Tailshaft query - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

FASTXR · 12-15-2003, 23:38

I've been experiencing some fairly severe vibration from the tailshaft in my EF XR6 sedan. I had it balanced about 5 months ago, but it seems to be getting worse, so it may need replacing.

Can someone answer a simple question - did the EF XR6's come with a steel or aluminium tailshaft? If aluminium, what difference (if any) would it make if I replaced it with a steel one? Its just going to be heaps cheaper to get a steel one manufactured than to buy a genuine aluminium one.

Any comments/advice greatfully received.

Cheers,

Richard

NZ · 12-15-2003, 23:47

Can't answer your questions but I have the same prob. Bad vibration at about 180 - 190. Mines Aluminium (EBII V8) What speed's does yours vibrate?

FASTXR · 12-16-2003, 00:05

NZ, just before I had my tailshaft balanced it was vibrating really badly around the 150 mark. Once it was balanced I ran it all the way up to 190 without a problem.

Now the vibration kicks in at around 80-90k. Initially it was only really noticable when lifting off after accelleration, but now at highway speeds its becoming constant.

NZ · 12-16-2003, 00:13

if it was doing it after you lifted off the throttle I'd almost say theres something up with your uni's.

FASTXR · 12-16-2003, 00:23

Yeah but I've had a uni kit put in it and that didn't fix the problem!

TyreToaster · 12-23-2003, 17:54

the reason falcons are limited to 180 is the long 1 piece shaft causing too much vibration, this can be fixed but need to do a good balance not by bodgy bastards like GJ DRIVELINES IN DANDENONG anyways they steel shaft can be made to work as well as the aluminium one just needs a good balancer in moorabin i can suggest berrymens and in dandenong i can suggest hardie spicer there the specialists.

NZ · 12-23-2003, 18:03

A bit of an off topic question: I assume the Alumnium ones are better. But for what reasons?

Walkinshaw · 12-23-2003, 20:06

Alluminium is lighter than steel and as such they could probably make a thickwalled job from alluminium that would resist torsional bending better than a similar weight thin walled steel item.

Noboss · 12-24-2003, 19:28

See if you can get an EL GT one they were wrapped in carben fibie for thet reason but It will cost ya $$$$

FASTXR · 01-01-2004, 05:24

Well after all that I had the tailshaft removed and tested and the bloody thing's fine!

The guy at the tailshaft place put me in touch with some ace mechanic mate of his at one of the local Ford dealers. After a 10 minute drive he tells me that yeah, there's some vibration from the engine/tailshaft at a particular rev range (2000-2500) and that its just one of those things and there's absolutely nothing that can be done about it! His advice? "Try to avoid driving in that rev range and you'll be ok"! A fat lot of f***ing good that'll do me on the freeway - either sit on 80ks or 140...

Anyhow, I've noticed that the vibration is not relative to revs but road speed - always around 100-125ks, regardless which gear its in and how high the revs. My next step is to have all the wheels and tyres checked, balanced and rotated to see if that could be the problem.

I shall keep you informed....