Thread: Drivetrain still vibrating (VQ35)

Didn't want to get too technical in my OT thread.

VQ swap sentra, you all know the rest. Finally sourced, shipped and installed a new 6-speed tranny, flew down to Tampa to install it, drive the car 500mi back up to Pensacola. About 400 miles in (maybe sooner, I was wearing ear plugs because of open exhaust), the car became significantly louder, thinking I wound up with another bad tranny.

After a look under the car, Turns out my inner CV joint got DESTROYED. Well, luckily, I had 2 sets of axles, drained the oil and swapped the driver's side axle in about 45 minutes (new record). The tranny oil was a good color with no metal, so I will assume the tranny is just fine.

After the new axle, went for a test drive. The car sounds MUCH, MUCH better, however, I can feel there is something still seriously wrong underneath. When I accelerate, there is a vibration I can feel through the steering, the petals, and the shifter, I would even say, it feels like a side-to-side vibration. I went underneath, all of the CVs look good visually, the wheels/hubs are solid and it doesn't feel like a bad bearing, I can't locate what might be wrong.

Could it be that maybe your other axle is starting to go bad? You might want to pull the other axle and inspect it for wear.

How slammed is your ride???? certain axles will bind on acceleration and also excessive engine movement can cause this. I'd see about putting the car on a dyno, or driving with the hood off and someone looking at engine movement. If it's only on acceleration, engine movement would be the more likely cause of the vibration.

damn it, I think you're right. The same axle I just replaced seems to be binding at the same exact spot. Whine the wheel and tranny are not rotating off center, the inner part of the shaft is wobbling like a mofo.

I couldn't see it without the wheels spinning, so I lifted the car, put the car in 6th gear and let the wheels turn. I'll post a video in just a sec.

Also, it's not that the car is low, but the transmission sits very low, giving the same effect. the axle has to strain about 4" off center to reach the wheel.

I can't see the vid from work, so tell me if it's working:

video:
http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vidmg.photobucket.com/albums/v160/jsaxophone/video0007.mp4

hmmm, I would find a spec-v and measure the x,y,z distances from the center of the axle holes in the diff and hub so you have a baseline on how they should be oriented.



I get a black screen with a banner saying "there was a problem playing your video"

Ouch. Sounds to me like a custom axle is warranted. Something beefy enough to handle that additional strain.

First chance I've had to check on this thread at home. I posted it from my cell phone.

Try that link again:

VIDEO0007.mp4 video by jsaxophone - Photobucket

If your going to try to check engine movement just put the ebrake on and kinda take off to where it tries to go but doesn't and you can check engine movement like that.