of the driveline, suspension, wheels and tyres for damage. A big hit can damage wishbones, tie rods, shocks and wheels, and each of these issues will need to be addressed.
- Secondly, bent driveshafts need to be rebalanced. While the damage is likely minor, repairing the bend requires specialist skills and balancing equipment. This can only be done by a driveshaft specialist.
So Barbara logs the issue and the vehicle is taken in for an inspection. The technicians find that the driveshaft is slightly bent but the suspension is unaffected, and that they are able to repair the problem.
Once the bend is removed from the shaft, it can be balanced and checked for concentricity before it’s reinstalled in the Amarok.
That’s a quicker and more cost-effective option when compared to replacing a specialty heavy-duty component.
Let the Experts at Driveline Repair or Replace Your Driveshaft!
Driveshafts and propshafts are a crucial part of keeping your vehicle moving. It can be dangerous or impossible to continue driving if these parts become damaged. When that happens, you’ll need help from the technicians at Driveline!
Driveline is Australia’s underbody and power transmission specialist. We have 12+ locations across Australia and access to tens of thousands of unique components on our shelves. That means we can offer driveshaft solutions for almost any vehicle.
We offer driveshaft repairs and replacements for passenger vehicles, 4WDs, on-road and off-road trucks, as well as all types of commercial equipment. Our international network allows us to provide expert advice and replacement parts that can get you back on the road sooner.
Contact us if you’ve noticed signs that your driveshafts are damaged, and let our technicians inspect the issue at one of our Workshop Service Centres!
