This procedure is designed to fine-tune the balance of a propeller shaft while it is mounted in the vehicle. Small amounts of residual imbalance, which could be present in other related driveline system components, could be compensated for as a result of performing this procedure. The end result of properly fine-tuning a propeller shaft balance may be either a significant reduction or an elimination of a vibration disturbance that is related to the first-order rotation of a propeller shaft.

Fine-tuning the balance of a propeller shaft can aid in achieving a more balanced total driveline system.

Important: The runout of the propeller shaft to be balanced and the runout of the components that the propeller shaft mates to must be within tolerances before an attempt should be made to perform this procedure.

Tools Required

• J 38792-A — Electronic Vibration Analyzer 2 (EVA)

• J 38792-20 — 20’ Timing Light Power Cord ­Extension

• J 38792-25 — Inductive Pickup Timing Light, or equivalent

• J 38792-27 — 6’ EVA Power Cord Extension

 

Adjustment Procedure

Notice: Do not depress the brake pedal with the brake rotors and/or the brake drums removed, or with the brake calipers repositioned away from the brake rotors, or damage to the brake system may result.

1. Raise and support the vehicle; ensure that the drive axle(s) are supported at ride height; vehicle body supported by suspension components.

2. With the tire and wheel assemblies, and the brake rotors and/or brake drums removed from the drive axle, or axles, start the engine and turn off all engine accessories.

3. Place the transmission in forward gear.

4. Run the vehicle at the speed that causes the most vibration in the propeller shaft; observe which end of the propeller shaft exhibits the greatest amount of vibration disturbance.

5. Turn off the engine to slow and stop the rotation of the propeller shaft.

6. Mark the circumference of the propeller shaft (Figure 1, 1) to be balanced at four points 90° apart (Figure 1, 2), nearest the end that exhibited the greatest amount of vibration. Number the marks 1 through 4.

7. Install the J 38792-A, the J 38792-27, the J 38792-25 or equivalent, and the J 38792-20 to the vehicle.

8. Connect the clip of the timing light onto the trigger wire of the EVA.

9. Mount the EVA’s vibration sensor to the bottom of the driveline component nearest to the end of the propeller shaft that exhibited the greatest amount of vibration. Ensure that the side of the sensor marked “UP” faces upward and that the sensor is positioned as close to horizontal as possible.

10. Plug the vibration sensor cord into Input A of the EVA. Input B is not used with the strobe function.

11. Run the vehicle at the speed that causes the most vibration in the propeller shaft; observe the frequency readings displayed on the EVA.

Important: Do not continue with fine-tuning the balance of a propeller shaft if the dominant frequency displayed is not related to the first-order rotational speed of the propeller shaft.

12. Verify that the dominant frequency displayed on the EVA matches the recorded frequency of the vibration concern.

13. Record the amplitude reading of the dominant frequency displayed.

14. Using the strobe function of the EVA, select the correct filter range to use for the balance adjustment so that the dominant frequency would be near the middle of the filter range. Use the full range filter only as a last resort if one of the specific range filters will not cover the frequency adequately.

15. The EVA display will show the dominant frequency, the amplitude and the selected filter range.

16. Aim the timing light at the marks placed on the propeller shaft. When activated, the strobe effect will appear to freeze the marks placed on the rotating propeller shaft. Record which of the numbered marks appears to be at the bottom of the propeller shaft, or the 6 o’clock position. This position identifies the light spot of the propeller shaft.

17. Turn off the engine to slow and stop the rotation of the propeller shaft.

18. Install a band-type hose clamp as a weight, with the head of the clamp directly on the light spot.

19. Run the vehicle at the speed that causes the most vibration in the propeller shaft.

20. Using the timing light, observe the positioning of the marks placed on the propeller shaft.

21. If the marks on the propeller shaft now appear to move erratically, compare the current amplitude of the vibration frequency to the original amplitude recorded previously. If the amplitude has decreased from the amplitude recorded, the balance achieved may be sufficient and the vehicle should be road tested to determine the effect on the vibration concern.

22. If the clamp head over the original light spot is now near the top of the propeller shaft, within 180° (near or below the 12 o’clock position) of the original position at the bottom of the propeller shaft (6 o’clock position) the position of the weight needs adjusting. Perform the following steps:

a. Move the position of the clamp head toward the 6 o’clock position.

b. Using the timing light, recheck the positioning of the propeller shaft marks.

c. If necessary, continue to move the position of the clamp head toward the 6 o’clock position and recheck progress until an improvement in balance is achieved.

23. If the clamp head over the original light spot is still positioned at the bottom of the propeller shaft (6 o’clock position), additional weight is required. Perform the following steps (see Figure 2):

a. Add a second clamp to the propeller shaft next to the first clamp and with the clamp heads aligned.

b. Using the timing light, recheck the positioning of the propeller shaft marks.

c. If the clamp heads over the original light spot are now 90 to 180° (at or above the 9 o’clock or the 3 o’clock positions) from the original position at the bottom of the propeller shaft (6 o’clock position), less total weight is required. Proceed to step 23d.

d. Move the position of the clamp heads an equal distance on either side of the light spot between 1 and 120° apart from each other to reduce the total amount of weight in relation to the light spot.

e. Using the timing light, recheck the positioning of the propeller shaft marks.

f. If necessary, continue to move the position of the clamp heads an equal distance on either side of the light spot to a maximum of 120° apart from each other, until the greatest improvement to balance is achieved.

g. If improvement has been made to the balance of the propeller shaft, but the balance is still not satisfactory, more total weight may be required. Perform the following steps:

  1. Add a third clamp to the propeller shaft next to the first and second clamps and with the clamp head directly on the light spot.

  2. Move the position of the first and second clamp heads an equal distance on either side of the light spot between 1 and 120° apart from each other to arrive at a total amount of weight greater than two weights, but less than three weights in relation to the light spot.

  3. Using the J 38792-25, or equivalent, recheck the positioning of the propeller shaft marks.

  4. If necessary, continue to move the position of the first and second clamp heads an equal distance on either side of the light spot to a maximum of 120° apart from each other until the greatest improvement to balance is achieved.

h. If a third clamp was used on the propeller shaft and sufficient balance could still not be achieved, the propeller shaft requires replacement.

24. If the clamp head over the original light spot is now 90 to 180° (at or above the 9 o’clock or the 3 o’clock positions) from the original position at the bottom of the propeller shaft (6 o’clock position), less total weight is required. Perform the following steps:

a. Add a second clamp to the propeller shaft next to the first clamp and with the clamp heads aligned.

b. Move the position of the clamp heads an equal distance on either side of the light spot between 120 and 180° apart from each other to reduce the total amount of weight in relation to the light spot.

c. Using the timing light, recheck the positioning of the propeller shaft marks.

d. If necessary, continue to move the position of the clamp heads an equal distance on either side of the light spot to a maximum of 180° apart from each other, but not less than 120° apart, until the greatest improvement to balance is achieved.

25. If the marks on the propeller shaft now appear to move erratically, compare the current amplitude of the vibration frequency to the original amplitude recorded previously. If the amplitude has decreased from the amplitude recorded, the balance achieved may be sufficient and the vehicle should be road-tested to determine the effect on the vibration concern.

Courtesy of Mitchell 1.