Steps for How to Balance a Driveshaft

You’re driving along and suddenly become aware that your vehicle is vibrating, or you are hearing some strange noises from the vehicle. If your car is showing any of these symptoms, you may have a damaged or unbalanced driveshaft. Before you attempt to repair it, you’ll want to confirm that the driveshaft is not dented or bent; if this is the case, you’ll need to have it entirely replaced. Fortunately, if your driveshaft is only unbalanced, a fairly simple repair can be performed by a professional. Below are the steps for how to balance a driveshaft.

Steps:

1. First, the driveshaft must be removed from the vehicle. This must be done by a professional.
2. In order for the driveshaft to be properly balanced, it must remain completely intact, so make sure that the slip yoke, U-joints, and flanges are all still connected to the driveshaft when it is removed. If any of these parts is not on the driveshaft during the balancing process, and is added back upon reinstallation to the vehicle, the driveshaft will no longer be properly balanced.
3. The driveshaft, as one unit including the slip yoke, U-joints, and flanges, is then placed on a balancing machine. The professional will ensure that the driveshaft is within tolerance all the way down the tube.
4. A professional will use a dial indicator to ensure that the shaft is within .010” all the way down the tube.
5. The shaft is then rotated at speeds up to 3300 RPM. As it rotates the shaft, the machine will evaluate the placement of weight across the driveshaft and determine the weight corrections needed to bring the driveshaft within tolerance. During spinning, the driveshaft must be brought within .001”.
6. Once the balancing machine has determined what corrections must be made, the professional will balance the driveshaft by welding the proper weights to the proper locations on the shaft.
7. The balanced driveshaft may now be reinstalled to the vehicle

It’s important to remember not to try these steps for how to balance a driveshaft on your own. Instead, take your vehicle to a driveshaft specialist, who can effectively complete these steps to properly repair the vehicle.