How To Tell You Need A Custom Driveline For Your Vehicle
Posted on: 26 June 2018
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Many people make changes to their vehicles without considering their driveline. For example, if you add a lift to your truck or make changes to the engine, you also need to make sure your driveline can handle the change. When your vehicle starts shaking, the vibrations are a sign you need your driveline repaired or swapped for a custom one.
The Vehicle Vibrates when Driving Slow
If your vehicle starts vibrating while you're driving slowly, but not while you're driving normally, you can have a driveline problem. Usually, low-speed vibrations indicate driveline components aren't in sync.
These types of issues tend to happen gradually, rather than all at once. That means you might not notice the issue for a while. When you do notice the issue, it can mean the problem is already to the point where you need immediate driveline repairs.
The Vehicle Vibrates When Driving Normal or Fast
If your vehicle vibrates once you pick up a little speed, then it can mean your driveline components are approaching their limits. Your driveline is off balance and is having a hard time holding itself together. Unlike vibrations at lower speeds, these higher speed vibrations tend to occur more aggressively.
The Vehicle Vibrates After You Made Modifications or Changes
Introducing new components, features, or upgrades to a vehicle can affect the driveline. Generally, if something changes the weight of the vehicle or how it performs, it can also throw the driveline off. These changes aren't always immediately apparent, but they're definitely happening. Some of the mechanical issues that cause vibrations can include:
- Part of the driveline moving out of place
- U-joints that are too loose or too tight
- Unaligned driveline yokes
- RPM imbalance
- Bent driveshaft
Vibrations caused by one of these issues can create one of the others. Once your driveline starts to go out of balance, more problems will start to show up.
When you make changes or modifications to your vehicle, always give some thought to the driveline. The factory components of your vehicle's driveline went through testing to deal with your vehicle as is. When you change something, you throw off that finely tuned balance. In most cases, you will need a custom driveline to reassert that balance.
If you're constantly paying for driveline repairs, then custom drivelines may help even if you haven't made any big changes to your vehicle. In all cases, speak to a driveline professional about a custom driveline before making your final decision.