Driveshaft help.....

[55PACKARD]

I hope thats what it is. I have been driving the car around and noticed a bad vibration getting worse and worse each time i drive it im hoping its not the trans i'm thinking its a bad u-joint actucally im hoping it is, how hard is it to change any special tools needed..where can i get the u-joints is the drive shaft 2 piece nevber looked under there what type of u-joints are they,,any help would be great.........thanks <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[RO]

Have not experienced that, but Max Merritt carries rebuild kits

http://www.parts123.com/PartFrame.asp?ZT...ax_Merritt_Auto

Kinda pricey items but guess they are rare/unique to Packard? Have seen these from time to time on ebay. Someone else more familiar with the u-joints should be able to provide some information.

1955-1956 Universal Joint Repair Kit Rear W/ultramatic 150.00 Kit 18.0152

All 1951-1956 Universal Joint Repair Kit Front W/ultramatic Incl Trunion 225.00 Kit 18.0152

All 1951-1956 Universal Joint Trunion Body Front W/ultramatic 75.00 Each

[RO]

Kanter about the same: 04555K

Junior Series w/Auto Trans Front, Detroit ?Ball? Type, Kit with Housing Detroit Ball Type U-Joint Kit consists of: A Housing, (except as noted), 2 Needle Bearing Rollers, 3. An Internal Shaft, 4. Spacer and Wave Washer Set

$145.00 Each

[WCraigH]

You need to jack the car up on jack stands (wheels clear, T-L [color:"red"] turned off and run it in gear at road speeds to verify where the vibration is.

Unfortunately, the driveshaft design is (pretty much) unique to Packard, so you might have to deal with a custom driveshaft shop, if that is indeed the problem.

[Guest Randy Berger]

I have purchased NOS front trunnion kits on ebay and also found the rear universals on ebay. A supposedly very good driveshaft shop near me couldn't get those parts from any of his five suppliers. Napa might carry the Junior kit as they have a listing for Chrysler, which also used this style of universal.

YFAM, Randy Berger

[55panama]

I got the front trunion (looks like a CV joint) rebuild kit from Patrician Industries (Joel Ray 313-565-3573) for a very good price. This was a couple of years ago. I think I paid $75? I had a driveshaft place do the work. They were able to get the rear joint for about $80. I think that with the labor charge I was in it for about $240.

Tom

[55PACKARD]

<img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> This doesnt sound easy im just curious if it isnt the trans falling apart or something how do you check the trans fluid on these cars running right in nuetral???When i check it off and cold it seems lows when i check it hot and in nuetral it seems high..... <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> I dont understand why it has the vibration it just started almost feels like a out of round tire when steeping on it from a toll or light..then it seems to go away when your going at highway speeds .....it might be a drive shaft i dont know i need help on this one..I know its not a bad idea to get the jounts replaced because the car is old but i dont feel like spending money and its not the cure...Is it possible there dried out????lack of grease.maybe

[55PACKARD]

Thanks guys for all your help im going to be taking the driveshaft down this week to inspect it...I called a driveshaft place that i used in the past they said bring it down and they will take a look at it..My Dad had a nissan maxima that had cv joint type driveshaft they cut the ends and put standard type gm u-joints balanced it and he never had a problem..So i'm wondering if they cant do something like that for the front of the driveshaft instead of using the ball and trunion type???do you think that would work.....

[55PACKARD]

Oh i didnt look under there yet so your telling me the front part of the shaft bolts up to a flage type almost like a cv-joint..oh im confused ill have to crawl under there today and look but maybe the driveshaft shop might have them in stock and could replace the stock trunion or maybe they could make a different type of set up who knows i'll have to see but i can tell you this like i said my Dad had a nissan maxima diesel that had something simualr to this and they made it into a standard type u-joint type driveshaft so it might be possible but if not im sure they can fix it anyway I HOPE...