Driveshaft question

Post by **DrifterXRPS13** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

hello everybody, i got a question for ya guys. i was just wondering how many bearings are there for the driveshaft and what are they called, my driveshaft hits the bottom of my car and just keeps getting worse. At first i didn't know what it was and then i had the master tech at the local nissan dealer look at it. He didn't even drive the car, he just rolled it in first gear and got out, went underneat the car and started shaking something and he's like yup it's the "main support driveshaft bearing" he told me it would be 60-70 bucks but when i called nissan to order the part they said it was gonna be 170 and that it comes in a kit, so just wondering if their is only one bearing for the driveshaft or is their more and if so how many? any help would be appreciated, thank you.

Post by **black s13** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

theres only one. its held on by two 17mm bolts, about a foot behind the transmission. its the only thing that goes around the driveshaft.

Post by **DrifterXRPS13** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

thanks black s13 for clearing that up for me, one more thing though would it be wise to just go ahead and buy the whole bearing kit that comes from nissan for 170 or should i go an alternate route?

Post by **black s13** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

im not sure what they would be giving you... the part isnt worth $170, so youd be getting something in addition to just that bearing. try to find one of someone with a parts car for like $20.

Post by **TruboostPerformance** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

Its called a carrier bearing/center bearing by most part stores, just go to autozone and get timken one, will work just as good, replaced mine 3 times when it broke.

Post by **Hijacker** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

i didn't think our driveshafts were servicable.

Post by **SRdave240** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

sounds like a good oppertunity to go with a 1-piece aluminum.

Post by **black s13** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

its not servicing the joints or anything, just the thing that supports the shaft in the middle, since its 2 piece.

Post by **Arrow** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

Hey guys! I just found out today that the U joints on the second part of my driveshaft are shot... Since I cannot replace the joints, I have to get a new rear shaft. I am thinking about upgrading to an aluminum but don't know where to get one, or the price! Any help would be great. I might end up getting a replacement rear shat but I am just wanting thoughts on which would be cheaper / last longer! Thanks a lot!!

Post by **Hijacker** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

http://w1.igateway.com/clients...=form

here. I don't know you if you have ABS or not. If you do, then this one won't fit, but enjuku does have one that fits the ABS equipped vehicles.

The problem with an aluminum driveshaft is vibrations. They don't incorporate the carrier bearing we've been talking about, and the carrier bearing's main job is to absorb vibration.

Post by **Arrow** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

Man! $450! Ouch, I wasn't expecting that much... Oh well, guess it's time to see how much a replacement rear shaft is going to be... Thanks a lot though!

Post by **SHIFTrl240** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

hey i got a rear half of a driveshaft here if you want to buy it, throw a price and i'll see what i can do. still in good condition. came from an s13 dunno milage cause it came with the manual front driveshaft that i bought. automatic and manual rear half of the driveshaft are exactly the same

Post by **Arrow** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

Thanks a lot SHIFT! I have called some salvage yards locally, and found one only about 45 minutes away that is selling one for $75. I think that I can give him a lowball of $50 cash for it... Hope that he takes that offer... I don't feel like spending more for something that I don't know the mileage on it or how long it might last me...

Since I strongly believe that mine has already been replaced once, due to the "90 240sx" written on the shaft....

Anyway, thanks for your offer!! I appreciate it! But I just need to get the thing quickly so I don't end up damaging anything else on the car!

Post by **black s13** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

are driveshafts supposed to go bad or something? mine has like 180k miles on it, and its perfect?

Post by **Arrow** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

I hope not! I hope that I must have just had a bad one or something and that getting a salvage one will do me justice and not break on me!

I do know that two owners before me that owner had a hitch on the car... "IT HAS A TRUCK ENGINE IN IT..." I hear them saying.... j/k.

I believe that using the car for towing might have put more stress on the drivetrain, causing the u joints to start to sieze... Oh well, I already own the car and have fixed too much to get my money out of it... And for sure not enough to buy a 'better' car....

Post by **Arrow** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

Hey SHIFT, I might be interested in what you said earlier.... I just got back for the junk yard and they are total liars!

They told me over the phone that it was in perfect condition, all the joints moved smoothly and such. I got there, and it was rusted beyond belief and the joints were as bad or even worse than mine! I am beginning to get agrivated! I wasted half of my day and a quarter tank of gas! I am going to check some other juck yards locally, and if nothing turns up, you might be next on my list.... Just a little worried about shipping, and some pics would help mo out too, just since you are in Ohio, and I don't want one that is rusted and stuff, no offense though....

Post by **Nissan-S14** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

My drive shaft started vibrate and i needed new teeth on the drive shaft. I found one driveshaft on a junk yard for $250. I figured id pay extra $200 and get the aluminum one piece. I woundt say its a good upgrade, I didnt really notice any difference anywhere, except for the vibration went away. But I heard if your putting down alot of HP this aluminum piece helps bring down the hp to the wheels better. BUTTTTTT, be careful with the ABS, if you plan on swapping your LSD for non abs, or non abs to abs. It will not fit, you will need to custom fabricate it and get it to a drive shaft shop. I had an open diff no abs with the aluminum drive shaft, then i baught the J30VLSD (abs) I had to cut 1" from the driveshaft.

Post by **DrifterXRPS13** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

i got that bearing from carquest for 135 plus a chiltons manual for 20 bucks. haven't gotten a chance to install it yet but at least i got it. one more quick question, does anyone know how much the bracket that holds the center bearing costs?...i lied, another question, sorry, the aluminum driveshaft that everyone is talking about on this thread, someone said that the only negative aspect is the vibration, he also mentioned that that's what the center bearing is for, to stop the vibration, if that's true then wouldn't their be negative effects of the driveshaft just wobbling and possibly hitting against the bottom of the car?

Post by **Hijacker** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

black s13 wrote:are driveshafts supposed to go bad or something? mine has like 180k miles on it, and its perfect?

a driveshaft CAN go bad. Doesn't necassarily mean it will go bad in its lifetime. It's a mechanical part, and like all mechanical parts, it can fatigue and wear out. The splines in the input shaft could wear down and cause problems, or the center support bearing could deteriorate (most common issue), the U-joint could wear out. Lots of issues, but they rarely happen.

Post by **Hijacker** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

DrifterXRPS13 wrote:i got that bearing from carquest for 135 plus a chiltons manual for 20 bucks. haven't gotten a chance to install it yet but at least i got it. one more quick question, does anyone know how much the bracket that holds the center bearing costs?...i lied, another question, sorry, the aluminum driveshaft that everyone is talking about on this thread, someone said that the only negative aspect is the vibration, he also mentioned that that's what the center bearing is for, to stop the vibration, if that's true then wouldn't their be negative effects of the driveshaft just wobbling and possibly hitting against the bottom of the car?

apparently, the one that I linked can accept the carrier bushing (center support bearing, whatever) to lessen the vibration. it does offer a significant weight reduction, and looks like a good investment.

But after comparing the aluminum shaft to the stock shaft, I wonder why nissan included the U joint in the center. I could understand for installation, but the input shaft already has a U joint, allowing for it to properly be inserted while the shaft can lay at an angle and not be clunking around on the diff.

Post by **SHIFTrl240** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

Arrow: contact me on AIM if your still interested. this rear half has no rust whatsoever and has all the bolts in good condition. my AIM name is SHIFTrl240

i'll try and see about the pics..

Post by **Nissan-S14** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

I dont have any vibration on my aluminum drive shaft

Post by **DrifterXRPS13** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

Nissan s14: you said that you have the aluminum driveshaft and you also stated that you don't have any vibration either...do you have just the driveshaft installed or the bearing as well for minimizing the vibration?

Post by **Nissan-S14** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

just the driveshaft.

Post by **DrifterXRPS13** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

cool, what differences did you notice with the aluminum one over stock? i'm beginning to like this aluminum driveshaft, might have to save up some money for it.

Post by **Nissan-S14** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

none lol.

But for me it was either $250 for stock or $450 for aluminum i figure id pay extra $200

Post by **cyrus240sx** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

now where can you get an aluminum one for 95 up? becuz on enjukus web sites it looks like they only sell 89-94 ones

Post by **Nissan-S14** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

No, enjuku has for S14, thats where i got mine, I have a 95SE

Post by **clearview** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

it is my understanding the the drive shaft on the 240 is balanced as a whole. therefore if you take the front from one and the rear from another the driveshaft may vibrate. you should be able to get a drive shaft from a recycler. i have had good luck with Mazda=Nissan Heaven 817-563-2277 and NOW 800-649-9936.i have the drive shaft from my 95 non abs 240 . i took it out to put a j-30 vlsd rear in and i bought a new Nissan driveshaft for the abs rear.

Post by **black s13** » Mon Jun 21, 2004 7:46 am

thanks for the info :thumbup

Driveshaft question

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