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GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Tech Talk for Nissan owners.

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GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by Wozza244 »

I have a 4" superior kit and have some horrible noises and vibrations coming from my front shaft. Superior recommends 10mm spacers between the cross member, i added these and it does make a lot of difference but its still not right. Tried 14mm and its about the same. Better, but the same.

The angle of the shaft as it comes out of the transfer flange is not massive but its still an angle id rather not have. The pinion angle on the diff is spot on, dead straight.
Is there a double cardinal shaft available to fix this? Or should i go get my front shaft balanced etc? Id like to throw someone elses shaft on it to check if mine is the problem before i go spending any more money. Already blew 700 on a transfer case kit and a 2nd hand case because i broke the bearing retainer inside the T/case.
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by gudge »

It's not hitting your cross member is it?
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by Wozza244 »

No, it clears the cross member, and when i put the 14mm spacer in the crossmember the rear shaft hit it, had to turn the rear shaft around.
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by ste »

try greasing the shit out of it and see if that helps
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by Wozza244 »

Greased really well, brand new unis also. Thought they could be the problem so i replaced them.
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by Clanky »

Wozza244 wrote: The angle of the shaft as it comes out of the transfer flange is not massive but its still an angle id rather not have. The pinion angle on the diff is spot on, dead straight.
I
The tailshaft flanges must be parallel. Having different flange angles will induce vibration due to the phasing of the universals
You might need to rotate your diff a bit

Any decent driveshaft place can add a double cardan joint to any shaft. CLearance and $$ will be the issue
The early leaf sprung GQ utes have a double cardan front driveshaft, but I dont know if it will fit yours
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by JWB »

I had the same issue after lifting my 89 GQ a few years ago.

after many attempts to remedy it I was finally advised to source a front tailshaft from a leaf sprung GQ ute (Same Vintage)
I got it shortened to match and all good.
These have a double uni set up!

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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by morewheeldrive »

Drive shaft uni's should never be straight. They should always work on a slight angle. As for your noisy taily. It wil be your slip joint from swapping it end for end, the spline in your slip joint has used one face of each tooth to turn
For so long and now you have swapped it round it's using the other side and has backwards play. Mine did it to
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by Wozza244 »

morewheeldrive wrote:Drive shaft uni's should never be straight. They should always work on a slight angle. As for your noisy taily. It wil be your slip joint from swapping it end for end, the spline in your slip joint has used one face of each tooth to turn
For so long and now you have swapped it round it's using the other side and has backwards play. Mine did it to
I havent swapped the front one around end for end. I just pulled the slip joint apart and then put it back together, but not in the exact same spot it was.
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by tub350 »

\ \I havent swapped the front one around end for end. I just pulled the slip joint apart and then put it back together, but not in the exact same spot it was.[/quote]

Are the uni joints now out of phase?? this will cause binding and vibrations also.
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by Wozza244 »

tub350 wrote: Are the uni joints now out of phase?? this will cause binding and vibrations also.
I havent looked, been busy with work, but yeah i dare say so. Because it happened immediately after i pulled it apart.
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by MEGATROL »

If they are out of phase this will defantly cause dramas, but sounds like you are cruising around with your hubs locked in, wich is not necessary unless going off road, bothe my gqs do this and my wagon only has 2" lift
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by Wozza244 »

MEGATROL wrote:If they are out of phase this will defantly cause dramas, but sounds like you are cruising around with your hubs locked in, wich is not necessary unless going off road, bothe my gqs do this and my wagon only has 2" lift
What made you think that? Cause im fairly sure i never mentioned it at all. Nor do i drive around dragging the front diff everywhere i go.
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by Wozza244 »

Ok i checked the front shaft, and i must have been dreaming (or hoping that was the problem) about pulling the slip joint apart. I tried to and it must have some sort of retainer like a snap ring/circlip inside there that prevents it coming apart.

Its in phase, but still vibrating. I think i might have to borrow a working one with no vibration and whack it in, to determine whether my shaft is the problem.
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by MEGATROL »

Well is this happening when you drive to work every day or when you go off road?? Because you didnt secify, if its happening whilst in 2wd ur tailshaft shouldnt be spinning so would lead me to think that something else is making the bad noises. On anuther note, i have seen the splines wear out because prematuly because people drive around with the hubs in and once worn out the will have backlash in the splines, this is also werry common in shorty rear shafts aswell
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by howsie »


I havent swapped the front one around end for end. I just pulled the slip joint apart and then put it back together, but not in the exact same spot it was.
Driveshafts have to be put back exactly as they were or it will be out of balance in referral to the slip joint. So if you didn't put the slip joint back in exactly right where it was then your shaft is.not.balanced and Is causing the vibration.
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by gu town »

How many people actually read the OP and following posts?

I vote for borrowing a working one and bolting it up. Its gotta be out of balance or something if the uni's are new. maybe go for a drive with the hubs in when you take the old shaft out to eliminate any other possibilities?

I've never had a problem with front shaft vibrating even when i had a 6in lift with no castor correction.

EDIT: I've also never worried about placing them back as they were either
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by Wozza244 »

Not many mate. Yeah ive done it all diagnostic wise, shaft out, drove with hubs in, shaft out in 4H, its gotta be the front shaft, or the angle its on.
Got a bloke at work who could pull his out and lend it to me for a test run.

For anyone that didnt read the other thread i had about it, its vibrating as soon as i put the selector in 4H and all the original info is here. I buggered up making a new thread, but for someone later down the track with the same issue, it will be actually easier searching for it now. http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/viewtopic ... 5&t=227275" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by 92mav »

with the hubs locked in is it worse when turning right than the left.
if so it is the front tailshaft rubbing on the crossmember mine had clearance when on the flat but not much and bodyroll was enough to make it touch. there will be a ring worn in the paint around the tailshaft.

hope this helps
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by Wozza244 »

No, it happens on the flat, when driving at speed. Nothing worn on shaft, if it hits the cross member, there will be an awful grinding sound.
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Re: GQ Front shaft angles after lift

Post by gu town »

Wozza244 wrote:No, it happens on the flat, when driving at speed. Nothing worn on shaft, if it hits the cross member, there will be an awful grinding sound.
Hard to miss that sound!
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