Thread: Vibration after changing Universal Joints

Thanks for input guys. Much appreciated. Got a bigger hammer to it, and no difference. Off to the tyre mob tomorrow for a wheel balance. As usual, I will let you know how it all ends.
Cheers
John

Know anyone nearby with a P38?
If so, I'd be swapping shafts to try and pinpoint which one might be causing this new issue.

This thread has me spooked. I've a set of new UJs ready for fitting sitting in the garage. Thought it was a straightforward job to fit them. Hope it proves to be. I don't have any wobbles at present. Hope I don't introduce any.

No I dont know anybody with another p38. But I have read threads about taking out the front prop shaft and driving the car. Is this an option? Could I drive at highway speeds without the front prop shaft in? The wheel balance did not make a jot of difference. Now at the risk of sounding like a P38 owner who can sometimes let their imaginations run away with them, before I replaced the joints, I thought I detected a slight vibration when sitting in the rear seat. It was so slight that I put it down to road rumble. Rear wheel bearing? (I am purposely not entertaining the vc at this stage)
Cheers
John

You can drive a P38 without a front shaft but whatever you do take off gently to not overload the viscous coupling. At road speed it'll be fine.

Originally Posted by johnyrover

No I dont know anybody with another p38. But I have read threads about taking out the front prop shaft and driving the car. Is this an option? Could I drive at highway speeds without the front prop shaft in? The wheel balance did not make a jot of difference. Now at the risk of sounding like a P38 owner who can sometimes let their imaginations run away with them, before I replaced the joints, I thought I detected a slight vibration when sitting in the rear seat. It was so slight that I put it down to road rumble. Rear wheel bearing? (I am purposely not entertaining the vc at this stage)
Cheers
John

John

As bee utey said no problem without the front prop shaft....I've driven without it myself.

Gary

Thanks guys. Im going to have to live with it for a bit. But soon as i get back on the job again i'll let you know what happens.
Cheers
John

Something else you could check, if you raise the front of the vehicle so the road wheels are off the ground to take all tension off the drive shaft, then get a hold of the diff yoke and give it a push and pull from side to side, up and down, look for any movement which could indicate a worn bearing.
Same on the transfer case end of the front drive shaft.
Repeat for the rear of the vehicle.
If you find any movement at any of those points you may well have found the culprit.
I replaced my front diff center after discovering quite a bit of movement using this method, one of the bearings was on the way out. I also replaced the output bearing on the transfer case end after discovering movement there too.
Cheers, Pete.