How to maintain the drive shaft? Don't wait until the drive shaft is broken

Chassis maintenance/transmission shaft failure and maintenance

The transmission shaft is a place that car owners ignore. They often know when there is a problem. For example, the car has a strong resonance. It makes a "click" sound when starting or accelerating. These problems can not be underestimated. If you want to change the transmission shaft, it will disappear in the blink of an eye. Therefore, we should master the basic knowledge of transmission shaft and universal joint, and learn how to maintain the transmission shaft of your car.

What is a propeller shaft?

The transmission shaft is composed of shaft tube, telescopic sleeve and universal joint. As shown in the figure below. Its function is to transmit the power of the engine to the wheels together with the gearbox and drive axle to generate driving force for the car.

In some vehicles, the transmission shaft is located between the transmission and the wheel hub, under the front of the vehicle, and the position is both front and low. This position must be close to the ground, so sediment and sewage will splash on the surface of the transmission shaft. Therefore, the sealing and antifouling of the transmission shaft of this vehicle is very important. During the driving of the vehicle, the wheels will jump up and down, while the inner end is on the transmission with little jump. In order to balance the power, a constant velocity universal joint is used at both ends of the transmission shaft. The ball cage universal joint is used on the tire side, and the three ball pin universal joint is used on most vehicles on the differential side. This universal joint is simple in structure and much cheaper than others.
In some vehicles, the transmission shaft is installed between the transmission and the rear axle differential, and the working conditions are much better than those in front. However, it is also easy to be affected by hand sediment and ponding. This vehicle adopts non constant angular velocity cross axle universal joint or 30000 joint transmission shaft.
Symptoms of propeller shaft failure
Once the transmission shaft parts are worn, deformed or lose dynamic balance, the car will produce abnormal noise and vibration during driving. The "geden" sound heard when starting or accelerating rapidly, and obviously shows the feeling of loose parts. Car owners should pay attention to it. It is very likely that the transmission shaft parts are loose. If the chassis makes a "buzzing" sound during driving, and the higher the running speed, the louder the sound, the transmission shaft should be checked. If it's really broken, it's necessary to change the transmission shaft in the garage.
How to maintain the drive shaft？
Since changing the transmission shaft is so expensive, how to maintain it? In fact, attention to driving can greatly prolong its service life. Owners should try to avoid turning the steering wheel in place, because this will reduce the service life of the universal joint due to excessive load. Avoid starting at high speed, jerking the clutch pedal, overload, overspeed, etc. If possible, often check the working condition of the transmission shaft, check whether the transmission shaft hanger is fastened, whether the support rubber is damaged, whether the transmission shaft is deformed, etc.
When repairing and disassembling the transmission shaft, remember to print assembly marks on the expansion sleeve and flange shaft, and report to prove that the original matching relationship remains unchanged during reassembly. Usually have time to grease the universal joint cross bearing, so that your car can be long and new from time to time.