In order to get your engine's rotations from the transmission to the differential, the spinning motion has to be transferred. This is where the driveshaft comes in. The driveshaft connects to the transmission and spins the differential.

What is a driveshaft?

They are mainly shaped as a tube and hollowed out. Made out of aluminium or steel they are very strong and resistant to bending or twisting. They are required to be perfectly balanced to ensure they rotate smoothly and efficiently. It bolts to the transmission via a slip yoke and usually bolts to a bracket on the differential. 

Why do you need a driveshaft?

You need a driveshaft to spin the wheels at the right speed as the transmission demands. If there’s any damage to the driveshaft it can lead to really bad vibrations that will damage the transmission, differential and other parts as well.

How to tell if you need a new driveshaft

If you notice a vibration that increases as the vehicle speed increases, that’s a sure sign that the driveshaft is out of balance. If you can hear a knocking that increases as the vehicle speed increases and it comes from the middle of the vehicle then that could be driveshaft as well. 

What’s involved in getting a driveshaft replaced?

The mechanic will hoist the car and remove the underbody trays to access the driveshaft. They will then unbolt the slip yoke from the transmission and support it while unbolting it from the differential. The driveshaft will be removed and the new driveshaft will be installed in the reverse process. They will then run the car and make sure that the driveshaft is balanced and everything is working in harmony. 

How much does a driveshaft replacement cost near Nelson Bays?

It depends on a whole bunch of factors, which wheels are driven, how long the driveshaft is, how much the new one costs and how much labor will be needed to change it. As such the price range is a fairly open field. Around $350 to $1200+ is about as general of a guide as we can give.

How often do I need a driveshaft replaced?

Only if it breaks or the mechanic tells you it’s on its way out. They aren’t regularly serviced and it’s really uncommon to have to replace them.

Is a broken driveshaft unsafe?

It can be extremely unsafe. It would prevent you from driving and if it breaks while driving it can tear your car apart. It’s not the sort of thing to put off if you need a new one.

You can find a mechanic near Nelson Bays with My Auto Shop