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how much to repair a drive shaft

by Prof. Ronaldo Schaefer V Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year 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.

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 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?

How much does it cost to replace a cv shaft?

While it’s not a part that normally needs to be replaced, it’s more commonly changed after 150,000km. Car designs differ greatly – some CV shafts have a single CV joint while others have one at each end – so the cost to replace a CV shaft can vary from $300 to $1,300 or more.

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Is it worth fixing a drive shaft?

The Drive Shaft Repair process is very important. If your vehicle has issues more often than not the drive shaft can be problematic and you have to fix it. If the driveshaft just doesn't work the way it should, it can end up being super demanding and your vehicle will malfunction more and more.

How much does it cost to fix a drive shaft on a car?

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, then expect to pay somewhere in the range of $600 to $2,000.

How long does it take to fix a drive shaft?

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 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 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 drive shaft breaks while driving?

If your driveshaft breaks while driving, then you can expect a lot of damage – to yourself, to other drivers, and to your car. The best way to avoid this is by having the drive shaft inspected regularly and making sure that all of the moving parts are in good condition.

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.

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.

Can you drive a car 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.

Is a drive shaft easy to replace?

Changing a drive shaft is actually a simple task that a home mechanic can undertake without too much trepidation. It's just a case of being thorough, being safe, and of course having your trusty Haynes Manual to hand.

Can a bent drive shaft be fixed?

To fix a damaged drive shaft that has been twisted or bent. The drive shaft tubing must be replaced and the other components must be checked for damage also. A lot of time a drive shaft comes in with dents or creases in the tubing.

How many drive shafts in a car?

On a typical four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicle, there are two driveshafts. There is the same driveshaft that is on a rear-wheel drive car but there is also an additional front driveshaft that is connected to the front differential and the transfer case by u-joints.

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 a drive shaft to fall off?

Sometimes, the bolts holding the u-joints in place – either to the driveshaft or to the transmission or differential – can come loose or fall out completely. This usually happens because of corrosion, excessive jolting or vibration, or because the bolts were not properly torqued into place.

Can you start a car without a drive shaft?

yeah you'll need to put a slip-yoke in the rear of the trans, or it'll probably leak. Plus, you don't wanna get road debris up in the trans or around the seal. Put a slip yoke in and find a way to secure it in there (bunjee cord) without damaging the rear seal.

Can you drive without the front 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. This will allow the transfer box to transfer power to the front or rear driveshaft.

What should a broken drive shaft repair cost?

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 to save money on this repair

Do the research. It may be tempting to perform a driveshaft repair on your own. If you don’t however have the proper tools then attempting a drive shaft repair on your own will end up costing you more money in the long run.

How to fix a Broken Drive Shaft if you absolutely have to?

WARNING: Drive shaft repair is a crucial part of your car and can cause various other issues if the repair or replacement goes wrong.

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.

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.

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.

Why does my car make a squeaky sound?

Thumping, thudding, clunking and squeaking sounds are all likely to occur when your driveshaft is bent or broken. If your car engine is running, but the vehicle fails to move at all. If you’re suffering a lack of power or intermittent power.

Why does my car make knocking noises when I hit the curb?

Once you start to hear those telltale knocking noises, it’s time to get things sorted. A driveshaft malfunction can easily lead to further and much more costly damage to your vehicle.

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.

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 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.

What is torque in 2021?

by Kevin. (Updated on June 16, 2021) The twisting force produced by the engine is called torque. The job of the drive shaft is to transmit this torque to the wheels of the vehicle. Most vehicles are front-wheel drive, so the torque would be transmitted to the two front wheels with what’s called a half-shaft.

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 turn your car and the wheels don't turn?

If you try to make a turn with your vehicle and the wheels don’t turn immediately or they hesitate, then you have an issue with your drive shaft. The tires will have a lot of resistance which you’ll be able to feel as you try to make a turn.

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 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.

How Do Drive Shafts Work?

As we said, the driveshafts are pretty simple. It transmits the torque to the wheels. But there is a difference between front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive cars. In both these types of vehicles, the drive shaft is laid out differently and looks different. So, it’s a good thing to understand how to differentiate these two types of driveshafts.

Symptoms Of A Broken Drive Shaft

Like with every component on your vehicle, so the driveshaft shows symptoms when it’s failing. The universal joints are the ones that take the most of the beating, but the drive shaft can also break into pieces.

How To Diagnose A Bad Universal Joint?

To diagnose a universal joint, you need to crank up your engine and take your car for a spin. If during the driving you are experiencing some weird vibrations and shudders coming from the front part of the vehicle where the driveshaft connects with the transmission, it means that you need to inspect your universal joint.

Can You Perform A Drive Shaft Repair?

Yes, you can do a drive shaft repair on your vehicle if you have the will to do it. If you are a DIY guy that doesn’t like mechanics to mess up with their car, then this job is going to be perfect for you.

Drive Shaft Repair Cost

The drive shaft repair cost is relatively affordable and will not cost a lot. And it’s especially so if you are performing this job at home.

Drive Shaft Repair – Conclusion

In this article, we have covered everything you need to know when it comes to driveshafts and drive shaft repair. We learned of the most common types of drive shafts and also how to recognize which shaft we have in our cars.

Approved Tools

These tools have been tried and tested by our team, they are ideal for fixing your car at home.

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.

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