Busted driveshaft !!! Help!!
11-05-2009 | 12:39 PM
#51
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 15,665
Likes: 3
From: Hammond Louisiana
This is how it started. I had been on the highway doing about 70 in cruise control for an hour. When I got off of the highway, I stopped at the end of the off ramp and put it in first and started to accelerate and that is when the vibration started. I haven't had the thing off road in months and do mostly highway driving.
Here is what it is doing. When it is in gear (It is a 6 speed 2drX) and you accelerate the whole jeep vibrates. It was vibrating so bad I thought the Hi-Lift on the hood was going to fall apart. The more load it is under (going up-hill) the worse the vibration gets. When it is in neutral you can rev it all day and not feel anything. When it is in neutral rolling down the highway you do not feel the vibration. The vibration only occurs when it is in gear and you put it under load (accelerate). The vibration is the worst in first and gradually decreases as you progress through the gears but never goes away. The vibration gets better when it is put in 4H or 4L but is still there.
I'm just confused at this point! Nobody seems to know what is causing the vibration.
I had the tires balanced and rotated and the vibration didn't go away so it's not the tires.
It's been in the shop for two weeks now and I'm starting to get really pi$$ed of that nobody can tell me what is causing the vibration or why it has happened.
Here is what it is doing. When it is in gear (It is a 6 speed 2drX) and you accelerate the whole jeep vibrates. It was vibrating so bad I thought the Hi-Lift on the hood was going to fall apart. The more load it is under (going up-hill) the worse the vibration gets. When it is in neutral you can rev it all day and not feel anything. When it is in neutral rolling down the highway you do not feel the vibration. The vibration only occurs when it is in gear and you put it under load (accelerate). The vibration is the worst in first and gradually decreases as you progress through the gears but never goes away. The vibration gets better when it is put in 4H or 4L but is still there.
I'm just confused at this point! Nobody seems to know what is causing the vibration. I had the tires balanced and rotated and the vibration didn't go away so it's not the tires.
It's been in the shop for two weeks now and I'm starting to get really pi$$ed of that nobody can tell me what is causing the vibration or why it has happened.
11-05-2009 | 06:25 PM
#52
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Dacula, GA
That's what I thought at first. It feels like the clutch disc shot or something like the drive shaft out of wack. But they haven't gone into the transmission yet...and I hope they don't have too!
I did talk to the dealership this evening and they said that they found some other work that was installed incorrectly by the other dealership when I had work done to it previously. They are having to replace the front drive shaft, ball joits, front axles, and steering knuckles due to the work of the other dealership. Supposedly everything should be put back together tommorrow and assuming all of that solves the problem then I should get my rig back tommorrow night. At this point almost my entire drive train minus the transmission and engine has been replaced. And the best part....they are covering it all under warranty! I'll let you know what comes of it tommorrow.
Thanks for the continued support!
I did talk to the dealership this evening and they said that they found some other work that was installed incorrectly by the other dealership when I had work done to it previously. They are having to replace the front drive shaft, ball joits, front axles, and steering knuckles due to the work of the other dealership. Supposedly everything should be put back together tommorrow and assuming all of that solves the problem then I should get my rig back tommorrow night. At this point almost my entire drive train minus the transmission and engine has been replaced. And the best part....they are covering it all under warranty! I'll let you know what comes of it tommorrow.
Thanks for the continued support!
11-05-2009 | 07:26 PM
#53
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 348
Likes: 0
From: Harrisonburg, Virginia
That's what I thought at first. It feels like the clutch disc shot or something like the drive shaft out of wack. But they haven't gone into the transmission yet...and I hope they don't have too!
I did talk to the dealership this evening and they said that they found some other work that was installed incorrectly by the other dealership when I had work done to it previously. They are having to replace the front drive shaft, ball joits, front axles, and steering knuckles due to the work of the other dealership. Supposedly everything should be put back together tommorrow and assuming all of that solves the problem then I should get my rig back tommorrow night. At this point almost my entire drive train minus the transmission and engine has been replaced. And the best part....they are covering it all under warranty! I'll let you know what comes of it tommorrow.
Thanks for the continued support!
I did talk to the dealership this evening and they said that they found some other work that was installed incorrectly by the other dealership when I had work done to it previously. They are having to replace the front drive shaft, ball joits, front axles, and steering knuckles due to the work of the other dealership. Supposedly everything should be put back together tommorrow and assuming all of that solves the problem then I should get my rig back tommorrow night. At this point almost my entire drive train minus the transmission and engine has been replaced. And the best part....they are covering it all under warranty! I'll let you know what comes of it tommorrow.
Thanks for the continued support!
11-21-2009 | 08:52 AM
#54
Thread Starter
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Dacula, GA
Wooo hoooo!
I promise I didn't forget about you guys! 
OK. I finally Got my rig back from the dealership yesterday.
They replaced the transfer case, front & rear driveshafts, both front axles, both steering nuckles, upper and lower ball joints on both sides and serviced both front and rear diffs. Apparently, the last time the other dealershipped serviced it they incorrectly installed the axle seals and improperly installed the front drive shaft. all of that led to several problems which eventually led to this dealership having to replace all of the items listed above. Total they spent over $8K repairing my rig and about 5 weeks due to lead times on parts. Total I spent was $0!!!!! They did a wonderful job and where very helpful with the whole process and dealing with the warranty issues I had with the other dealership. I highlyrecomend Stone Mountain Chrysler Jeep to anyone in the area needing service done wether it be routine maintenance or major repairs!
Thanks for everyones advice and I currently am in the proccess of saving up some money to go ahead and replace the driveshafts and several other steering, suspension and driveline components so I don't have to worry about this anymore.
Thanks again!
OK. I finally Got my rig back from the dealership yesterday.
They replaced the transfer case, front & rear driveshafts, both front axles, both steering nuckles, upper and lower ball joints on both sides and serviced both front and rear diffs. Apparently, the last time the other dealershipped serviced it they incorrectly installed the axle seals and improperly installed the front drive shaft. all of that led to several problems which eventually led to this dealership having to replace all of the items listed above. Total they spent over $8K repairing my rig and about 5 weeks due to lead times on parts. Total I spent was $0!!!!! They did a wonderful job and where very helpful with the whole process and dealing with the warranty issues I had with the other dealership. I highlyrecomend Stone Mountain Chrysler Jeep to anyone in the area needing service done wether it be routine maintenance or major repairs!Thanks for everyones advice and I currently am in the proccess of saving up some money to go ahead and replace the driveshafts and several other steering, suspension and driveline components so I don't have to worry about this anymore.
Thanks again!
11-21-2009 | 01:36 PM
#55
JK Junkie
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 1
From: The San Andreas Fault
Even if the lift kit didn't actually cause the driveshaft failure, you have no way of proving it and it is very possible that the lift kit did accelerate the failure.
Follow Piginajeep's sound advice.
