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how much does a driveshaft cost to repair

by Lenna Borer Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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In most cases, a new drive shaft costs somewhere between $300 and $1300. Fortunately, it only takes about an hour to replace it. A repair usually costs much less, around $200 to $300 including parts and labor, but this also depends on how many parts need to be replaced.May 25, 2022

Full Answer

How much does it cost to repair a drive shaft?

Usually, the Drive Shaft Repair costs will differ based on what caused the issue and how fast it can be repaired. If you just have to replace it, that would be anywhere from $500 to $1000. However, you can also expect the cost of the parts to be around half that number and the labor costs around $200.

How much does a drive shaft cost?

Drive Shaft Replacement Cost. You can expect the parts cost to be anywhere from $320 to $750, while the labor costs are only around $150 to $190. If you have a rear wheel or four wheel drive vehicle which as a long drive shaft to power the rear wheels, then expect to pay somewhere in the range of $600 to $2,000. Subsequently, one may also ask, is a broken drive shaft expensive to fix?

What are the symptoms of a bad drive shaft?

What a Bad Driveshaft Noise Sound Like and How to Tell if a Driveshaft is Bad

  • Rattles. A broken or damaged driveshaft will typically cause a bad vibration and rattling when you're on the gas.
  • Squeaks. A damaged coupling or bad driveshaft bearing can cause this noise, but this symptom is rare. ...
  • Clunks and other harsh noises. This is the most common symptom of a damaged driveshaft. ...
  • Uneven acceleration. ...

How to replace drive shaft?

Steps Download Article

  1. Lift up the front end of a vehicle with a floor jack.
  2. Place jack stands under the front end of the frame to ensure stability.
  3. Empty the transmission fluid in order to prevent it from leaking.
  4. Dislodge the fill plug for the transmission.
  5. Prepare a container for the fluid and disengage the transmission's drain plug.

More items...

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Is a drive shaft expensive to replace?

Usually, the Drive Shaft Repair costs will differ based on what caused the issue and how fast it can be repaired. If you just have to replace it, that would be anywhere from $500 to $1000. However, you can also expect the cost of the parts to be around half that number and the labor costs around $200.

How much does it cost to fix a rear drive shaft?

1:373:47How to Fix a Drive Shaft (U-Joint Replacement) - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo take two opposite ends off one two slide it in then put one cap in and push it off. And turn itMoreSo take two opposite ends off one two slide it in then put one cap in and push it off. And turn it over and put the other cap in and start hammering. And once you get one cap.

How long does it take to fix a driveshaft?

That's very difficult to answer due to the multiple variables involved in removing and replacing hard to access components such as the center driveshaft on a front wheel drive vehicle like your Edge. However, in general, this type of job can often be completed in one business day; or less than 8 service hours.

How serious is a drive shaft problem?

A broken driveshaft can prevent wheels from turning properly, giving you trouble when trying to make turns. This issue limits your overall control of the car. You need any issues that prevent you from driving the car correctly addressed right away for safe driving and continued use of the vehicle.

What happens if you don't fix a drive shaft?

Without this driveshaft, power wouldn't be supplied to the rear wheels. But don't worry because driveshafts won't just fail instantly unless you are involved in a serious accident. They tend to slowly deteriorate over time, which gives drivers a chance to notice the symptoms of the failing shaft early on.

How much does a new driveshaft cost?

In most cases, a new drive shaft costs somewhere between $300 and $1300. Fortunately, it only takes about an hour to replace it. A repair usually costs much less, around $200 to $300 including parts and labor, but this also depends on how many parts need to be replaced.

What causes drive shaft failure?

Improper stiffness matching between the left and right smooth shafts, which results in a larger torque transmitted to the right spline, is the root cause of the drive shaft failure.

What happens if my drive shaft breaks while driving?

If your driveshaft breaks while driving, the result would be: Immediate loss of steering. Inability to go forward or backward. Inability to accelerate.

What causes a drive shaft to break?

Frequently, if a car hits another car or objects with its rear wheels (like when you back into something), the impact can cause the driveshaft to break. The same thing goes for hitting a curb – that shock alone has been known to ruin drive shafts.

What does a broken driveshaft sound like?

Another symptom of driveshaft issues is loud clunking noises. These noises are usually produced by worn-out u-joints. The ability of your driveshaft to rotate correctly is altered if your vehicle has a faulty u-joint. Lack of u-joint lubrication can cause squeaking noises when you drive at low speeds.

What does a failing drive shaft sound like?

0:322:03Symptoms Of A Worn Or Failing Driveshaft - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe first symptom of a drive shaft going bad is vibration due the nature of where the drive shaft isMoreThe first symptom of a drive shaft going bad is vibration due the nature of where the drive shaft is on the vehicle which is typically underneath the floorboards underneath the passenger. And driver

Can you drive without a drive shaft?

Can you drive a 4WD truck without a front or rear driveshaft? Yes, this is possible, if you drive a traditional 4WD with a lockable center differential. Remove the damaged drive shaft and lock the center differential.

How do I know if my drive shaft is broken?

Signs of a bad driveshaft/drivetrainVibrations from under the vehicle. A common symptom of a failing driveshaft is an intense shaking coming from underneath the vehicle. ... Difficulty turning. ... Loud clunking noise. ... Car shudders upon acceleration. ... Squeaking noise. ... Clicking or knocking noise.

What happens if my drive shaft breaks while driving?

If your driveshaft breaks while driving, the result would be: Immediate loss of steering. Inability to go forward or backward. Inability to accelerate.

What causes drive shaft failure?

Improper stiffness matching between the left and right smooth shafts, which results in a larger torque transmitted to the right spline, is the root cause of the drive shaft failure.

What causes drive shaft to break?

Frequently, if a car hits another car or objects with its rear wheels (like when you back into something), the impact can cause the driveshaft to break. The same thing goes for hitting a curb – that shock alone has been known to ruin drive shafts.

How much does it cost to repair a drive shaft?

Parts will vary significantly from one vehicle to the next. The average cost of parts of drive shaft repair is between $400 and $600.

How to tell if a drive shaft is in need of repair?

You can look for signs like a lack of power, difficulty getting the car to move or squeaking, clanking or vibration when the car is in motion. All these may indicate that the drive shaft is in need of repairs.

What happens if you don't get your drive shaft repaired?

Benefits of Drive Shaft Repair. If you don’t get your drive shaft repaired, there are serious consequences for your car in the future, but having this repair done means that you will be avoiding a lot of expensive repairs later. This can be a pretty costly job already, and the sooner you get it done, the more money you will save.

Should You Replace Or Repair A Drive Shaft?

As previously mentioned, many signs and symptoms can appear if the drive shaft does not work properly.

Drive Shaft Replacement Cost

When replacing a drive shaft, all the aforementioned parts will usually be replaced alongside the drive shaft itself.

Drive Shaft Repair Cost

A drive shaft that has broken into two pieces cannot be repaired. However, in many cases, the problem can be due to a joint or another part that works together with the drive shaft.

Symptoms Of A Bad Drive Shaft

Before you replace a drive shaft, it is important to determine whether or not the drive shaft needs to be replaced. Unless the drive shaft has broken in half, it can be difficult to differentiate between the possible problems.

Summary

A drive shaft is usually seen in rear-wheel-drive cars. Its purpose is to transfer the power and torque produced by the engine at the front to the rear wheels.

How much does it cost to fix a broken drive shaft?

The price of the broken drive shaft repair cost on the high end can go upward of $2,000, with the average labor costs being around $70, but sometimes doubling if the car is a difficult one to assess. Parts will vary depending on ...

How to tell if drive shaft is broken?

Vibrations. If you are driving your car and you all of a sudden realize that it is not the smooth ride yo are used to and you feel vibrations, especially through the steering wheel, then this is a sign that you need to look at the broken drive shaft repair cost that you might have to pay. This is a clear sign your drive shaft is damaged ...

What happens if you wear out drive shaft bushings?

If these bushings are worn out, the drive shaft will become damaged, vibrate, and you are looking at a higher broken drive shaft repair cost. If the problem with the bushings and drive shaft are not fixed relatively quickly, the vibrations will get more noticeable and more severe, leading to other issues like passenger discomfort ...

Why is my car's drive shaft not rotating?

If the U-joint in your car or your drive shaft is rotating too fast or does not rotate properly at the right speeds or location, then this is a clear problem with your drive shaft in your car. The seals of the bearings could have been corroded or rusted over time, or the U-joint has become shaky and unstable, leading to a higher broken drive shaft ...

What happens if the drive shaft breaks?

If the parts of the drive shaft were to completely break in two and snap during use, you will lose power to the axle and prevent the ability to drive smoothly. In addition, the drive shaft can get wedged between the ground you are driving on and your car, leading to the inability to move your car forward.

What is the function of the drive shaft?

The drive shaft. Also known as the propeller shaft, is a long rod that has a main function of transmitting torque from the transmission to the rear wheels. Basically, the torque must be sent from the output shaft to the rear differential. The rear differential in your car functions to connect to the transfer case or transmission via the drive shaft.

What is the function of a rear differential?

The rear differential in your car functions to connect to the transfer case or transmission via the drive shaft. The differential is in charge of transferring the engine's power to the rear wheels to make them move, and is responsible for changing the direction so the car can move side to side and not just forward and backward.

Why does my driveshaft damage?

Driveshaft damage can happen because of something as simple as hitting a nasty bump in the road or a pothole; it can also occur during a collision with another vehicle. You’d be surprised just what can cause accidental damage to the components in your driveshaft.

What is a fixer?

Digital, transparent and stress-free, with world-class customer service. Since launching in Manchester in 2017, Fixter has expanded to more than 100 cities across the UK and provided thousands of car owners with honest, convenient and affordable car repair services.

Importance of Driveshaft Cost

A driveshaft is a precisely engineered piece that ensures that the vehicle will run or stop when you want it. A driveshaft is also important for a safe and enjoyable drive. In addition, the driveshaft is also in charge of connecting to the transmission.

Different Types of Driveshafts

The type of car that you have determines the kind of driveshaft present in your vehicle. All of them are listed below.

Symptoms of Driveshaft Failure

Your vehicle must have a functional driveshaft if it’s getting to move properly. In case your driveshaft turned lousy, then there may be some actually visible symptoms responsible.

Replacement Cost of Driveshaft

The cost involved during a driveshaft repair varies from $400 to $800 counting on the make, model, and year of your car. If you’ve got a rear-wheel or four-wheel drive car, then the worth of the broken drive shaft repair cost is going to be much higher. During this case, you ought to be able to pay somewhere between a mean range of $600 and $2,000.

How much does it cost to balance a driveshaft?

The cost to balance a driveshaft depends on your car and the mechanic you choose. Our research shows that professional labor costs about $125-$190, but this varies widely depending on where you go. Also, if you need new U-joints, which are required in most repairs, your bill can come to $220 or even more .

Important things to remember

A balanced driveshaft is extremely important for a smooth driving experience. The torque from the engine and transmission must be equal to each other, as well as at the same speed at which your car’s driveshaft spins in order to balance it correctly.

How to recognize a faulty driveshaft

Most of the components that make up the Cardan shaft are lubricated from the factory, but this lubrication may not be enough to support the movements made by the auto while driving, after a certain period.

How much does it cost to replace a half shaft?

If you’re just replacing a half-shaft for your front wheel drive car, then it will cost anywhere from $470 to $940. You can expect the parts cost to be anywhere from $320 to $750, while the labor costs are only around $150 to $190. If you have a rear wheel or four wheel drive vehicle which has a long drive shaft to power the rear wheels, ...

What is a drive shaft?

A drive shaft (also called a propeller shaft) is essentially a long rod that is designed to transmit torque from the output shaft of the transmission to the rear differential in a rear wheel drive, four wheel drive, or all wheel drive vehicle.

Why does my drive shaft vibrate?

This is usually the first symptom that people recognize when there is a drive shaft problem. The vibrations are likely due to worn out bushings of the drive shaft. These bushings are what normally keep the drive shaft from vibrating in the first place. If the problem is not fixed soon, the vibration will get more severe.

How many drive shafts does a 4 wheel drive vehicle have?

In the case of a four wheel drive or all wheel drive vehicle, you may find that it actually has two separate drive shafts: one for transmitting power to the front and another to transmit power to the back. This will depend on the manufacturer’s implementation of the four wheel drive or all wheel drive system.

What happens if you disconnect the drive shaft?

If the drive shaft were to disconnect on one side while it’s still spinning quickly, there is a good chance it will do massive damage to the underside of your vehicle. Remember that if one end is still connected to the vehicle, the drive shaft will continue spinning for a moment and take out anything in its path.

What happens if you don't fix a vibration?

If the problem is not fixed soon, the vibration will get more severe. It will get so bad that your passengers will be able to feel it too. The worst part is that other drivetrain components can also be affected and damaged. Note that vibrations that increase with speed may mean your tires need to be balanced.

Can you drive a car with a bad drive shaft?

While it is usually possible to drive with a bad drive shaft, it’s usually not very wise to do it for long. If part of the drive shaft were to snap, you’ll lose power to that axle in the best case scenario. The drive shaft may fall and get wedged between the ground and your vehicle, restricting forward movement.

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