Aftermarket front driveshaft noise

[Troop]

Hey all, thanks for all the great replies and info. I'm sending some of it to the shop that did the lift and new driveshaft. Hoping they can resolve the issue soon. All this snow is making me want my 4WD.

So if I got a driveshaft with a double Cardan on both ends if such a thing exists would that alleviate the issue. The Rough Country only has a double at the transfer case.

The kit only came with longer lower control arms. What if I got some longer upper control arms? Would that lift the pinion angle and therefore reduce the angle on the front u-joint?

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[ShadowsPapa]

The kit only came with longer lower control arms. What if I got some longer upper control arms? Would that lift the pinion angle and therefore reduce the angle on the front u-joint?

You don't want to change the caster unless it's way too high.
If you go adding longer uppers, or rather adjustable uppers, you take away caster which can lead to wandering and poor steering or handling.
It's fine to mess with pinion angle on the rear, but to change it on the front means taking away caster - which I'd never do unless it was too high which is unlikely.
Every degree you move that pinion up is a degree you take away from the alignment angle - "caster".

 

[Troop]

You don't want to change the caster unless it's way too high.
If you go adding longer uppers, or rather adjustable uppers, you take away caster which can lead to wandering and poor steering or handling.
It's fine to mess with pinion angle on the rear, but to change it on the front means taking away caster - which I'd never do unless it was too high which is unlikely.
Every degree you move that pinion up is a degree you take away from the alignment angle - "caster".

Thanks ShadowsPapa. The shop is actually ordering in Teraflex adjustable upper arms just in case a new driveshaft does not correct the issue. I will keep this info to show them should they want to go that route. I had death wobble back with my first Jeep, a TJ, but haven't had it since, so I really don't want my Gladiator to now have that issue.

 

[Troop]

UPDATE.

In case anyone is following this thread I just wanted to give an update. I finally got my Jeep back to the shop that did the work. Turns out the RC front driveshaft was defective, something about shape (sorry don't remember exact wording) and also had a bad u-joint maybe cause by the defective driveshaft or bad from the start, not sure.

Anyhow, I decided to upgrade to a Yukon with 1350 u-joints. The new driveshaft seems way more stout than the RC and it is nice and quiet. Nothing had to be adjusted or changed with the suspension lift, the new driveshaft did the trick.

Thanks for all those who offered advice and suggestions.

 

[ospreyfe55]

UPDATE.

In case anyone is following this thread I just wanted to give an update. I finally got my Jeep back to the shop that did the work. Turns out the RC front driveshaft was defective, something about shape (sorry don't remember exact wording) and also had a bad u-joint maybe cause by the defective driveshaft or bad from the start, not sure.

Anyhow, I decided to upgrade to a Yukon with 1350 u-joints. The new driveshaft seems way more stout than the RC and it is nice and quiet. Nothing had to be adjusted or changed with the suspension lift, the new driveshaft did the trick.

Thanks for all those who offered advice and suggestions.

So I am currently experiencing a high level of vibration with my new Adam's Front 1350 Driveshaft. What speeds were you driving in 4hi. My issue gets bad above 30mph and feels like its going to explode above 40mph.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

So I am currently experiencing a high level of vibration with my new Adam's Front 1350 Driveshaft. What speeds were you driving in 4hi. My issue gets bad above 30mph and feels like its going to explode above 40mph.

Which shaft is it?
Does it have a double-cardan joint on one end and a plain single cardan joint on the other end?
If so, you must run the end with the single cross or single cardan joint as straight as possible. You can't have any real angle on it.

In other words - if that shaft has one of these -

That end must be run as straight as possible.

If there's a double-cardan joint at both ends, it shouldn't be a problem but they are still somewhat limited in angle.

These - a double-cardan - can be run with a fair angle, but not as much as a true CV -

 

[Troop]

So I am currently experiencing a high level of vibration with my new Adam's Front 1350 Driveshaft. What speeds were you driving in 4hi. My issue gets bad above 30mph and feels like its going to explode above 40mph.

It was making noise as soon as I shifted into 4WD even at very slow starting speeds but got louder the faster I went. The shaft never felt like it was going to explode it was just noisy with intermittent grinding noise. As soon as I shifted out of 4WD and the front driveshaft went away the noise stopped.

Good luck. It was frustrating to put a new driveshaft on and then suddenly it's an issue. Post any updates.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Things to check:
Take the driveshaft front end loose from the pinion yoke.
Work the ujoint in all directions.
Movement should be smooth in all directions. there may be some resistance on the part that's in the shaft's yoke because of the seals being compressed a bit, offering the resistance that rubber seals will offer, but still it should be easy to turn the caps on the cross, or turn the cross in the caps, smooth, no binding at all, and very little resistance.
If it's totally smooth, the next thing to look at as a test, and this is easy with adjustable lower control arms, pivot the pinion up a bit. You lose some caster, but it takes some of the angle out of that pinion to driveshaft joint. Do just a little at a time - as they say, sneak up on it.
Take a tad bit of caster out and straighten that joint just a bit, try it again, if it's better, then do a little more until the vibration is gone and see how it goes.
From what I have seen and know, if you can keep that joint at closer to 10 degrees than 15, it will be better. less than 10 even better yet, but a single joint can't be run at steep angles without some vibration. get up to 20 and it's going to be really bad.

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