Rebalance after changing U joint yokes and Center Carrier Bearing?

Alright

So I've got all the parts and some cash set aside to get my drive shaft serviced. The shop quoted me $440 for all the labor and for re-balancing the shaft. Though I don't see a need to re-balance just from changing the yokes/spiders and CCB. Or am I mistaken?

They quoted $330 for everything minus the balance, other issue if they would have to send it off to balance it.

What's the verdict? Necessary or just nice?

 

Im also curious about this. I wouldn't see why it'd need to be balanced if you mark your driveshaft orientation with and replace u joints and reinstall in the same orientation. Im about to do the soon also, so i'm in for an answer

 

if you replace parts on the drive shaft you'll definitely want it re-balanced. no way to guarantee the new parts are EXACTLY the same as the old parts (manufacturing tolerances).

 

Reason I was curious as the DIY write ups never mentioned balancing, so I didn't think it effected it. Just have to figure out how to get both as I can't go a day without the truck haha.

 

That certainly makes sense. Thank you

 

the truck may work just fine without re-balance, but don't be surprised if there are new vibrations. If you swap everything out and there's no vibe, you're probably good to go!

 

I might do that and then try to schedule a balance on a different date, mainly as I have no other vehicle to use while they have the truck for two days...haha

 

I just replaced all 3 U-joints and center carrier bearing last weekend and I did not rebalance. It is smooth as it should be for a Tacoma.

Just make sure you mark the drive shaft before taking it apart so it goes back the same way.

 

Well I've got a local shop I am going to use, a nice Korean mechanic who seems down to earth. Pulling out the drive shaft is something I'm not doing without a lift haha!
But hopefully it will be fine and if not, hopefully it isn't too bad so I can drive to a balance shop.

 

Pulling the drive shaft isn't bad.. just use a couple bungies to support it.

 

It's a lifted 4wd and you can't lay on your back and pull the driveline?

Some of the parking lot repairs I've done over the years, I had to turn my head sideways to get under the frame rail.

 

Well yes, in theory. But my luck never let's things go that easy...haha. But I'm sure the thing weighs a lot so it won't be super easy to move around.

2WD, not that it matters. Pulling the drive shaft may be easy for some, but when your body is somewhat defective like mine a task as simple as removing sway bar brackets is a very demanding one. Not to mention pulling it without dropping it or causing any damage with my butterfingers... Though I did think about using old cheap blankets just in case... my fear is that I'll take it off but being either unable to put it back or unable to get the joints back together. If that happened I'd be stuck at home and boned haha. The real problem is that this is my Daily driver.

If she was not my daily driver I would be interested in doing it to learn and for the experience, but I don't have another vehicle right now. (Still looking for the perfect 1st gen Tacoma or 3rd gen 4runner)
For $330 ish bucks I can deal. Then I'll have grease-able yokes/spiders and will also have the peace of mind that the CCB is good to go.

 

OK, sorry about that. When I look back at all I've put my body through over the years, it's amazing I'm not in a wheelchair. When you're coming down front wheel(s) first on a motorcycle or ATV and you have time to think, "Oh crap, what have I done?", right before you stick the front end and go over the bars.

 

That's intense man, glad you are okay! Yeah I didn't have proper testosterone for... 10 years or so, combined with polycythemia and some still to be determined thing that they cannot figure out.
It sucks... haha. When it is 75 F or higher I am struggling (dehydrated as well from extreme sweat), and even if it isn't hot my body overheats super easily. Hell laughing too hard gives me a heat rush and shit.

Whenever they do a blood drawl (phlebotomy) I do feel better for a few weeks, and then away it goes..

 

Take it to a shop that just specializes in driveshafts. That way they will get it right and if they don't you can take it back and they will have to fix it and not claim that some mechanic from another shop didn't install it correctly or some other such excuse leaving you stuck in the middle. They should know all the tricks of the trade for most every vehicle when it comes to getting a perfect balance. Not rocket science, but why take it to a shop that will only R&R the DS and have to take it somewhere else to get it balanced?

 

Well mainly because the little Korean shop I'm using doesn't charge too much for labor usually and is very close to my office.

WOW

Driveshaft shop that I found nearby, for the entire job including balancing they quoted me $290

I didn't even think about doing that originally, I appreciate everybody suggesting that.

Woohoo!

 

I don't think you will need a balance for just replacing the u joints and center bearing. I've replaced a lot of joints in my 63 years and have never had a need to balance a driveshaft.

 

Well that is what I thought, but getting the entire thing done for $290 really is a lot better than I thought it could be.

And I guess at the same time after 200,000 miles I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to balance it.

 

Wow they even painted it!

 

but, how is it now? Smooth, vibes gone?