jgedde
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2016
- Threads
- 38
- Messages
- 297
- Reaction score
- 96
- Location
- Middle Island, NY
- First Name
- John
- Vehicle(s)
- 2015 GT Premium PP, M6, Triple Yellow
- Thread starter
- #1
I CURED MY VIBRATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here's what did it and the method I used:
1) Installed Steeda cradle bushing supports and diff bushings (red). This made it better, but not completely eliminated. I believe this step can be optional, but they make the car oh so much nicer to drive even with non vibe... Read on.
2) Did a DIY on-car balance of my driveshaft. Below I'll explain the background and method for what I did...
As a home shop machinist, I often have need to balance grinding wheels for my surface grinder. The grinding wheel hubs have two movable balance weights that can be used to adjust both the location AND the magnitude of the counterbalance. I used a similar method on my driveshaft using two hose clamps as counterweights.
Use only premium quality hose clamps: US made, Stainless Steel. Unfortunately I don't remember what size I used. But that's easy for you to figure out on your own.
1) Safely raise the back end of the car so the rear wheels can spin freely. Safely is the key word here... The car MUST NOT have a chance to come off the stands!
2) Turn traction control off and slowly increase speed until your hear/feel peak vibration. Note the speed at which this occurs.
3) Now, install one of the two hose clamps onto the driveshaft back by the pinion flange.
4) Repeat step 2, the vibration will likely be worse.
5) Turn off the car and loosen the clamp and rotate it about 30 degrees.
6) Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you get minimum vibration at the key speed.
7) Now fine tune the position with very small movements. Once done, you will have located the light side of the driveshaft and the screw assembly on the clamp is acting as a counterweight. If the vibration is gone, you're done: tighten the clamp securely and grab a beer.
8) Now install a second hose clamp next to the first one lined up exactly the same. The screws should both be facing the same way.
9) Using a permanent marker, create a match mark between both hose clamps and the driveshaft. Just draw a straight line crossing the band portion of the clamps and the driveshaft.
10) The next step will be to adjust the amount of counterweight needed to achieve no vibration. Again run the car on jack stands and note the vibration. If the vibration is gone, you're done: tighten the clamp securely and grab a beer.
11) Loosen both clamps and rotate them slightly in opposite directions so that each is moved by the same amount: this is important. Use the mark on the driveshaft you made in 9 as a reference. The lines on each clamp band should always be symmetrical about the line on the driveshaft.
12) Run the car and note vibration.
13) Repeat steps 11 and 12 rotating each clamp a little at a time until the vibration is eliminated...
If this doesn't stop the driveshaft vibration, put the two clamps back to their original position, add a third clamp exactly lined up with the first two, and repeat the clamp spreading process with two out of the three leaving one in the original position. I can't image that a fourth would be necessary, but who knows. In that case, spread them in pairs. When you're done, celebrate with one beer for every clamp you installed! Two did it for me.
Now, don't fret about hose clamps on your driveshaft. They will stay put. Furthermore, if Ford uses their analyzer to do an on car balance, they will use hose clamps anyway. But, you're likely to be much more diligent than a Ford technician!
All in all, it took about an hour to do the rebalance.
As an added measure, you can always stake them with epoxy...
Cheers!
John
1) Installed Steeda cradle bushing supports and diff bushings (red). This made it better, but not completely eliminated. I believe this step can be optional, but they make the car oh so much nicer to drive even with non vibe... Read on.
2) Did a DIY on-car balance of my driveshaft. Below I'll explain the background and method for what I did...
As a home shop machinist, I often have need to balance grinding wheels for my surface grinder. The grinding wheel hubs have two movable balance weights that can be used to adjust both the location AND the magnitude of the counterbalance. I used a similar method on my driveshaft using two hose clamps as counterweights.
Use only premium quality hose clamps: US made, Stainless Steel. Unfortunately I don't remember what size I used. But that's easy for you to figure out on your own.
1) Safely raise the back end of the car so the rear wheels can spin freely. Safely is the key word here... The car MUST NOT have a chance to come off the stands!
2) Turn traction control off and slowly increase speed until your hear/feel peak vibration. Note the speed at which this occurs.
3) Now, install one of the two hose clamps onto the driveshaft back by the pinion flange.
4) Repeat step 2, the vibration will likely be worse.
5) Turn off the car and loosen the clamp and rotate it about 30 degrees.
6) Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you get minimum vibration at the key speed.
7) Now fine tune the position with very small movements. Once done, you will have located the light side of the driveshaft and the screw assembly on the clamp is acting as a counterweight. If the vibration is gone, you're done: tighten the clamp securely and grab a beer.
8) Now install a second hose clamp next to the first one lined up exactly the same. The screws should both be facing the same way.
9) Using a permanent marker, create a match mark between both hose clamps and the driveshaft. Just draw a straight line crossing the band portion of the clamps and the driveshaft.
10) The next step will be to adjust the amount of counterweight needed to achieve no vibration. Again run the car on jack stands and note the vibration. If the vibration is gone, you're done: tighten the clamp securely and grab a beer.
11) Loosen both clamps and rotate them slightly in opposite directions so that each is moved by the same amount: this is important. Use the mark on the driveshaft you made in 9 as a reference. The lines on each clamp band should always be symmetrical about the line on the driveshaft.
12) Run the car and note vibration.
13) Repeat steps 11 and 12 rotating each clamp a little at a time until the vibration is eliminated...
If this doesn't stop the driveshaft vibration, put the two clamps back to their original position, add a third clamp exactly lined up with the first two, and repeat the clamp spreading process with two out of the three leaving one in the original position. I can't image that a fourth would be necessary, but who knows. In that case, spread them in pairs. When you're done, celebrate with one beer for every clamp you installed! Two did it for me.
Now, don't fret about hose clamps on your driveshaft. They will stay put. Furthermore, if Ford uses their analyzer to do an on car balance, they will use hose clamps anyway. But, you're likely to be much more diligent than a Ford technician!
All in all, it took about an hour to do the rebalance.
As an added measure, you can always stake them with epoxy...
Cheers!
John
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