17 Mar 11 10:19, Mike Luther wrote to All:

 ML> Anyone with thoughts here?

The 4th gen Camaros and Firebirds of the 90s (93-02) had a problem with
steel tube drive shafts that were replaced with aluminum shafts in the
latter years of manufacture. I have a 98 that came with an aluminum shaft.
I also had a 94 and a 95 Camaro, with the steel and aluminum shafts,
respectively. I replaced the steel shaft with an aluminum shaft and the
drive-line vibration went away.

I also have a short-wheelbase 02 Silverado (less mileage than your Buick)
that had the same vibration. I chased that by having the steel driveshaft
straightened and balanced, while I watched. The shaft was pretty straight,
but the mechanic made an effort at my request to make it straighter. That
worked out well. Once balanced he re-installed the shaft and I test drove
it. The vibration was almost gone, but still could be felt at times. I
went to a different tire shop than the one who balanced the wheels before
and had all 4 wheels re-balanced and that fixed the problem.

With this in mind, I think the vibration was there all along but it wasn't
felt until a sturdier suspension system was installed in the Buick. The
softer ride of the air bag system probably absorbed the vibration and the
driver never felt it.

Straigtening an aluminum drive shaft shouldn't be any different than the
steel shaft and balancing is just as easy. Replacing both U-joints might
be a little more trickey, but any drive line shop worth it's salt
shouldn't have a problem.

The shaft is put into a machine that looks like a lathe and has several
places where dial indicators can be mounted to check run-out, and while
it's there, check the balance by turning the lathe thru an RPM range
similar to that while the shaft is in the car.

There is an excellant drive-line shop in Seguin, just off of I-10 and
south of here on SR-46.

 ML> So .. I take the Buick to my friend.  He jacks it up.  Oops!  It has
 ML> an aluminum drive shaft!  I've never seen this before and he tells me
 ML> he cannot check, straighten it.  As well, yes, I've had drive shafts
 ML> custom balanced in Houston a hundred miles South of me in College
 ML> Station, Texas. But welding balance weights and fooling with aluminum
 ML> tubing?  Hmmmmmm...

A helium MIG welder with aluminum wire does that job. TIG is better, but a
lot of shops use the MIG.

 ML> Who should I listen to as to what they tell me about this?  What are
 ML> the thoughts here?

Listen to your friend and tell him what I told you. If he's afraid of the
job, there are plenty of places that should be able to service that shaft.


                R\%/itt

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