Projections show that the global automotive repair and maintenance services market will reach a value of $678.4 billion by 2026.
If you notice an issue with your driveshaft then driveshaft balancing might fix it. Any damage to the driveshaft, however, will call for a replacement. If you’re confident in doing the work yourself you can save on the driveshaft replacement cost.
To find out how to replace a driveshaft, follow this step-by-step guide.
1. Inspect The Driveshaft
Before you start your driveshaft replacement, make sure you take note of how the old one is connected. You want to put the replacement driveshaft back in the exact same way. It’s best to take a picture just in case.
2. Remove The Bolts
The driveshaft will be secured with bolts, and the number of these varies between different vehicles. Take these out and put them somewhere safe. Note that they might be very tight.
3. Locate And Remove The Driveshaft Flange
The flange isn’t quite so secure, so you can remove it by knocking the driveshaft with a plastic hammer. There might be a center support that you need to remove first, but these aren’t present in all vehicles.
4. Remove The Driveshaft
The driveshaft should now be loose so you can take it out. Some of the surrounding components could be quite sensitive, so do this carefully.
You might experience some fluid leaks at this point. Keep a pan or bucket handy as these leaks can be harmful to the environment.
5. Inspect The U Joints
Most of the time when a driveshaft needs replacing so too do the U joints. This isn’t always the case – move them around and look for any rough spots. Rough spots indicate that the U joints need replacing, so do this before you install your new driveshaft.
6. Compare The New And Old Driveshafts
Driveshafts are not all the same, and it’s easy to end up with the wrong model. Once you have the old one out, compare it to the new one to make sure they match up.
You could also check your owner’s manual to see if the part number is the same.
7. Install The New Driveshaft
If the U joints are good and you’ve confirmed you have the correct driveshaft then you can install it. It’s a good idea to apply some grease to the driveshaft first. This will lubricate it making it easier to connect.
Again, you want to do this carefully to avoid damaging any of the surrounding components or the seals.
8. Put The Flange And Bolts Back
Once the driveshaft is in place you need to secure it again. Start with the flange, then put in the support (if there was one), and finally insert the bolts – and make sure they’re tight (between 55 and 65 foot-pounds of torque).
Everything needs to be properly aligned or it could cause damage once you start driving again.
9. Test Drive
Now that everything is where it should be you can give your car a test drive. Whatever issues were present before should have stopped, indicating the job was a success.
What If There Are Still Problems?
If you notice any abnormalities it could mean you’ve put something in incorrectly, or it could be another issue with your car. In this case, you should see a professional mechanic so they can determine if it’s actually the driveshaft, or something else.
If you’re interested in more auto-repair articles check out some of our other blog posts.
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