Re: [Chrysler300] Re: Driveshaft balancing

["Rob Kern" <robkern@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Keith,
    So nice to cross that one off the list!  Now you can drive smoothly to Lake George in October!  300’ly, Rob Kern

From: Keith Boonstra 
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2011 2:09 PM
To: Rob Kern 
Cc: John Fowlie ; Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Re: Driveshaft balancing

Yeehaa!

I just picked up my driveshaft from being high-speed balanced at Weller Truck Parts in Grand rapids, MI.  Turns out they and my company are co-sponsors of a pro-stock race car, so I guess that made them extra helpful.  Of course they loved the idea that it goes on a 300C.

He had no problem at all chucking the ball-and-trunnion end, but asked me to bring him the rear end yoke to chuck the cross end.  Probably for the better because now the yoke is in the balance equation as well.  The charge was only $45.

I asked if it would be smooth to 140mph, and he said "absolutely - as fast as you can get that car to go".  And BTW, in spite of what at one company in the driveline business said to me, apparently a ball-and-trunnion joint is a better joint than a cross joint, and the strong runners out of German engineering are making widespread use of the ball-and-trunnion style.

If anyone is looking for the same service you can contact Mike Lewis (a really great guy) there in their reman center at 616-794-2000 - tell him I sent you.

Again I repeat.  Yeehaa!

Thanks to all for your suggestions.

Keith Boonstra

-

On 8/20/2011 4:55 PM, Rob Kern wrote: 
  Hello 300’ly to all,
      I replaced the ball and trunion joint on the front of my C driveshaft 3 years ago when it was noticed that it was in pieces when the driveshaft was disconnected from the transmission to replace the torque convertor.  Upon replacing the ball and trunion the transmission mechanic exhibited great patience.   It took 4 trial and error test drives and disassembly procedures to get it right so that it was smooth as silk.  Ray Brown (well known to club members from work he performed on our cars during the Lawton Meet and when George McKovich had harmonic balancer issues en route to Tulsarama in 2007) took it up to well over 100 mph to insure that it was well balanced.  We had a driveline vibration issue mentioned at the Lawton Meet in 2006 when Wayne Graefen, Gil Cunningham and John Lazenby hit 107 while doing a test drive on my C.  No longer an issue.  The point is that even with a replacement kit there is some finessing activity required.  Ray had to grind one of the fittings to balance the mechanism.  Also check to make sure the driveshaft does not require straightening.  I remember driving across a freshly snow covered  Sears parking lot with my Dad’s ‘67 Fury III with a 383 2 bbl doing donuts as a teen not aware of parking medians and going over one.  The floorboard clunk is still fresh in my mind.  Since that time the speedometer needle wobbled like crazy over 70 mph and there was a vibration in the driveline. The driveshaft had a slight curve to it. Fortunately for me, Dad had planned on and unloaded the car the following spring on a new  1972 Chrysler Newport Royal 4 door hardtop with a 400 2 bbl.  My days of snow donuts were over. (Yes, I confessed immediately to my Dad that I rolled over the median in the snow).  Rob Kern 
  From: Keith Boonstra 
  Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 10:44 PM
  To: John Fowlie 
  Cc: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Re: Driveshaft balancing

    
  Well, the front B&T joint kind of fell apart on us so I needed that. I 
  bought a complete NOS kit, including new housing, and also a new cross 
  joint kit for the rear. Brought it all in to the driveline shop with 
  the the shaft to have it all fresh. Now I have a vibration over 50mph. 
  You're right - the guy is much more interested in hot rods and race cars 
  than restorations, and hasn't the patience for this.

  Keith

  -

  On 8/18/2011 7:30 PM, John Fowlie wrote:
  >
  > Keith,
  >
  > Is there a reason you are having it balanced? Have parts been replaced or
  > has the driveline been modified?
  >
  > Reason I ask is that most out of balance conditions are caused by wear
  > inside the front trunnion housing. A very small amount of wear can cause a
  > roller to stick, and the driveline to vibrate. There are shops that will
  > still balance these shafts, sounds like the fellow you spoke with just
  > didn't want to spend the time with it.
  >
  > John Fowlie
  >
  > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  >
  > 

  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



  

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

To send a message to this group, send an email to:
Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx or
go to http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/join and select the "Leave Group" button

For list server instructions, go to http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm

For archives go to http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/search.htm#querylangYahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    Chrysler300-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    Chrysler300-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    Chrysler300-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/