Learning About Auto Services

Your vehicle's functionality and performance depend on many components. Consider the driveshaft, for example. It's a vital part of your car's drivetrain that uses the engine's torque to turn the wheels. As a result, a bad drivetrain can significantly impact your vehicle's movement and handling. For this reason, you must pay attention to notice when your driveshaft is failing and plan necessary repairs. Here are four common signs of a bad driveshaft.

Vibrations

Excessive vibrations from under your car are the first symptom of a driveshaft in trouble. These vibrations originate from worn out, malfunctioning, or loose driveshaft components like carrier bearings, u-joints, and couplers. Keep in mind that if you ignore the vibrations, these malfunctioning components will strain the driveshaft, causing total failure. Therefore, take your car for a check-up as soon as you feel vibrations throughout your car when driving.

Strange Noises

You will often hear some sounds when driving your car. However, unusual noises should be a cause for alarm. For instance, squeaking, clunking, scraping, rattling, grinding, and thudding noises usually signal a problem somewhere. In certain scenarios, your driveshaft could be the culprit. For instance, you may hear a squeak if your driveshaft's u-joints or bearings need lubrication. On the other hand, loud thudding, grinding, or clunking noises may indicate that your u-joint is completely worn out. Note that taking your car for immediate professional inspection after this would be ideal because driving with a completely worn-out driveshaft is risky.

Turning Difficulties

The driveshaft is vital in transferring the necessary power to the wheels. Therefore, you can expect some movement and handling problems when it fails. Most notably, you may find it more troubling to make turns. In most cases, this will happen because of malfunctioning u-joints that make it harder for the wheels to turn easily. However, it's worth noting that turning difficulties may indicate several other vehicle problems. For instance, your steering rack could be faulty, or your serpentine belt could be broken. Therefore, it's always best to take the car for a check-up. 

Shudders

Do you feel excessive shuddering when accelerating? If this is the case, your driveshaft could be failing. On occasion, you may hear strange sounds while experiencing these shudders. Usually, bad center bearings and loose u-joints are the reasons behind the shuddering.

A bad driveshaft can be expensive to fix, especially if you ignore the early signs of potential damage. In addition, it can significantly impact your driving experience and safety. Therefore, take your car to an automotive technician for inspection when you notice vibrations, unusual sounds, and handling problems.