T1N Sprinter Differential & Driveline - Drive Shaft

Torque Chart

DESCRIPTION Nm Ft. Lbs. In. Lbs.
Drive shaft to transmission bolt 70 52 ---
Drive shaft to axle bolt 70 52 ---
Retaining bracket to frame floor bolt 100 74 ---
Center Bearing support to frame floor bolt 95 70 ---
Center Bearing to support nut 105 77 ---

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - Drive shaft Vibration

Out-of-round tires or wheels that are out of balance, will cause a low frequency vibration.

Driveline vibration can be from loose or damaged engine mounts.

Drive shaft vibration increases with vehicle speed. A vibration within a specific speed is not usually caused by a out of balanced drive shaft. Worn universal joints or an incorrect drive shaft angle, usually cause such a vibration.

DRIVELINE VIBRATION DIAGNOSIS

Condition Possible Causes Correction
Drive shaft Noise
  1. Undercoating or other foreign material on a shaft.
  2. Loose U-joint clamp screws.
  3. Loose or bent U-joint yoke or excessive runout.
  4. Incorrect driveline angularity.
  5. Rear spring center bolt not in seat.
  6. Worn U-joint bearings.
  7. drive shaft damaged or out of balance.
  8. Broken rear spring.
  9. Excessive runout or unbalanced condition.
  10. Excessive drive pinion gear shaft runout.
  11. Excessive axle yoke deflection.
  12. Excessive transfer case runout.
  1. Clean exterior of shaft and wash with solvent.
  2. Install new clamps and screws and tighten to proper torque.
  3. Install new yoke.
  4. Measure and correct driveline angles.
  5. Loosen spring u-bolts and seat center bolt.
  6. Install new U-joint.
  7. Installl new drive shaft.
  8. Install new rear spring.
  9. Re-index drive shaft, test, and evaluate.
  10. Re-index drive shaft and evaluate.
  11. Inspect and replace yoke if necessary.
  12. Inspect and repair as necessary.
Universal Joint Noise
  1. Loose U-joint clamp screws.
  2. Lack of lubrication.
  1. Install new clamps and screws and tighten to proper torque.
  2. Replace as U-joints as necessary.

Drive Shaft Balance

If a drive shaft is suspected of being out of balance, verify with the following procedure:

  1. Place vehicle in neutral
  2. Raise and support the vehicle by the axles as level as possible.
  3. Clean all foreign material from drive shaft and universal joints.
  4. Inspect drive shaft for missing balance weights, broken welds, and bent areas.
  5. Inspect universal joints for wear, properly installed and correct alignment with the shaft.
  6. Check universal joint clamp screws torque.
  7. Remove wheels and tires. Install wheel lug nuts to retain the brake drums/rotors.
  8. Mark and number drive shaft six inches from the pinion yoke end at four positions 90° apart.
  9. Run and accelerate the vehicle until vibration occurs. Note intensity and speed the vibration occurred. Stop the engine.
  10. Install a screw clamp at position 1 (Fig. 1).
  11. Start the engine and re-check for vibration. If little or no change in vibration is evident, move clamp to the next positions and repeat vibration test.
  12. If vibration decreased, install a second clamp (Fig. 2) and repeat vibration test.
  13. If additional clamp causes additional vibration, separate clamps 1/2 inch above and below the mark. Repeat the vibration test (Fig. 3).
  14. Increase the distance between clamps and repeat test until vibration is at the lowest level. Bend the slack end of the clamps so the screws will not loosen.
  15. If vibration remains unacceptable, preform the procedure to the front end of the drive shaft.
  16. Install the wheel and tires. Lower the vehicle.

Drive Shaft Runout Specifications

Front of Shaft 0.020 in. (0.50 mm)
Center of Shaft 0.025 in. (0.63 mm)
Rear of Shaft 0.020 in. (0.50 mm)

Drive Shaft Angle

This procedure applies the front and rear drive shafts.

  1. Place vehicle in neutral
  2. Raise and support vehicle at the axles as level as possible.
  3. Remove universal joint snap rings if equipped, so Inclinometer 7663 base sits flat.
  4. Rotate shaft until transmission case output yoke bearing is facing downward.
  5. Place Inclinometer 7663 on yoke bearing (A) parallel to the shaft. Center bubble in sight glass and record measurement. measurement will give you the transmission yoke Output Angle (A).
  6. Rotate drive shaft 90 degrees and place inclinometer on yoke bearing parallel to the shaft. Center bubble in sight glass and record measurement. This measurement can also be taken at the rear end of the shaft. This measurement will give you the drive Shaft Angle (C).
  7. Rotate drive shaft 90 degrees and place inclinometer on companion flange yoke bearing parallel to the shaft. Center bubble in sight glass and record measurement. This measurement will give you the Pinion Flange Input Angle (B).
  8. Subtract a smaller figure from larger (C minus A) to get Transmission Output Operating Angle.
  9. Subtract a smaller figure from larger (C minus B) to get axle Input Operating Angle. Refer to rules and example in (Fig. 4) for additional information.

Rules

  • Good cancellation of U-joint operating angles should be within 1 degree.
  • Operating angles should be less than 3 degrees.
  • At least 1/2 of one degree continuous operating (drive shaft) angle.
Fig. 4 UNIVERSAL JOINT ANGLE EXAMPLE

Fig. 4 UNIVERSAL JOINT ANGLE EXAMPLE

  1. 4.9° Angle (C)
  2. 3.2° Angle (B
  3. Input Yoke
  4. 3.0° Angle (A)
  5. Output Yoke

TWO / THREE - PIECE DRIVE SHAFT Angle

The procedure to measure the drive shaft angles involved with a two/three-piece (Fig. 5) drive shaft is the same as those for a one-piece drive shaft.

Fig. 5 UNIVERSAL JOINT ANGLE

Fig. 5 UNIVERSAL JOINT ANGLE

  1. YOKES MUST BE IN SAME PLAN

Special Tools

Special Tool Cross-reference Chart

Mb Tool # Miller Tool # Description Image
N/A 938 BRIGE BRIDGE 938
N/A 1130 SPLITTER SPLITTER 1130
387 589 05 15 00 9275 INSTALLER INSTALLER 9275
N/A 7663 INCLINOMETER INCLINOMETER 7663

Drive Shaft Removal

  1. Secure vehicle to prevent it from rolling.
  2. Make installing reference marks on drive shaft (Fig. 6) and (Fig. 7).
  3. Remove retaining bracket bolts (Fig. 8) and (Fig. 9).
  4. Remove drive shaft bolts from rear axle and transmission at the flange.
  5. Remove drive shaft intermediate bearing nuts from retaining bracket and bracket for brake cable.
  6. Remove shaft from the vehicle.
Fig. 6 ALIGNMENT MARKS

Fig. 6 ALIGNMENT MARKS

  1. ALIGNMENT MARK
  2. BOOT
  3. ALIGNMENT MARK
  4. CENTER BEARING
Fig. 7 ALIGNMENT MARKS 3 PIECE SHAFT

Fig. 7 ALIGNMENT MARKS 3 PIECE SHAFT

  1. REFERNCE MARK
  2. CENTER SHAFT
  3. REFERENCE MARK
  4. REAR SHAFT
Fig. 8 2 PIECE DRIVE SHAFT

Fig. 8 2 PIECE DRIVE SHAFT

  1. FLANGE BOLT
  2. BEARING
  3. DRIVE SHAFT
  4. REAR AXLE
  5. CABLE BRACKET
  6. NUT
  7. BRACKET
  8. RETAINING BRACKET
  9. COLLARED BOLT
  10. TRANSMISSION
Fig. 9 3 PIECE DRIVE SHAFT

Fig. 9 3 PIECE DRIVE SHAFT

  1. FLANGE BOLT
  2. INTERMEDIATE BEARING
  3. CENTER SHAF
  4. REAR SHAFT
  5. REAR AXLE
  6. NUT
  7. BRACKET
  8. RETAINING BRACKET
  9. BOLT
  10. FRONT SHAFT
  11. TRANSMISSION

Drive Shaft Installation

  1. Install drive shaft intermediate bearing/ bearings to support and tighten nuts to 105 N·m (77 ft. lbs.).
  2. Install drive shaft intermediate bearing support/supports to a frame floor and tighten bolts to 95 N·m (70 ft. lbs.).
  3. Install drive shaft intermediate bearing with retaining bracket and bracket for brake cable.
  4. Install drive shaft to rear axle and transmission flange with installation marks are aligned. Tighten bolts to 70 N·m (66 ft. lbs.).
  5. Install retaining bracket and tighten bolts to 100 N·m (74 ft. lbs.).

Center Bearing Removal

  1. Remove drive shaft.
  2. Mark shafts for installation alignment (Fig. 10).
    Fig. 10 ALIGNMENT MARKS

    Fig. 10 ALIGNMENT MARKS

    1. ALIGNMENT MARK
    2. BOOT
    3. ALIGNMENT MARK
    4. CENTER BEARING
  3. Loosen both collar clamps (Fig. 11).
    Fig. 11 BOOT

    Fig. 11 BOOT

    1. BOOT
    2. CLAMP
    3. SHAFT
  4. Pull apart drive shaft.
  5. Remove snap-ring (Fig. 12)
    Fig. 12 CENTER BEARING

    Fig. 12 CENTER BEARING

    1. SNAP-RING
    2. CENTER BEARING
    3. WASHER
    4. SHAFT
    5. PROTECTIVE CAP
  6. Pull off center bearing with a Bearing Splitter 1130 and Bridge 938, with a plug on the end of the shaft (Fig. 13).
    Fig. 13 CENTER BEARING REMOVAL

    Fig. 13 CENTER BEARING REMOVAL

    1. BRIDGE
    2. PLUG
    3. BEARING SPLITTER
    4. CENTER BEARING

Center Bearing Installation

  1. Press center bearing on drive shaft with protective caps and washer with Installer 9275 (Fig. 14).
    Fig. 14 CENTER BEARING INSTALLATION

    Fig. 14 CENTER BEARING INSTALLATION

    1. INSTALLER
    2. CENTER BEARING
  2. Install snap-ring
  3. Coat drive shaft spline with universal grease.
  4. Push rubber boot onto drive shaft.
  5. Push together drive shaft. Pay attention to alignment markings for installation position.
  6. Ensure rubber seal is correctly installed and attach new collar clamps.
  7. Install drive shaft.