Driveline Vibration

[vtx1800sba]

Ok guys, needs some help. My new 96 tahoe is quickly getting updated. Since I picked it up last week (with just over 43k miles on it) I've had the a/c system recharged; found a leak and recharge again; found the rear u-joint at the rear differential was shot; replaced all the u-joints on both driveshafts; and new serpentine belt.

What I noticed today was what sounded like a vibration or drone at speed in excess of 60mph. I had my mechanic clock the rear drive shaft yoke 180 degrees after I first noticed the drone. The front drive shaft went back in the same orientation as it went off.

Here's the other thing. The tires are original to the tahoe. Now 15 years old. The are a street slick far as I am concerned and should be silent. But the wah wah down the road. The tahoe would sit for months and months at a time in a concrete floor garage. I am wondering if the tires are setting up the drone, or if the new u joints or the rear drive shaft is doing this.

What do you think?

 

[ezdaar]

Probly a midget wrapped around a driveshaft.. These things happen...



LOL, seriously tho.. 15 year old tires are going to be anything BUT silent....
combine that with sitting. Im confident they proly have a few flat spots..
change them out and see what you get..

Driveshaft inbalence will be felt not heard.. you will feel it in everything from seat to steering wheel.

 

[vtx1800sba]

Probly a midget wrapped around a driveshaft.. These things happen...



LOL, seriously tho.. 15 year old tires are going to be anything BUT silent....
combine that with sitting. Im confident they proly have a few flat spots..
change them out and see what you get..

Driveshaft inbalence will be felt not heard.. you will feel it in everything from seat to steering wheel.

Thanks for the note Doug. That's what I was thinking. But I didn't notice it until today when the u joints were changed out. They all were in tough shape but the u joint at the rear pinion was shot. All original on both shafts. We micrometered the space on the ears of the front shaft to make sure they were the same. One was a little different so we used a brass drift to straighten the ears. Damn good mechanic in our shop.

 

[SunlitComet]

Tires man and a new joint might do that for a while.

 

[AtomicHoe094]

Tires with flat spots suck. haha. Also if your not in the market for new tires, maybe you should just get them rebalanced and rotated. Might help some.

 

[vtx1800sba]

New tires it is. 255/85R16s.

Tires with flat spots suck. haha. Also if your not in the market for new tires, maybe you should just get them rebalanced and rotated. Might help some.

Shopping for a set of tall skinny tires now. Looking at 255/85R16s. Can use my stock rims. Might have to raise up the front a bit. Has some rake now. Doubt I'll have clearance problems. Thoughts?