Signs You Need To Have Your Driveshaft Repaired

Posted on: 15 May 2017

Your car's driveshaft is the shaft that transfers motion from the engine to the wheels, hence driving the vehicle along. A damaged or worn driveshaft can have several negative consequences for your vehicle, such as hurting your car's performance, reducing the overall amount of control that you have over your vehicle, and increasing the risk of an accident occurring. Learning the signs of a damaged or failing driveshaft can allow you to get into contact with an automotive repair shop before it becomes a serious problem.

Excessive Vibrations and Shaking

One of the most common signs associated with a damaged driveshaft is a significant amount of vibration in your vehicle, especially if it seems to originate from the floor of your car and still persists when driving over a level surface. This is usually because of intense wear on the driveshaft itself, which messes up the balance and causes your entire axle to vibrate. While this can make it harder for you to control your vehicle, the primary concern with an excessively shaking driveshaft is that it will actually increase wear on the shaft and other related parts, increasing the risk of another break or malfunction that can adversely affect your car.

Grinding and Squealing Sounds

Hand in hand with vibrations, a damaged driveshaft can also cause all sorts of odd sounds. This is because of increased friction between worn-out components surrounding the shaft or even the shaft itself. Unlike vibrations, odd sounds coming from your vehicle while driving may seem like a superficial issue, but they do carry the same concern. Odd grinding or squealing sounds from your vehicle while driving point to an increase in the rate of wear in your vehicle's components and can quickly turn into extremely expensive and complex problems to fix if left unchecked.

Difficulty Turning

Finally, another good indication that there is something wrong with your driveshaft is if you find that you have trouble turning your car in either direction. This can take the form of either increased vibrations while turning to even having to fight to keep your steering wheel in the correct position, and this represents a much greater immediate danger to both you and your vehicle. For this reason, as soon as you notice any sort of difficulty while trying to turn your vehicle, you should get into contact with a mechanic immediately to take a look at your driveshaft. 

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