Whine after Aluminum Driveshaft Install

[pace2006]

I got a used aluminum driveshaft off of ebay for $85 shipped from a salvage yard about 150 miles away. It didn't have a listed mileage, and the other parts from the same car were listed as unknown mileage. The seller said that he got the car in pieces so he didn't know how many miles were on it, but said that almost everything looked clean. So I bought it.

Driveshaft arrived the next day and just needed to be cleaned off a little bit. U-joint is good. It may have been a little stiff, but still moved with little effort. So I installed the driveshaft later that day. A couple days later, the car developed a slightly noticeable whine when the car is under load, particularly at lower speeds. I can hear it when going up the hill to my house and around other steeper parts of town. Sounds like it is coming from the transmission area, but I know that sound travels pretty badly down there.

There has always been a little gear whine in my differential, particularly when slowing down, but it hasn't changed. I tried searching, but couldn't find anything relating to a whine after installing an aluminum driveshaft. Could it be out of balance and causing this? Or could it just need a new u-joint in the back? Any ideas?

Car's a 1999 Camaro 3.8 A4 with 85,xxx miles.

[LETZRIDE]

Re: Whine after Aluminum Driveshaft Install

I had a bit of a sound when I installed my aluminum d/s...went away after awhile....month or two...you sure it is installed right and balanced? that could cause noises as well...

[whitdog54]

Re: Whine after Aluminum Driveshaft Install

Take it out, clean it up, reinstall. Try that...

You sure that whine isnt a bad wheel bearing?

[pace2006]

Re: Whine after Aluminum Driveshaft Install

No telling about how balanced it is. It had what I assume would be either stock or shop weights installed on it, but to be honest I was a little impatient to get it installed.

There may be a little vibration, which I know unbalanced driveshafts cause. But there's been a slight vibration ever since I put on the latest set of tires, even after having those balanced. I guess I'll look at some new u-joints, and possibly a new yoke to replace while I'm at it.

And I'm pretty sure we installed it correctly. We lifted the rear up, marked the position of the driveshaft before removing it, alternated between park and neutral when getting the bolts in/out, and made sure everything lined up and was smooth. It was cleaned before installing it and looked to be in good condition.

[pace2006]

Re: Whine after Aluminum Driveshaft Install

Take it out, clean it up, reinstall. Try that...

You sure that whine isnt a bad wheel bearing?

I would hope it's not, but I guess that's something else to check out. I don't know what other symptoms pop up when there's a wheel bearing going out.

[LETZRIDE]

Re: Whine after Aluminum Driveshaft Install

is/was it bent?, have any cuts in it?...did you inspect it before it went in....maybe some of the weights fell off...

[pace2006]

Re: Whine after Aluminum Driveshaft Install

is/was it bent?, have any cuts in it?...did you inspect it before it went in....maybe some of the weights fell off...

It had a few ordinary scratches and a weight on each side. No cuts or dents. Also cleaned some grit off each end.

[tkoforpresident]

Re: Whine after Aluminum Driveshaft Install

aren't the alum 1 piece d.s.'s pre-balanced?

[pace2006]

Re: Whine after Aluminum Driveshaft Install

I'm not sure. But even if they were originally, they could get out of balance through excessive wear and use.

[whitdog54]

Re: Whine after Aluminum Driveshaft Install

its prob just a yoke or u-joint...if not sell it, you get $100 because of new yoke and u joint, and try another one. After installing a new ujoint and yoke it would be pointless to drop more money into getting it to work

[LETZRIDE]

Re: Whine after Aluminum Driveshaft Install

its prob just a yoke or u-joint...if not sell it, you get $100 because of new yoke and u joint, and try another one. After installing a new ujoint and yoke it would be pointless to drop more money into getting it to work

You are assuming that the problem is being caused by the aluminum d/s...could be caused by somthing else...

[bigbrian442]

Re: Whine after Aluminum Driveshaft Install

A bad U joint can cause a Squeaking noise when moving slow. Unless it's damaged or the U joints have egged out the holes they fit in, there's not much to go wrong with a 1 piece DS. They don't need to be timed when you put them in ( as in lining anything up). Did you jack up the rear of the car and see if the noise is still there?

[bigbrian442]

Re: Whine after Aluminum Driveshaft Install

aren't the alum 1 piece d.s.'s pre-balanced?

All drive shafts are balanced from the factory. Even if you don't see weights on it, it was checked and didn't need any.

[pace2006]

Re: Whine after Aluminum Driveshaft Install

A bad U joint can cause a Squeaking noise when moving slow. Unless it's damaged or the U joints have egged out the holes they fit in, there's not much to go wrong with a 1 piece DS. They don't need to be timed when you put them in ( as in lining anything up). Did you jack up the rear of the car and see if the noise is still there?

I have not. Then again, it's only heard when the car is under load. Someone suggested that maybe the pilot bearing in the transmission could be going out. I've never replaced it and am not really sure what it would do upon going bad. Does this sound like it could be a plausible option?

[bigbrian442]

Re: Whine after Aluminum Driveshaft Install

A4 doesn't have a pilot bearing. I would change the U joints, there only about $10 each.