Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Are You Having Drive Shaft Problems?

You may own a car for years now but still do not know what exactly a drive shaft is. What is it? It’s the rotating object that is placed between the gear box and differentials. In layman terms, it’s needed to make the car move. Without it, the car just remains idle.

As you can see, this thing is very important for your car to move properly. However, it deteriorates over time and can fail if not maintained properly. Drive shaft problems can be prevented if the problem is seen early on. Without taking it to the auto repair company, is there a way to tell if it’s already starting to fail?

Yes, there are several signs to watch out for. Take a look at these:

·    Car vibration. Is your car suddenly vibrating? This may mean that your drive shaft is already damaged. The vibration can be noticed on the entire car, parts or the floorboards. You’ll also notice that the vibration gets worse when you increase speed.
Now, your car can also vibrate if there are problems with the tire. You can differentiate, most of the time, if your car is trembling when it’s not moving. Tire problem vibrations happen when car is accelerating.

·       Squeaking sounds. Cars can make squeaking sounds when it has a problem. In particular, if it’s the shaft problem, you’ll hear the squeaking sound when you increase speed. Now, if you maintain that speed, the sound goes away and will return if you decelerate. If this happens, the U-joint of the shaft is severely damaged already.

·    Turning problems. Do you notice a problem when you make a turn? Your car wheels’ aren’t turning like they normally would. It feels like the wheels hesitate to make a turn as there is a resistance when making U-turns and sharp turns. Also, it becomes hard to park in tight spaces when you try and maneuver the car. If this happens, there is a problem in your shaft.

·  U-Joint movement problems. Briefly mentioned above, a U-joint or universal joint movement problem contributes to shaft problems. First of all, the U-joint is a part of the shaft and when it doesn’t move or rotate as usual, you will have a problem moving your car properly.

You can inspect the U-joint when you put the car on brake and then shift to neutral. Try moving the yokes and check if they are flexible. If you notice an unusual movement or excess movement, this means that U-joint is unstable.

Have you observed these drive shaft problems recently? If you do, don’t waste any time and get your car to a reputable auto repair company now.

Calvin's Transmissions
6204 North Nebraska Avenue Tampa, FL 33604
(813) 231-2171

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