Vibration At Speed
A shake that builds with road speed points to a driveshaft out of balance, a carrier bearing or worn U-joints.
Checked:DriveshaftCarrier bearingU-joints
Often a repair
Heavy-duty drivelines · Louisville, KY
Heavy-DutyDriveline Repair.
The driveshaft, the differentials and the axles: the components that make your truck move. Superior Truck & Trailer maintains and repairs drivelines on heavy-duty diesel trucks and fleets in Louisville, KY.
- DriveshaftTransmission to differential
- DifferentialsPower to the wheels
- AxlesDifferential to the wheels
How power gets to the road
Shaft, Diff Or Axles.
Follow the power from the transmission to the wheels, and see where a driveline wears out.
Driveshaft Maintenance And Repairs
The primary driveshaft carries power from the transmission to the differential. Without maintenance it gets damaged and needs repair.
Differential Repairs And Maintenance
The differential distributes power to the wheels and lets them turn at different speeds. Regular gear oil changes prolong its life.
Axle Repairs And Maintenance
Axles carry power from the differentials to the wheels. When they aren't maintained they get damaged and need repair.
Driveshaft checklist
U-joints: what gets checked
- Play in the cross and caps
- Rust dust at the bearing caps
- Grease at every zerk
- Yoke ears and bolts
- Clunk on take-off
- Joint working angles
Carrier bearing: what gets checked
- Rubber cushion torn or oil-soaked
- Bearing noise and roughness
- Hanger bracket and bolts
- Shaft height at the hanger
- Vibration at a certain speed
- Shims and alignment
Tube and slip yoke: what gets checked
- Dents, bends and twists in the tube
- Missing balance weights
- Slip yoke spline wear and grease
- Yoke seal and boot
- Phasing of the yokes
- Run-out on the tube
Differential checklist
Gears: what gets checked
- Ring and pinion wear
- Backlash and tooth contact
- Pinion bearing preload
- Spider and side gears
- Carrier bearings
- Whine on drive or coast
Gear oil: what gets checked
- Level at the fill plug
- Condition and color
- Metal on the drain plug
- Correct grade
- Breather vent
- Leaks at seals and covers
Power divider: what gets checked
- Inter-axle differential wear
- Lockout engagement
- Input and output seals
- Oil level in the divider
- Noise with the lockout in
- Tire sizes matched front to rear
Axle checklist
Axle shafts: what gets checked
- Spline wear
- Twisted or cracked shafts
- Flange studs and nuts
- Side gears they drive
- Gasket leaks at the flange
- Shaft fit in the hub
Wheel bearings: what gets checked
- End play
- Noise and roughness
- Heat at the hub
- Adjustment and nut torque
- Race and roller wear
- Lubrication
Wheel seals: what gets checked
- Oil on the wheel or brakes
- Seal lip and wear ring
- Hub cap and fill plug
- Oil level in the hub
- Breather vent
- Replaced with the bearing work
Driveline work, part by part
DriveshaftsBent, dented or out-of-balance tubes repaired or replaced.
U-JointsWorn crosses and caps replaced, joints greased.
Center Carrier BearingsTorn cushions and worn bearings replaced.
Slip YokesWorn splines and seals on the sliding joint.
DifferentialsGears, bearings and gear oil changes.
AxlesAxle shafts, wheel bearings and seals.
Related repairs and services
Axle RepairHousings, gear oil and bearings in more depth.Transmission & Clutch RepairWhere the driveshaft picks up the power.Oil & FluidDifferential gear oil and every other fluid.Suspension RepairRide height sets the driveshaft angles.Tire RepairMismatched tires wear the power divider.Preventative MaintenanceU-joints greased and gear oil changed on schedule.
What drivers notice first
Signs It Needs Driveline Work.
Where each one usually leads. A driveline that lets go can take other parts with it.
Clunk On Take-Off
A clunk when pulling away or shifting between drive and coast points to U-joints, slip yoke splines or gears.
Checked:U-jointsSlip yokeDifferential
Often a repair
Whine Or Howl
A whine or howl from the rear that changes with the throttle points to the differential gears or bearings.
Checked:Ring and pinionBearingsGear oil
Repair or rebuild
Squeak That Keeps Time
A chirp or squeak that speeds up with the truck is a U-joint running dry or starting to fail.
Checked:U-jointsGreaseCaps
Repair now
Gear Oil Leaking
Gear oil on the differential, the pinion seal or the inside of a wheel means a seal is going and the level is dropping.
Checked:Pinion sealWheel sealsCovers
Often a repair
Power But No Movement
The engine revs and the truck doesn't move: a broken driveshaft, U-joint, axle shaft or differential. Stop and call.
Checked:DriveshaftAxle shaftsDifferential
Stop and call
Driveline work
Under The Truck, Along The Line.
Driveline work starts under the truck, following the power from the transmission back to the wheels.
How driveline work moves through the shop
From the first call to power back to the road.
Tell us what the truck is doing. We check the driveline, lay out the repair, do the approved work and get the truck back into service.
01You call
Tell us the truck and what it's doing: the vibration, the clunk, the whine from the rear.
02We check it
The driveshaft, U-joints, carrier bearing, differentials and axles get checked.
03You approve the repair
The repair and the parts, laid out before any work starts. Nothing gets done until you approve it.
04You roll
The work gets done, the driveline gets checked, and the truck goes back to work.
Working trucks, real shop work
The work happens here, on the road and in the bay.
The trucks, trailers, service vehicles, roadside calls and shop work behind the services on this site. This is the kind of commercial equipment Superior works on every day in and around Louisville.
Truck repair customer reviews
What Drivers SayAbout The Shop.
Read customer feedback on Superior Truck & Trailer's repair work, communication, and service experience in Louisville.
Driveline work backed by a full truck shop
The Rest Of The Truck,Same Shop.
Driveline work often turns up other jobs. Everything else the truck needs is handled from the same Louisville shop.
Driveline repair FAQ · Louisville, KY
Truck Driveline Questions.
Driveshafts, U-joints, carrier bearings and differentials: the driveline questions truck owners ask most.
(502) 789-6644What is a truck's driveline?
The driveline is the set of components that make your truck move after the transmission: the driveshaft, the differentials and the axles. Superior Truck & Trailer maintains and repairs all of them on heavy-duty diesel trucks.
What does the driveshaft do?
The primary driveshaft transmits power from the transmission to the differential. If it isn't properly maintained it can become damaged and need repair.
What does the differential do?
The differential distributes power to the wheels and lets them rotate at different speeds, which a truck needs every time it turns.
How often should differential gear oil be changed?
Regular differential gear oil changes help prolong the life of the differential and prevent costly repairs. Most manufacturers call for it every 30,000 to 60,000 miles, depending on how the truck is used.
What causes driveline vibration?
A driveshaft that's out of balance or bent, a worn center carrier bearing, worn U-joints, or driveshaft angles thrown off by worn suspension or the wrong ride height.
What are the signs of a bad U-joint?
A clunk when pulling away or shifting, a squeak that speeds up with the truck, vibration, and rust-colored dust around the bearing caps. A failing U-joint should be replaced before it lets go.
What does a center carrier bearing do?
On a two-piece driveshaft, the center carrier bearing supports the middle of the shaft from the frame in a rubber cushion. When the bearing or cushion wears out, the shaft vibrates.
What does the inter-axle differential do?
On a tandem truck, the inter-axle differential, or power divider, splits power between the front and rear drive axles. Mismatched tire sizes front to rear and low oil wear it out.
What do the axles do?
The axles transmit power from the differentials to the wheels. If they aren't properly maintained they can become damaged and need repair.
Why does my truck rev but not move?
Power isn't reaching the wheels, usually from a broken driveshaft, U-joint, axle shaft or differential. Don't keep trying to drive it. Call and have it checked where it sits.
Do you repair driveshafts and differentials on heavy-duty trucks?
Yes. Superior Truck & Trailer offers a wide range of driveline services for heavy-duty diesel trucks, including differentials, axles and driveshafts.
Where can I get truck driveline repair near Louisville, KY?
Superior Truck & Trailer repairs heavy-duty truck drivelines at 3816 Bishop Lane in Louisville, KY, for trucks from Louisville and the surrounding Kentucky and Southern Indiana counties. Call (502) 789-6644 with the truck and what it's doing.
Vibrating, clunking or whining?
Get The Driveline Checked.
Call Superior Truck & Trailer in Louisville, KY with the truck and what it's doing. We'll check the driveline and lay out the repair.
(502) 789-6644
3816 Bishop Lane #1, Louisville, KY 40218