Yes, the parts that make up the driveshaft can go bad. We will talk more about this below. The driveshaft is part of the drivetrain. The driveshaft is the part that turns the wheels so your vehicle can move forward or backward. The driveshaft and the entire drivetrain should be inspected annually to make sure there are no necessary services or repairs in order. Usually, you service parts of the drivetrain, such as the transmission, every 30,000 miles. This being said, the driveshaft needs regular lubrication in order to operate smoothly and properly.
Vibrating Underside
If you feel vibration coming from underneath your automobile while you are driving, there are certain parts in the driveshaft that are wearing out and need to be replaced. Specifically, your vehicle will vibrate if the U-joint or universal joint is worn. You will also feel vibration if the bushings in the driveshaft are worn. We can replace these parts to restore smooth motion.
Your car, truck, or utility vehicle will also vibrate when you accelerate if the U-joint needs to be tightened. Please understand that this joint deals with a lot of movement and vibration over the years. Consequently, it can get too loose. In addition, if the center bearings of the driveshaft are worn out, your automobile will vibrate when you press down on the accelerator.
Odd Driveshaft Noises
We mentioned above that the driveshaft needs to be lubricated regularly. If this doesn’t happen, driveshaft parts will start to squeak. The dryer they get the louder they will squeak. Specifically, the driveshaft bearings need to be lubricated regularly to prevent them from squeaking. The same is true with the U-joint. If you hear squeaking underneath your car, the driveshaft needs to be lubricated.
In addition, the driveshaft can make a clunking noise if the U-joint is in bad shape. Other strange noises that the driveshaft can make are rattling or scraping. Any of these noises point to the fact that your driveshaft needs to be inspected and serviced. Usually, it will make these noises when it needs to be lubricated. This being said, it will also make these noises if the parts are worn out.
Bring your vehicle to our shop if you have never had the driveshaft inspected. We will inspect the driveshaft and replace any worn parts. We will also lubricate it if necessary. We will also inspect the drivetrain to make certain that everything is a-okay.
