One Piece Drive Shaft, VS Statesman?

[Macca177]

I did have issues with centre bearings a few years back....Went through 3 in 4 years....I took the shaft to a drive shaft specialist and they changed the front section where the uni goes in as it was damaged, had to shorten it slightly as I have a Toyota gearbox behind a 6 and re-balanced it....

Most tailshafts in these cars have spacers inbetween the centre bearing mounting bracket and the floor pan, to make sure the tailshaft is level with the gearbox extension housing...Mine had those missing, but have since been fitted....My car is also 2" lowered than stock....

So after 2 1/2 years, making sure the tailshaft is level with these spacers and having it re-balanced, I have no vibrations and the centre bearing has held up....So definately worth looking at yourself

Spot on, the IRS/SOLID AXLE diff mount/label and spacers were missing, I had all this fixed and the spacers put back in, it just lasts longer now than previously. I went through all these forums and found the correct way it was all meant to be

Any chance anyone knows the absolute correct way it should be?

 

[losh1971]

This could definitely be an issue. I found the aftermarket ones to have a lot of flex in the boot. Whereas the gen Holden one is really stiff and solid.

 

[Macca177]

You replaced the gearbox mount? Would give that a go before making that decision if you haven't.

Yeah all done - have done every bush. some were shagged some werent, but the vibration/ chewing centre bearing still comes back.....

 

[losh1971]

I think I even have one somewhere

 

[Macca177]

I feel your issue is the "lowered" factor. Once this is done the angles change somewhat and vibration seems to be an issue that goes hand in hand with that. I lifted the back of my wagon years ago and that started it's own set of issues as well.

I didnt think that IRS rear end heights/angles changed when lowered, isnt that the point of IRS?
solid axle, totally, panhards pull/push across etc

 

[Macca177]

This could definitely be an issue. I found the aftermarket ones to have a lot of flex in the boot. Whereas the gen Holden one is really stiff and solid.

Maybe thats the problem? the rubber is dam soft and it totally does have heaps of flex, "repco" replaced one that failed in 300kms, rubber tore clean off. replaced it with a bursons one and that worked great compared, it has lasted 10,000kms but vibration is there still.

 

[Macca177]

I think I even have one somewhere

you the man, if you have one haha, more than happy to buy that sucker and give it a go....

 

[Macca177]

higher? lowered? screws up the shaft rotating geometry

yeah i know others are higher/lower .. no problems
but the Stato is longer so that longer 2nd half of shaft
is giving the bearing a hard time.

ps.. i hope you change the CV joint every time
only doing the bearing is a total waste of $, always do the
CV joint any time a centre bearing is changed

Which CV do you mean to change, ive only done the Uni's each time and centre beraring......

 

[Smitty]

Which CV do you mean to change, ive only done the Uni's each time and centre beraring......

the 'bend' in the tailshaft is done via a CV joint which holds the 2 halves of the tailshaft together
the bearing supports the front of the back shaft just after the CV joint

ppl think replacing the bearing is the fix. But if the CV joint is flogged out, that will allow for shaft movement
which will kill the bearing (again and again and again)

replaced this...?
note VR/VS use TWO different ones !

from...

Tailshaft Middle CV Joint w/ Rubber Boot for Holden Commodore VR 3.8L V6 CV855A - Bearing Wholesalers

Tailshaft Middle CV Joint w/ Rubber Boot for Holden Commodore VR 3.8L V6 CV855A - Bearing Wholesalers

www.autolinkparts.com.au

 

[Immortality]

I didnt think that IRS rear end heights/angles changed when lowered, isnt that the point of IRS?
solid axle, totally, panhards pull/push across etc

Correct. On IRS cars the drive shaft does not move (or not very much). You'll also note on the IRS cars the centre bearing is offset to one side ever so slightly. Have a look at the centre mount on VR/VS models and you will see it marked IRS and SEMI with arrows. the offset is required on IRS cars as you need a small operating angle over a uni joint for it to work correctly. On semi-trailing type rear suspension the spacers under the centre bearing is used to create the slight angle between the gearbox and front shaft uni joint. A sagging transmission mount would be enough to negate the difference in angle.