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Drive Shaft Replacement And Repair Cost

Published: July 26, 2022
Last updated: July 27, 2022

Although the cost of repair or replacement of a new drive shaft varies depending on the type of drive shaft, there is a general rule of thumb to follow. Here is an up-to-date overview of the situation to better understand what is happening.

When a driveshaft does not function properly, it is important to assess the problem quickly and replace/repair the driveshaft if necessary. This article will discuss the repair cost, the symptoms, and the signs that may indicate a need for replacement. The car's engine rotates in front of the wheels, and a drive shaft transfers power and torque from the engine to the rear wheels, whether you own a four-wheel or rear-wheel drive.

You must be aware of many things when dealing with the drive shaft, including the cost of replacement and repair. In the next section, we will discuss everything you need to know about the drive shaft, including how much it would cost to replace and repair.

Should You Replace Or Repair A Drive Shaft?

Many signs and symptoms can be observed if there is a problem with the drive shaft. Replacement is usually the best option if the drive shaft splits. U-joints, slip joints, center support bearings, and more may sometimes be the true culprits near the driveshaft. A repair is sufficient in such cases.

Drive Shaft Replacement Cost

If a drive shaft needs to be replaced, it is usually recommended to replace all the above parts alongside the drive shaft itself. You will be charged a different amount for a drive shaft depending on what car you drive. The drive shaft on powerful cars costs much more than on a car with a regular drive shaft, such as a sedan or coupe.

A good rule of thumb is that a drive shaft will cost anywhere between $300 and $1300. If you buy the drive shaft, ensure it is specifically compatible with your car model, engine, and transmission to ensure your safety. The labor involved should not exceed two hours regarding how long it takes to do the task. In most cases, the average time it takes for a drive shaft to be replaced is about an hour.

The total cost, including labor and parts, is estimated to be between $400 and $1500. The driveshaft has to be replaced by a professional, but you could save a few bucks if you replace it yourself as it is not a very complicated procedure. Several factors can affect the price of a drive shaft, including the car type, model, and transmission. Still, it is also important to remember that drive shafts can change significantly across models, drivetrains, transmissions, and different engines.

If one of the cars has a manual transmission while the other has an automatic transmission, then two cars with the same name, model, year, and engine can have different driveshaft types. A new drive shaft must meet certain requirements is not always true, but it is something to keep in mind when shopping.

Drive Shaft Repair Cost

Driveshafts that have broken into two pieces cannot be repaired. A part that works with the drive shaft may be the problem, but this is not the case in all circumstances.

Typically, a repair of this nature is much cheaper than replacing a drive train, and it won't take as long as a complete replacement of the drive train. An example of how much you might have to pay for a replacement center-bearing includes the parts and labor that go along with it. Similarly, if you have to replace a U-joint, this also applies.

Symptoms Of A Bad Drive Shaft

Determine whether or not you need to replace the drive shaft before you replace it. There can be a lot of problems with your drive shaft, so it can be hard to tell which one is which unless the shaft is broken in half.

You'll find a list of the most common symptoms and signs of a damaged drive shaft in the following sections.

Noises Under The Car

There is a possibility that the U-joints under the car have gone bad when you hear clunking sounds under the car. The drive shaft, as mentioned earlier, is made up of various parts and joints, all of which may cause noise when they do not function as they should when the drive shaft is not working properly.

Vibrations

In addition, excessive vibrations may also indicate that there is a problem with the drivetrain itself. A similar issue could be responsible for this problem, as could any disturbing noises you may hear. The vibrations are often caused by the drive shaft being unbalanced, which is a common cause. A bent shaft can be easily fixed if it is only out of balance, which should not be any more than $300 and be easy to fix.

When the vehicle accelerates, it may exhibit a rough shuddering sound, which could indicate a problem with the ignition coils or spark plugs, even though the drive shaft is the cause of the issue.

Car Will Not Move

The rear wheels of a rear-wheel-drive vehicle are powerless unless it receives power from the engine at the rear, so the vehicle cannot move. Often, it is the drive train that is the cause of your car being unable to move when the engine is running, but you can start the engine. It is possible that if you are unaware that the drive shaft has been damaged and then attempt to drive the vehicle, you might hear loud noises as the shaft hits the car repeatedly without the vehicle moving.

Summary

It is common for a rear-wheel-drive car to have a drive shaft. The transmission transfers power and torque produced by the engine at the front of the vehicle to the back. It is not uncommon for a four-wheel drive car to have two drive shafts, one in front of the axle and one at the back. The engine is located close to the driven wheels of a front-wheel-drive car, which means that the rear wheels also have transaxles and CV joints.

Often, a drive shaft repair is sufficient to solve any problems that may arise due to the drive shaft itself. These are the parts associated with a drive shaft, such as the U-joint, the center support bearing, the slip joint, and many others.

There are different types of drive shafts, which makes it important to inspect your drive shaft carefully. Even on the same model, the transmission, engine, and drivetrain can impact the drive shafts, which can even differ between models. Because of this, it is very important to make sure that you use a drive shaft suitable for the vehicle on which you work.

It goes without saying that because there are so many differences between drive shafts, the prices also vary greatly. New drive shafts are generally priced between $300 and $1300, depending on the quality and the shaft size. Thanks to the fact that this can be replaced in less than an hour, the process is quite simple. Usually, only a few parts need to be replaced during repair, and this can also affect the overall cost, ranging from $200 to $300, including parts and labor.

Undoubtedly, every drive shaft has its share of problems, but fixing them as soon as possible is imperative. Every drive shaft will experience some problems, but they must be fixed as soon as possible. Vibrations, noises under the car, and general immobility are some signs and symptoms that may result from this.

Have you ever wondered how cars work and how they are maintained? Visit KeepDriving to learn more about how hot car trunks get.

Founder, Editor-in-Chief Carmelo Pickel is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Keep Driving, with almost 20 years of experience working in the industry. Before founding Keep Driving, Carmelo held leadership roles for over a decade on top automotive dealership corporations across North America, handling various leadership roles in Sales, Marketing, and Incentives.
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