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TR2/3/3A TR3 driveshaft question

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mallard

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I've seen alot of talk about balance problems with the TR3 driveshaft. I never had a problem in the past with driveshafts, but this is my first TR3. Or is the problem only if you use one of the conversions. I understand that if the shaft is damaged or bent you will have vibration problems. It will be some time before I use mine. It has been cleaned, and rebuilt but I did not have it balanced. Should I?

Almost forgot to mention that I'm using the stock trans, and overdrive unit.
 
Im not the TR3 expert, but a balanced driveshaft is like insurance. I have always had mine done if it was rebuilt or damaged. If it is slightly out, it can cause some expensive repairs or damage. Just my opinion....
 
Hi Mallard, The main problem with driveshafts is the splined slip joint area. When you do a Toyota transmission conversion you have to fully extend the driveshaft to its very limits and then install a locking collar so that it no longer moves in and out at the slip joint. Your stock Triumph driveshaft usually wears on the front splines on the front of your driveshaft. When extended fully the splines on the rear part of your driveshaft are machined and usually worn, so you normally have play. To check your drivshaft for excess wear, I usually extend them completely and move them up and down to check for wobble. Another way is to remove your driveshaft, place it on a flat surface, fully extend the driveshaft, gently move the splines portion of the driveshaft up and down to check for excess movement. If you still don't know, take it to a driveshaft shop and have it checked for balance. Good Luck, Bill C. Mesa, Az
 
The stock shaft on TS39781LO was significantly out of balance when it came to me. Not sure if it left the factory that way, or had suffered some damage along the way (weight got knocked off, perhaps); but it was so bad I couldn't keep the bolts tight even with new nylocs. Swapping with another original shaft improved the situation noticeably, but still some vibration.

TS13571L has a good deal of driveline vibration as well. I plan to have it's shaft balanced, probably by a professional.
 
My 1958 TR3A is very, very original. About two years ago, I felt a vibration somewhere down there and thought it might be my driveshaft so I took it out and took it to a driveshaft specialist who also balances them. I took a set of new needle bearings and asked him to re-build it and balance it. He took the new needle bearings out the box, spun them and told me these new bearings were garbage. Something about "like all of the bearings coming out of China. He added that the ones in my driveshaft after 50 years and 175, 000 miles were probably better than these new ones.

So I took them back to the bearing shop where I bought them and told them I wanted to buy bearings made by a "Brand-Name Co." They exchanged them. These were more expensive and i took a few days for them to arrive. The specialist put them in and balanced the driveshaft to 5000 RPM. It had never vibrated before and yet the unknown vibration was still there after re-installing the re-built driveshaft.

At least I could say that it wasn't the driveshaft. I later found that the vibration was the exhaust pipe hitting the center "X" box where it had been hitting the frame. I took out the exhaust systen (stainless systems and stainless nuts and bolts are nice), my neighbour compressed the round pipe into an slightly flatter oval where it had been hitting and the vibration was gone.

To make a long story short, install your driveshaft and test it before you go spending good money on something you might never need to do. Don't invent problems till it's all back together and you have sorted out all the other problems.
 
Thanks for all the information, I will consider it all. Right now I think I will go with what I have and see what happens.
 
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