Drive Shaft Swap on V6
 

So far, I have made three posts. On these posts, I have eventually answered my own question. This post might be no different unless someone has an answer before I go to a lot of work.

I have 2 Camaros. Both 2001 and both V6. One is manual tranny and one is auto tranny.

I have a vibration in the manual tranny that may be coming from the drive shaft. Can I swap drive shafts from an auto tranny to a manual???

Yes you can

YES!! Life gets easier......thanks

FYI common cause for vibration is broken trans mount.

Also any 4th gen drive shaft will fit any 4th gen. Even some 3rd gens fit.

If you have a v6, chances are there is a 2 piece driveshaft under there.
Put a one piece in, and you shouldnt have any more problems in the future.

His 2001 would have a one piece driveshaft. 1998 was the last year with the 2 piece shaft.

Oh, didn't know they changed that bit up in the later fourth gens. Wish they would have done that sooner.. lol

Yeah, you and probably a ton of other people. The reason for the 2 piece driveshaft was that it helped to absorb drivetrain vibrations and harmonics from the 3.4 engine. Could be GM kept it that way with the earlier 3.8 models just out of habit, then later realized it really didn't need to have a 2 piece. I dunno.

Yesterday, I successfully swapped the drive shafts from my 2001 V6 auto tranny Camaro to my 2001 V6 manual tranny Camaro. I was able to move the vibration issue over to my other car proving that the drive shaft was causing the vibrations.

I went back to the shop that installed the U-joints. They got mad at me and accused me of causing the problem myself. I am not going to put up with this kind of abuse from any shop.

I will be taking my drive shaft to a drive shaft specialist that can figure out what the shop did incorrectly. They either did not get the U-joint centered properly or they distorted the shaft when they heated it to remove the old U-joint.

Once I know what happened, I will file a complaint with the BBB.

Anyway, it is very nice to be know auto to manual tranny Camaros have the same drive shaft.

I've replaced many u-joints, there's no way to get it off center on the driveshaft yoke. When both caps are seated in place, the spring clips are a fairly snug fit against them. They may have had a needle drop out of place when installing the u-joint, and crunched it when pressing it all together. It can happen.......if you're not careful. An autopsy will show if that happened. Heating the yokes is how you melt the factory molded "plastic keeper" out to remove the u-joints. It's highly unlikely that heating distorted the yoke, it's too solid and thick. One way I can think how you could have caused the problem, is if you dropped the driveshaft on end, out of a ten story building window.