Hello all. I'm new here and I am having some issues with my drive shaft on my 96 v6 camaro with 150,000 miles. Last week I started hearing a rubbing sound coming from the rear end of my car. I brought my car in and had my brakes redone (new pads, rotors, drums, calipers, etc.)The brakes were really bad anyways so I thought this would take care of the squeaking problem... wrong. So I brought it back to the shop and they put my car up on the lift and we listened to the lovely squeak. They said it was probably the u joint and it wouldn't cost too much to fix. Fast forward a few days and I bring my car to my mechanic. He just called to tell me that I need a whole new drive shaft. Only problem is that it's $900 from GM! He says I need a 2 piece drive shaft that will fit my v6 car and it should have 3 or 4 joints on it. I have been looking for a less expensive part online and it seems all I can find is a 1 piece drive shaft. I've been told if I get a 1 piece drive shaft, then I will have to do mods to the undercarrige in order to fit this new drive shaft in. Anyone have any insight or thoughts on this? Thanks!

 

You can find used drive shafts. I got one out of florida off e-bay. That whole compound driveshaft is just dumb. I do know that you can replace it with a straight driveshaft but I have no experience with this. Try e-bay. Try some other sources and find yourself a used shaft. I hope you find one and I offer a collective shaking of the fist to the engineer who thought this drive shaft was a good plan. When the shaft ultimately fails, which happened to me. It absolutely annihilates the rubber housing between the two shafts and the whole thing hops like a mother. At that point you're dead in the water. If the thing is squeaking now you're maybe a couple weeks out from this thing totally imploding on you. That's about how long it took mine. Good luck to you!

Thanks,

Tom

 

A straight shaft from any 4th gen v8 f-body, auto or manual, will bolt right in. I got a stock torque arm from the trans am I got my goodies out of as well, just eliminated that bracket in the middle of the v6 torque arm.

 

My mechanic seems pretty sure that I need a 2 piece drive shaft... So you're saying a 1 piece will fit right in with not mods or anything?

I would like to roundhouse kick whoever at GM thought this 2 piece drive shaft was a good idea!

 

Correct. You can get a steel one really cheap.

 

Any recommendations on a reputable place to buy one online? I am in the boonies of NH.

 

I'd try ebay if you want to go online, but only buy from a seller with good feedback. If I were you though, I'd go to a wrecking yard and pull one. That way you can make sure the joints are good.

here's one on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/93-02...mZ390003883479

 

I found a used drive shaft with 87,000 mi. on it from Camaro Heaven down in Laconia NH for $125! I'm going to grab that and have it put into my baby. Thanks for all of the insight everyone! Much appreciated!

 

Tell your mechanic he is a retard. Is the one you bought aluminum or steel?

 

I got a steel one. I should be getting it tomorrow so I'll let you know how it is. I talked to my GM mechanic friend and he said you can use either one but for the mileage that I have, he said I should just try the used one first.