Best Vehicles for Towing

My name is Louis Alexander, and I want to thank you for stopping by my website. I have an active family that consists of my wife Janice, our three children, two dogs, three horses, and me. We needed not only a truck that could tow, but also one that would comfortably seat my family. We are on the road for many hours when traveling to horse shows or on camping trips. We needed a new vehicle. One that would be capable of towing our horse trailer and travel trailer. I did a great deal of research online before venturing out to test drive trucks. I learned a lot about tow capabilities and capacities. I also discovered some differences between trucks that ran on diesel and gasoline. I’m going to share some of the information I found out about trucks and hope you find it of value.

Drive Shaft Problems: Symptoms And Common Repair Options

Automotive Blog

The drive shaft on your car connects the drive train of your car, transferring the torque from the engine to your wheels. The exact configuration of your drive shaft depends on whether your car is front wheel, rear wheel, or all wheel drive, but generally it consists of a tube that contains the spinning shaft and universal joints that direct engine power to the wheels. Drive shaft issues can render your car unusable, so it's important to promptly diagnose them and get them repaired.

Signs and Symptoms of a Failing Drive Shaft

Problem symptoms are similar no matter what style of drive shaft is on your vehicle. Any of the following indicates that it's time to schedule a drive shaft inspection with your mechanic:

  • Shaking and vibrations. Generally, the drive shaft shakes only when the car is in motion, and the vibrations get worse the greater your speed. The entire car may shake or just the floor boards.

  • Noises from below. Clunking, squealing, and rattling noises are common. Generally, these noises quicken or get more severe at higher speeds, so you may hear them on the highway but not on city streets. You may also hear a pinging sound when changing gears.

  • Turning difficulties. Tight turns often become difficult as the drive shaft begins to fail. It may difficult or impossible to turn the wheel completely.

Common Repairs

Every vehicle has a recommended maintenance schedule, which varies between makes and models. Use your owner's manual as a guide for scheduling drive train inspections, so you can catch upcoming repairs before damage occurs. Often, your drive shaft will only need a simple repair and not a full replacement.

The universal joints are one of the more common parts along the drive shaft to give out. Replacing them is a straightforward repair that any reliable mechanic can perform. There are other parts along the shaft, including discs and yokes, which can also begin to wear and may need replaced.

Your drive shaft can also become out of phase, or unbalanced. This is especially common if you do any after-market modifications, such as lifting or lowering the vehicle. Your mechanic will simply rebalance the shaft, along with shortening or lengthening it as necessary.

It's vital to have any suspected drive shaft problems repaired immediately. A failed or broken drive shaft, especially at highway speeds, can cause major damage under the hood or even result in an accident. For more information, contact Turnersville Transmission Center or a similar company.

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25 March 2015