Drive Shaft Problems
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,824
Likes: 3
From: Utah
So I had a 3" Teraflex standard lift installed on my '07 JK last October. I was told that if I stayed under 4"s of lift that I would be able to run my stock drive shafts. Well I just noticed a knocking noise when my jeep runs cold for just about a 1/2 mile and then quiets down. After inspection I found that my rear CV joint is starting to spit grease out and is wearing out quickly. I have done very mild off roading since my lift was installed. Is this normal? Any suggestions on what I should do/install? This is my first jeep and I have trusted my "Local Off Road" to direct me in the right direction, but this isn't the first thing they told me wrong on.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert, AZ
So I've been doing some light reading over the last few days and it sounds like I should have put flex arms on to prolong the life of my stock shaft. So if I install a aftermarket drive shaft am I still going to need the arms or will the aftermarket shaft take care of my issues?
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 15,665
Likes: 4
From: Hammond Louisiana
So I've been doing some light reading over the last few days and it sounds like I should have put flex arms on to prolong the life of my stock shaft. So if I install a aftermarket drive shaft am I still going to need the arms or will the aftermarket shaft take care of my issues?
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert, AZ
Man. I wish I would have known all this when they sold me the lift. And this doesn't sound like an easy swap the a beginner should be doing. Anyone in the pheonix area that can recommend a good shop?
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert, AZ
So I had my rear shaft replaced this morning, which they told me I woldnt need upper ajst arms right this moment and I picked it up today at lunch and as soon as I got above 20 mph it started shaking. It shook all the way up to about 50 and smoothed out. At about 40 mph it was shaking so bad you could even see the side mirrors going. Thoughts?
JK Junkie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 1
From: The San Andreas Fault
What driveshaft did you get and who installed it?
The most common causes are the pinion angle needs to be adjusted or the shaft needs balancing.
Just as a general note, whom ever gave you the advice in the first place may have had good intentions.
The amount of lift produce by lift is kit is not exactly predictable due to the number of variables involved.
Furthermore, every additional 0.5-1.0" of lift above 2.5" matters more in terms of the effects of your steering, suspension and driveline geometry so the life expectancy of the driveshaft is equally hard to predict.
The most common causes are the pinion angle needs to be adjusted or the shaft needs balancing.
Just as a general note, whom ever gave you the advice in the first place may have had good intentions.
The amount of lift produce by lift is kit is not exactly predictable due to the number of variables involved.
Furthermore, every additional 0.5-1.0" of lift above 2.5" matters more in terms of the effects of your steering, suspension and driveline geometry so the life expectancy of the driveshaft is equally hard to predict.
JK Freak
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 722
Likes: 0
From: Carlsbad, CA
So I had my rear shaft replaced this morning, which they told me I woldnt need upper ajst arms right this moment and I picked it up today at lunch and as soon as I got above 20 mph it started shaking. It shook all the way up to about 50 and smoothed out. At about 40 mph it was shaking so bad you could even see the side mirrors going. Thoughts?
Last edited by river2c; Dec 23, 2009 at 03:21 PM.
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Gilbert, AZ
So they took it back to the shop again last night and told me they were able to adjust the stock upper arm just a little bit because the bracket on the axle is slotted. To me it looks like they bored out the bracket hole so they could angle the pinion just a little. This did help the vibration but its still there from 3rd through 4th gear. Can any one tell me if that bracket is really slotted? I'm going to to be really ticked off of they just bored it out.