2nd Drive Shaft Replacement at 10K Miles

chemi19 · 07-27-2011, 06:43 PM

It all started when I noticed a slight vibration on the rear view mirror at about 3K-4K miles. It was bad enough that at night time all I saw was a blur from headlights behind me. I took it to the dealership and of course first they said it was normal. After I told them that it was unsafe to drive like that when you can barely see the cars behind you the dealership decided to check it out. They first tried to tighten the rear view mirror, no help, road forced balanced the tires, no help, new front tires, no help. They gave up and again said it is normal, so we took a brand new Z and test drove it, no vibration whatsoever. I had given up on that dealership by that time (since they scratched up my rims while doing all this).
I decided to take it to another dealership and told them everything that had been done to the vehicle and after further inspection they diagnosed that it was a bad or unbalanced driveshaft, which happens to be made out of carbon fiber, which I didn't know. Well after the drive shaft was replaced the vibration was finally gone.
Fast-forward to 10k miles and i start hearing a whirling noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. I took it to the dealership and again I was told that it was normal for the Z. I didn't take that for an answer and got to ride with the shop foreman, who of course heard the noise and said it was a bit too loud to be normal. Well after diagnosing again they figured out I need a driveshaft AGAIN.
I haven't received my Z back so I have no idea if the problem has been fixed. I will give an update when I get it back maybe Monday.

Anyone having a similar problem or is it just my luck?

TreeSemdyZee · 07-27-2011, 07:46 PM

I sure hope that's not the case with mine. I've been getting a pretty hefty vibration at around 70mph. My first thought is tires because I've got 24k on the car (slightly less on tires) or brakes because it's hot right now.

Was yours a constant vibration or did you it show up at a certain speed?

vividracing · 07-27-2011, 08:13 PM

Do you have any other mods? Do you bottom out, or drive in areas with large gravel often? There's got to be something contributing to these driveshaft problems. This is obviously not normal.

Ron · 07-27-2011, 08:15 PM

I get those vibrations on the rear view mirror. I can't really feel them though.

chemi19 · 07-27-2011, 08:45 PM

TreeSemdy: My vibration was only seen on the rear view mirror but you couldn't feel it at all, and yes the faster you went the more noticeable

Vivid : There are absolute no mods on this car, and I have never driven it on gravel or bottom out. I know its not normal, all I can think is that the first one was not balanced properly and the second one was not installed properly.

Ron: That is the exact problem I was having. I never felt it but it was noticeable on the rear view mirror, especially when driving over 40 mph. It never saw it in any other mirror.

TreeSemdyZee · 07-27-2011, 09:05 PM

Thanks for the info. I actually feel my vibration. My mirror vibrates occasionally, but I just turn down the stereo and it goes away.

chemi19 · 07-27-2011, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TreeSemdyZee

Thanks for the info. I actually feel my vibration. My mirror vibrates occasionally, but I just turn down the stereo and it goes away.

LOL. Still take it to the dealership and see what they say. Whats the worst that can happen?

TreeSemdyZee · 07-27-2011, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chemi19

LOL. Still take it to the dealership and see what they say. Whats the worst that can happen?

Don't ask. I spent three months in and out of a dealership after flood damage to my 350. That's why I have a 370 now. Didn't want to go for four months.
Hope your situation gets fixed quickly and permanently.

red6spd · 07-27-2011, 10:24 PM

Wow, that really weird. Oh and the whole driveshaft is not Carbo Fiber, just the outer casing I believe.

1slow370 · 07-28-2011, 07:39 AM

the driveshaft is a carbon fiber reinforced plastic with steel ends molded in to house the u joints (which might be some peoples problems) ujoints are easy to inspect and cheap to replace if that is the case.

chemi19 · 07-28-2011, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1slow370

the driveshaft is a carbon fiber reinforced plastic with steel ends molded in to house the u joints (which might be some peoples problems) ujoints are easy to inspect and cheap to replace if that is the case.

Thanks for clearing up the information I had, plus providing your insight.

chemi19 · 07-30-2011, 12:49 AM

Well the entire shaft assembly has officially been replaced again. Unfortunately it only helped some (service guy words). Now they have decided to replace the rear end. I asked for them to replace them with 4:10 gears but they politely declined

I will keep updating until the issue gets fixed

FL 4Motion · 07-30-2011, 06:57 PM

In for updates, I figured it would have simply been an issue w/the u joints.

chemi19 · 07-31-2011, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FL 4Motion

In for updates, I figured it would have simply been an issue w/the u joints.

The u-joins were replaced both times. Once the repair is complete I will post the official paperwork they gave me.

07-27-2011, 06:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
chemi19 Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 38 Drives: 2010 370Z PG M6 Rep Power: 15	2nd Drive Shaft Replacement at 10K Miles It all started when I noticed a slight vibration on the rear view mirror at about 3K-4K miles. It was bad enough that at night time all I saw was a blur from headlights behind me. I took it to the dealership and of course first they said it was normal. After I told them that it was unsafe to drive like that when you can barely see the cars behind you the dealership decided to check it out. They first tried to tighten the rear view mirror, no help, road forced balanced the tires, no help, new front tires, no help. They gave up and again said it is normal, so we took a brand new Z and test drove it, no vibration whatsoever. I had given up on that dealership by that time (since they scratched up my rims while doing all this). I decided to take it to another dealership and told them everything that had been done to the vehicle and after further inspection they diagnosed that it was a bad or unbalanced driveshaft, which happens to be made out of carbon fiber, which I didn't know. Well after the drive shaft was replaced the vibration was finally gone. Fast-forward to 10k miles and i start hearing a whirling noise coming from the rear of the vehicle. I took it to the dealership and again I was told that it was normal for the Z. I didn't take that for an answer and got to ride with the shop foreman, who of course heard the noise and said it was a bit too loud to be normal. Well after diagnosing again they figured out I need a driveshaft AGAIN. I haven't received my Z back so I have no idea if the problem has been fixed. I will give an update when I get it back maybe Monday. Anyone having a similar problem or is it just my luck?

07-27-2011, 08:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
vividracing The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Gilbert, AZ Age: 38 Posts: 7,306 Drives: 350Z,370Z,GTR Rep Power: 39	Do you have any other mods? Do you bottom out, or drive in areas with large gravel often? There's got to be something contributing to these driveshaft problems. This is obviously not normal. __________________ Rocky @ Vivid ♦ 480.966.3040 x236 ♦ Rocky@vividracing.com Email, PM, or call me directly for aggressive The370Z.com member pricing!!!

07-27-2011, 10:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
red6spd A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 3,277 Drives: 2010 Z Coupe M6 SPT Rep Power: 21	Wow, that really weird. Oh and the whole driveshaft is not Carbo Fiber, just the outer casing I believe. __________________ 2010 Base+Sport 6spd: Stillen G3, FI Non-Resonated CBE, FI Non-Resonated Test Pipes, UpRev Tuned, Custom 24R Oil Cooler, JDM Rear Fog-OEM Harness. ???Whp ???WTQ (Will find out come spring time)

07-28-2011, 07:39 AM	#10 (permalink)
1slow370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: In the D Posts: 3,732 Drives: v8 74 260z ;) Rep Power: 7251	the driveshaft is a carbon fiber reinforced plastic with steel ends molded in to house the u joints (which might be some peoples problems) ujoints are easy to inspect and cheap to replace if that is the case. __________________ ANSWER PRICE LIST Answers - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $0.75 Answers (requiring thought) - - - - $1.25 Answers (correct) - - - - - - - - - - $12.50

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07-27-2011, 07:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
TreeSemdyZee Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kentuck-IANA Age: 60 Posts: 4,885 Drives: '09 370 & ‘14 Juke Rep Power: 27408	I sure hope that's not the case with mine. I've been getting a pretty hefty vibration at around 70mph. My first thought is tires because I've got 24k on the car (slightly less on tires) or brakes because it's hot right now. Was yours a constant vibration or did you it show up at a certain speed?

07-27-2011, 08:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ron A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 3,009 Drives: TT '11 PW Nismo #113 Rep Power: 22	I get those vibrations on the rear view mirror. I can't really feel them though.

07-27-2011, 08:45 PM	#5 (permalink)
chemi19 Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 38 Drives: 2010 370Z PG M6 Rep Power: 15	TreeSemdy: My vibration was only seen on the rear view mirror but you couldn't feel it at all, and yes the faster you went the more noticeable Vivid : There are absolute no mods on this car, and I have never driven it on gravel or bottom out. I know its not normal, all I can think is that the first one was not balanced properly and the second one was not installed properly. Ron: That is the exact problem I was having. I never felt it but it was noticeable on the rear view mirror, especially when driving over 40 mph. It never saw it in any other mirror.

07-27-2011, 09:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
TreeSemdyZee Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kentuck-IANA Age: 60 Posts: 4,885 Drives: '09 370 & ‘14 Juke Rep Power: 27408	Thanks for the info. I actually feel my vibration. My mirror vibrates occasionally, but I just turn down the stereo and it goes away.

07-30-2011, 12:49 AM	#12 (permalink)
chemi19 Base Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Florida Posts: 38 Drives: 2010 370Z PG M6 Rep Power: 15	Well the entire shaft assembly has officially been replaced again. Unfortunately it only helped some (service guy words). Now they have decided to replace the rear end. I asked for them to replace them with 4:10 gears but they politely declined I will keep updating until the issue gets fixed

07-30-2011, 06:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
FL 4Motion A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: FL Posts: 4,776 Drives: Baby Shark Rep Power: 701615	In for updates, I figured it would have simply been an issue w/the u joints.