has anyone attempted to have their steel d/s balanced?
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,764
From: North Canton, OH
A bud of mine that floats around here by the name of ScottZ did have his steel ds balanced and it was a little better, but not by much. He came over, ripped my LS1 aluminum ds off and put it on his car...presto, the vibe was gone.
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,997
From: Reading, PA
If you have a vibe with it I wouldn't bother trying to balance the steel one. You can pick up an LS1 used for $150 that will fix the problem, you would probably spend half that much trying to balance the stocker and it might not even help any.
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Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,784
From: Rochester Hills, MI
Originally posted by mobleman
That's what I was thinking, but wanted to get it confirmed.
I'm going to replace the d/s when I replace the rear pinion seal. (which probably failed due to years of vibration!)
That's what I was thinking, but wanted to get it confirmed.
I'm going to replace the d/s when I replace the rear pinion seal. (which probably failed due to years of vibration!)
I had the same problem with my car. THe driveshaft knocked the pinion seal out causing my rearend to lose some rearend fluid and thus taking out the ring gear.
Are you interested in buying an aluminum driveshaft?? Let me know because I know my buddy has an LS1 driveshaft for sale.
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Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 731
From: Calgary, Ab, Canada
I have a 1LE driveshaft that the car came with when I bought it. It is a '94. When I pulled the DS, I noticed a recipt still taped to it. Cleaned it, turns out in '96 sometime the prev. owner bitched enough that GM gave him a 1LE shaft for free. BUT, I still have the vibes. Took the DS in to a shop, they said it was balanced and U-joints were replaced, but they also said that the DS has rounout, and can't be fixed. Would/could runout cause vibes? I was also thinking about shimming the tranny up about a 1/4" to see if the pinion angle change would effect anything. What do you guys think?
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Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 455
From: Syracuse, NY
Sorry, a little (read alot 
) out of my expertise. Not even sure what runout means unless it describes the driveshaft being bowed somewhat, which would cause the vibration at a certain shaft speed.
) out of my expertise. Not even sure what runout means unless it describes the driveshaft being bowed somewhat, which would cause the vibration at a certain shaft speed.
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,505
From: looking for a flow bench so Brook and I can race
Originally posted by IgorT.455/406
I have a 1LE driveshaft that the car came with when I bought it. It is a '94. When I pulled the DS, I noticed a recipt still taped to it. Cleaned it, turns out in '96 sometime the prev. owner bitched enough that GM gave him a 1LE shaft for free. BUT, I still have the vibes. Took the DS in to a shop, they said it was balanced and U-joints were replaced, but they also said that the DS has rounout, and can't be fixed. Would/could runout cause vibes? I was also thinking about shimming the tranny up about a 1/4" to see if the pinion angle change would effect anything. What do you guys think?
I have a 1LE driveshaft that the car came with when I bought it. It is a '94. When I pulled the DS, I noticed a recipt still taped to it. Cleaned it, turns out in '96 sometime the prev. owner bitched enough that GM gave him a 1LE shaft for free. BUT, I still have the vibes. Took the DS in to a shop, they said it was balanced and U-joints were replaced, but they also said that the DS has rounout, and can't be fixed. Would/could runout cause vibes? I was also thinking about shimming the tranny up about a 1/4" to see if the pinion angle change would effect anything. What do you guys think?
I think it can cause vibrations- a lot of things can at such high rpms...
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Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 197
From: OR
Specifically for Igor but my experience applies to this post. I picked up a used 1LE driveshaft and put it on the same time I had my gears done. I had a bad vibration above 80mph. This seams to be the magic # with ds problems.
I pulled it and took it to a shop who balanced it but said the runout (how much is is bent) was pretty severe. They guessed it was from hard launches when racing. When I put it back on the problem was only marginally better so I bought a new LPE ds and the problem went away.
In the end I was basically out $150 for the ds and $50 for the balancing. I guess it's a chance you take when buying used, but I've saved much more than that over time so its not that bad. Just be careful when picking up an aluminum ds since they don't seam to hold up to high hp very well.
As for balancing, ask them to check if it's straight before they do anything.
I pulled it and took it to a shop who balanced it but said the runout (how much is is bent) was pretty severe. They guessed it was from hard launches when racing. When I put it back on the problem was only marginally better so I bought a new LPE ds and the problem went away.
In the end I was basically out $150 for the ds and $50 for the balancing. I guess it's a chance you take when buying used, but I've saved much more than that over time so its not that bad. Just be careful when picking up an aluminum ds since they don't seam to hold up to high hp very well.
As for balancing, ask them to check if it's straight before they do anything.
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