Driveline Vibration and

Service
Chapter 79

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Objectives
Understand terms related to vibration
Describe the different types of vibration
Test for vibration using test instruments
Check driveshaft runout
Balance a driveshaft
Check driveshaft angle

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Vibration Analysis
NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness)
Specialty area of repair
Tire and wheel imbalance
Most common cause of vibration concerns
Process of elimination is used to analyze
vibration problems
Vibration: part in motion in waves or cycles
Frequency: number of cycles in a period of time
Measured in cycles per second or hertz
Amplitude: vibration intensity
Velocity: combination of amplitude and frequency
2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Vibration Analysis (cont'd.)
Resonant or natural frequency
Frequency at which a body vibrates
Older unibody vehicles often have inherent
vibration characteristics
Severity of vibration
Greatest at its point of resonance
Suspension frequency always the same
Out of balance driveshaft will have a frequency
that can equal suspension frequency at a
particular speed

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Types of Vibrations
First order vibration
Anything that spins at driveshaft speed and
vibrates once every revolution
Second order vibration
Universal joint
Beat/boom vibration
One vibration interacts with another

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Vibration Test Instruments
Reed tachometer
Senses frequency vibrations from ten to 80 Hz
Two rows of reeds of different lengths
Reeds vibrate at different frequencies
Electronic vibration analyzer (EVA)
Pickup held in place with Velcro, putty, or a
magnet
Larger reading means worse vibration
Handy when vibration occurs quickly and ceases
Used for balancing driveshafts
2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Vibration and Frequency
(cont'd.)
During road test
Use a process of elimination
Vibration usually occurs at a specific rpm and
goes away at other speeds
Drive in high gear at engine rpm where vibration is
worst
Put into different gear to see if vibration changes
To test first order vibration
Raise tires in the air and run engine in gear to
check driveline
Check front and rear while driveshaft is spinning

2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning

 Driveshaft Runout
Excessive runout in driveshaft
Caused by driveshaft or pinion flange
Measure runout of driveshaft
Mark high spot on shaft
Remove and remount 180 degrees away on
flange
Runout is the same: shaft is at fault
Otherwise: flange is at fault
Driveshafts
Can be aluminum, steel, carbon fiber bonded to
aluminum yokes, or composite
2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Other Causes of Vibration
Example: engine accessories
Eliminate out side causes of vibrations
Vibration present when car is not moving
Not a driveline problem
Engine accessory brackets
Designed to excite at 400 Hz or higher
Engine, torque converter, and driveshaft
Change in frequency as rpm changes
Rebuilt torque converter: often source of vibration
Check that muffler is not vibrating against frame
2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Driveshaft Balance
Driveshafts are balanced on the ends
Weights welded onto ends of driveshaft at least
one inch down shaft from weld
Power takeoffs and shafts that spin at under
1000 rpm need not be balanced
Correct imbalance with strobe-type balancer
Transducer tests driveshaft imbalance
Magnet that is spring-loaded on both sides
Moves back and forth in wire coil
Driveshaft balance can also be checked without
special instruments
2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 Driveshaft Angle
Angle of transmission output shaft and front of
differential
Should be within a half degree of each other
Working angle
Difference between driveshaft angle and angle of
transmission or differential
Launch shudder
Occurs on acceleration
Disappears around 25 mph
Several methods to measure driveshaft angle
2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning
 2012 Delmar, Cengage Learning