[JamesRS]

Has anyone ever heard of filling a driveline half full of water to dampen harmonics and balance it? I had a about an inch taken off my driveline, and when I went to pick it up the guy told me his "secret" to blancing drivelines was to fill them half way up with water. I just finished the rebuild on my car and when I took it out for a spin but I noticed a strong vibration. I've balanced the wheels and tires so I know it's not them and since the vibration starts when I get up around 40mph, not when the engine is at a certain RPM, I figure it's not a engine balance thing. Whattya think guys?

I'm thinking about drilling a 1/4 inch hole in opposite ends of the shaft to drain the water out to see if the driveline stops vibrating.

[bracketeer]

Never heard of that method. Any drive shaft I have had made came with the dial indicator sizes written down the length of the shaft for straightness and had stamp sized weights attached for balancing.

[JamesRS]

Well, I drilled a 1/4 inch hole in the driveline and drained out about 2 pints of fluid. Either Hydraulic fluid, or something like it. I was thinking, wouldn't that make the driveline act different when it was cold and when it was warm? Guess it doesn't matter, but I just thought I'd ask.

[BOBCRMAN@aol.com]

If you tried to use that d-shaft in Michigan. It would probably throw you and itself out of the car, when starting out on a -10 degree F. Morning. I've built plenty of driveshafts and never heard of a fluid center..

[M&M CUSTOM]

This method of "trying" to balance a driveshaft was fully discussed in a thread here almost 1-½ to 2 years ago, and it was unanimously agreed that this method if it worked, AT BEST, would not completely eliminate the vibrations caused by an out of balance driveshaft.

Just think of it this way, would you do this to balance your tires on the wheels?

The correct way is to check for imbalances and weld weights similarly to balancing a tire and wheel, only with a balancer meant for checking driveshafts.

[JamesRS]

Thanks for all the input guys. I did a search before I wrote this post and didn't see anything, but I'll run another to see if I can find what was said back then.

[Siggy_Freud]

Id be raising an eyebrow at first mention of WATER. Even if you were going to be putting fluid into a driveshaft (which isn't smart to begin with) why would you use water? Seems like a good way to corrode or like Bob said throw a driveshaft.

[redlightning]

I heard a story of someone putting a drive shaft in water to balance it.Place it in the water and see if it spins.They would then mark the under side and take it out and tack a weld on or grind off until it will not spin.Then is supposed to be balanced.
Have any of you guys heard this?It is one of those tells,I knew a guy in 1950 something this is what he did etc... Maybe this urban legend somehow got mixed up with that one.

[M&M CUSTOM]

Here's the original thread, the question asked was about balancing a driveshaft with a quart of oil.

http://hotrodders.com/forums/showthr...ght=driveshaft

[JamesRS]

Thanks M&M, that was an interesting post. I'm glad I drained the oil out. Hopefully I won't have any problems with the driveline, but if I do I think I'll try a different machine shop.

[propaniac]

Keep us posted on the results.

[FASTCHEVY]

It may not be off balance, maybe just bad rear end or trans angle on the
u joints? And that would cause it to shake a set speed.

[JamesRS]

Just wanted to let everyone know, I put the driveline back into my Chevelle and took it out for a spin today. I brought the car up to about 70mph and there was no vibration from the driveline at all. Glad I drained the oil out before it had a chance to do some damage.

[M&M CUSTOM]

Just out of curiousity, you DID remember to weld the holes that you drained the fluid out of back up didn't you?

[JamesRS]

Yep.... Thought that would be best.