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What to Expect During a Tailshaft Balancing Service: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Have you ever wondered what keeps your car running smoothly without those annoying vibrations or unusual noises?

Tailshaft balancing might not get the spotlight, but it’s one of the most critical services for maintaining your vehicle’s driveline performance. By ensuring your tailshaft rotates flawlessly, it not only boosts performance but also helps prevent costly wear and tear over time.

So, what actually happens during a tailshaft balancing service?

Let’s take a closer look at why this service is essential for keeping your car in peak condition.

Why Tailshaft Balancing Matters

The tailshaft is a critical part of your vehicle’s driveline, transferring power from the transmission to the wheels.

Over time, wear and tear, impacts, or modifications can throw the tailshaft out of balance. Even the smallest imbalance can cause vibrations that grow worse as you drive, affecting not only your comfort but also the longevity of your vehicle’s components.

Balancing restores the tailshaft to its optimal condition, ensuring that it rotates evenly at high speeds. This improves performance, enhances safety, and reduces the risk of costly repairs down the track.

The Tailshaft Balancing Process

When you take your vehicle in for tailshaft balancing, the service typically follows a precise sequence to ensure accuracy.

First, the tailshaft is carefully removed from the vehicle and inspected. This step is crucial for identifying visible issues such as dents, cracks, or worn components like the centre bearing or universal joints.

Next, the tailshaft is mounted on a specialised balancing machine. This machine spins the shaft at high speeds to detect areas where the weight is unevenly distributed. Using this data, the technician adjusts the balance by adding or removing small counterweights. This fine-tuning ensures that the tailshaft can rotate smoothly and without vibration.

Once the adjustments are made, the tailshaft undergoes further testing to confirm the balance is perfect. Finally, it’s reinstalled in your vehicle, with all components secured and aligned to factory specifications. A quick road test might follow to ensure the vibrations have been completely resolved.

How Long Does It Take?

The duration of a tailshaft balancing service can vary depending on the complexity of the issues discovered. For most vehicles, the process can be completed within a few hours, but more extensive problems might take longer.

Either way, it’s time well spent to keep your driveline in top shape.

Smooth Driving Starts Here

Noticed unusual vibrations or suspect your tailshaft might be out of balance?

Don’t wait for the problem to get worse.

At our online store, we offer quality parts and expert guidance to support your tailshaft needs.

Visit the GJ Drivelines online shop today to explore our range and keep your vehicle running smoothly.

Visit the GJ Drivelines online shop today to explore our range and keep your vehicle running smoothly.

Enquire With Us today

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ALL YOUR TAILSHAFT AND DRIVESHAFT NEEDS

  • CUSTOMISED TAILSHAFT MANUFACTURING
  • TAILSHAFT REPAIR, RECONDITIONING AND STRENGTHENING
  • DIGITAL BALANCING
  • REPLACEMENT OF TAILSHAFT COMPONENTS
  • DIAGNOSTIC DRIVING AND VIBRATION ANALYSIS
  • SUPPLIER OF TAILSHAFT COMPONENTS
  • DRIVESHAFT REPAIR AND MANUFACTURING
  • DRIVESHAFT CENTER BEARINGS
  • UNIVERSAL AND CV JOINTS
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Identify Transmission

Chrysler – Dodge
727 – 30 Spline 1 11/16″ Seal Diameter
904 – 26 Spline 1 9/16″ Seal Diameter

Ford
C6-T56 – 31 Spline 1 11/16″ Seal Diameter
AOD & C4 & T5 – 28 Spline 1 1/2″ Seal Diameter
4 R 7OW – 28 Spline 1.598″ Seal Diameter

General Motors
T-350 700R4-4LLOE – 27 Spline 1 1/2″ Seal Diameter
T-400-4L80E – 32 Spline 1 7/8″ Seal Diameter

Note: Transmission slip yokes are manufactured with various U-Joint Series. It is important to match Horsepower and Torque requirements to U-Joint Series. For aftermarket transmission applications usually a spline count and seal diameter will identify slip yoke required.

Identify Rear U-Joint

diagram-d

If Pinion Yoke has Placement tabs that retain the U-Joint, measure inside tabs. See Diagram D.

diagram-e

If Pinion Yoke does not have Placement Tabs that retain U-Joint, measure from flat of yoke inside to inside. See Diagram E.

diagram-l

If 4 bolt Flange is used on pinion, measure Pilot Diameter and center to center diagonally bolt hole to bolt hole. See Diagram L.

diagram-a

Universal Joint Size. There are hundreds of U-Joint sizes or “Series” to accomodate many different applications of power and desired longevity for your automotive, 4×4 truck or auto racing requirements, these 4 series of joints cover most needs.

1310 Spicer Series: 1 1/16″ Cup Diameter (Dim C – Diagram A) 3 7/32″ length (Dim B – Diagram A) Certain Ford applications have 2 cups 1 1/8 Diameter. Appropriate horse power range is up to 500 in circle track or road racing, small tire drag racing and 4×4. Also available: Performance Dynamic Cryo Joint.

1330 Spicer Series: 1 1/16″ Cup Diameter (Dim C – Diagram A) 3 5/8″ length (Dim B – Diagram A) Certain Ford applications have 2 cups 1 1/8 Diameter. Slightly stronger than 1310, Used in 5.0 Mustangs. Also available: Performance Dynamic Cryo Joint.

3R Saginaw Series: 1 1/8″ Cup Diameter (Dim C – Diagram A) Retained with internal clip 2 5/8″ (Dim B – Diagram A). Most common GM joint. Horse power range up to 700 in road racing and circle track. Solid drag racing U-Joint can accomodate most sportsman classes. Also available: Performance Dynamic Cryo Joint.

1350 Spicer Series: Manufactured with OEM tolerances and treated with our Cryogenic Process to yeild the strongest U-Joint available. For drag racing applications a solid non-lube design U-Joint is recommended because of the tremendous initial shock load, or short duration of high torque the joint must be able to withstand.

 

Driveshaft Measurements

diagram-n

If PST is supplying you with transmission slip yoke, Pinion yoke and driveshaft yoke measure Dim W. See Diagram N.

If PST is supplying you with transmission slip yoke and driveshaft measure Dim X. See Diagram N.

2 Piece driveshafts use Dim Y + Z. See Diagram N.