VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 driveline vibration

hi folks having a problem with driveline vibration on my 31 sedan. i have had the rear end out a couple of times shaft seems to be straight.if i get under the car and grab the tourqe tube i can move the tube up and down,at the trans. is this normal or is the ujoint or bushing too worn. any ideas.

thanks gary

1) Was your U joint okay?
2) Was your end play on the transmission okay?
3) Do you have the three set-screws on the rear torque tube centered?

I agree with Bill check the items he mentioned. The problem sounds like a worn U-joint or the shaft is of set. It doesn't take much offset to create a vibration in the drive line.

One other thing to check is for the correct number of paper shims between the "U" joint ball retainer collar and the "U" joint ball retainer housing. If there are too many paper shims in this area, the "U" joint ball is loose causing the torque tube and the "U" joint ball to move up and down freely. The correct adjustment is as follows: With the torque tube and "U" joint disconnected and the torque tube in the lowered position, install the "U" joint ball and collar with paper shims (gaskets). Tighten the bolts. If the "U" joint ball moves up and down easily, or is sloppy, remove a paper shim. If the "U" joint ball is tight (you can't move it all), add a paper shim. The correct adjustment is when the "U" joint ball is fairly tight and it can only be moved with a very light tapping of a rubber mallet.

JYD, where do you hold the "light" whilst you are doing the tapping? and if it does not move do you get a bigger rubber hammer? Yeah, I am back from Arkansas, my computer got mad because I was gone and went South for good! Had to use a bunch of parts money for a new one. Oh if Don B. needs a lever B for his freewheeling "T" transmission tell him to get up to about 18 mph before he pulls the "Hi" lever in gear!

Hey Macky Wacky! No light is needed for that job unless you want to look up Elvira's black gown. Also, ya don't need a bigger hammer....just a rubber mallet that weighs about two pounds should do the job.
:eek: :eek:

Old Donald can't pull the "Hi" lever in gear...his thingy is wired to his whatyacall it.....remember?? :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Thanks everyone for the help. I will try setting up the ball with the paper gaskets as was suggested. In regards to the ball, how tight on the torque tube should the ball be? Should it be fairly snug or is loose? How do those three set screws help center the shaft? I thought these screws just retained the front pinion bearing.

Thanks, Gary