Driveshaft Balance

97 Octane

97 Octane

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I took my Mark for a speed run on the interstate and found it to have a slight vibration above 80mph. It is
so slight that you cannot feel it but evident enought that you could see the vibration off the rear view mirror.

Aside from replacing the Marks driveshaft to one from a '93, Would it be
a viable option to have your drivershaft balanced by an expert?

There is a shop in town that deals only with Drivelines and they say they
have over 30 years of experience. Pictured below is one of the their equipment.




Axi Line Balancing equipment

axiline3.jpg




axiline2.jpg




axiline.jpg





I don't know how much they would charge.

Is this something you would do to yours if it were an issue?





Ren
 
The problem I see is the drive shaft is a two piece unit where as the 93 is a one piece. I would do a 93 and get that balanced and not waste any money on the two piece unit at all.
 
it's dirt cheap, just take it in and see what they can do with it...I had a shop cut my steel 66 shaft down to size, rebalance it, paint it and stuff it with u joints....cost me $78 out the door
 
I think it has been tried but does not work. Cheapest optionis to buy a 93 1 piece. Then have the U joints replaced and then balanced.

People have tried balancing the 2 piece with little to no benefit.
 
The reason it doesn't work is that the material that the shaft is made of it not continuous, and the rubber adds to the flexing via harmonics.
 
Why not just have one made? I had one made for a work truck that was a long bed quad cab f350 for about 150.
 
Thanks for all your replies.

The problem with the vibration is not too severe.
The option of getting a used '93 would probably
run around $150. on the internet, give or take and
whenever they become available. Even then, getting a
used '93 may not guarantee you are being sent a true
and balanced shaft. So IDK.

A newly built driveshaft for $150. is great unfortunately,
when I called the shop, these guys want to charge $350.
for the same job.

On the other hand, they only want $75. for balancing a
" one piece " DS. Their description of a one piece is
A single length with a U-Joint on each end. To them, a
Two piece is what you would find on a pick-up truck.

What are your thoughts?








Ren
 
The drive shaft you have is a two piece, not like a truck with a hanger bearing but still two pieces. It will never balance or it will but not last so a complete waste of the money you spend trying to get it right.

Look around and wait for a 93 to show up and get it. In the long run you will be glad you did.

No matter how much you polish a turd it is still a turd!!
 
I just checked carparts.com and found over 10 1993 DS's for under 50 dollars. And of course buying a used part its not guaranteed perfect. Being from a lincoln it should not be raced on with slicks and stuff and be in good usable condition.
 
Your balance shop is not familiar with a 2 piece Mark Vlll shaft so you are better off buying a 93 and having it rebuilt (new HD trunnions and bearing caps),straightened, and balanced.
 
Appreciate all the excellent suggestions from everyone.

Because of all the issues needing to be addressed on my Mark, I have
to watch my budget in order to be able to fund all the improvements I
want to make.

Eventually, I'd like to get a lightweight MMC driveshaft when I get my
FRPP gears. So for now, I am limiting my budget to less than $100.


Well, this week, there was an opportunity that was presented to me
I couldn't pass up. I found someone offering to sell a good '93 Mark DS
for less than half ($70.) of what most '93s are selling for.

So, I bought it and it should arrive in a couple of days from today.







Ren
 
70 is a good deal on a 93 shaft. They can't balance a Mark 2 piece shaft, because 1 piece is inside the other, and they can't balance the inner shaft. Usually a 2 piece shaft will mean a shaft, then a bearing, then another shaft - not the case with ours.

On a related note, I may have found a way/source for MMX shafts for Marks at a reduced price from our current aftermarket shafts, we'll see.
 
A Mark VIII 2-piece shaft can be balanced just like any other shaft...
Theres not much benefit to it as everyone says as it usually doesn't seem to keep the balance, but it can still be done...
 
Icarus said:
A Mark VIII 2-piece shaft can be balanced just like any other shaft...
Theres not much benefit to it as every says as it usually doesn't seem to keep the balance, but it can still be done...
Click to expand...

The balancing done will not affect the harmonics of the inner shaft.. So yes they can be put on a balancer, but they don't get completely balanced..

I should know within a week or two whether or not my metal matrix composite shaft idea is a go or not.
 
As far as I know, yes, it is discontinued. But it doesn't take THAT much of it to make a shaft.
 
Icarus said:
MMX shafts would be nice to see again, I think theres someone that still makes them but at insanely high prices (~900ish). I don't recall his name though but its a small shop :D
Click to expand...

If there that much better to go Carbon Fiber DS.
 
I edited my post above (prices etc, sorry), but yah, for that kind of money a few hundred more will get a Carbon Fiber :)
 
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