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You could be enjoying a peaceful ride in your BMW on a cool evening and then your car begins to vibrate and make squeaking sounds, especially while accelerating. This can happen if your BMW has a faulty drive shaft and it can affect your car’s performance.
A car’s drive shaft helps to transfer force from the engine to the wheels to keep the car moving. This car part can get worn out due to harsh road conditions and other factors. This guide explains the common drive shaft problems in a car and the ways to address them.
Here are some common issues that could be affecting how your car’s drive shaft functions, and consequently how your car works.
One of the common problems that can affect a car’s drive shaft is a damaged drive shaft cover. This cover serves as a shield or protective agent for the drive shaft. It helps to prevent dirt and moisture from getting into the drive shaft. It also helps to keep the shaft lubricated by keeping the lubricant in and preventing evaporation.
However, if this cover gets worn out or damaged, it no longer serves its protective function. As a result, air, moisture, and dirt can get into the drive shaft, causing rusting and reducing the car’s performance.
Another common issue that occurs from a faulty drive shaft is an unstable steering wheel. You may notice this problem as you accelerate and your car’s steering wheel starts to shake uncontrollably. A faulty drive shaft can make a driver lose control of the steering wheel. This is especially dangerous if you are driving through rough roads as accidents are prone to happen once there is an inability to control a vehicle’s movement.
The drive shafts can only function efficiently if they are flexible enough to allow the car to maneuver through bad road conditions. However, this is not possible without the Universal, U-joints in the drive shaft as they aid flexibility.
If the u-joints get worn out or damaged, there is limited flexibility to the vehicle’s movement which defeats the purpose of the drive shaft in the vehicle.
Since a vehicle’s drive shaft plays a role in vehicle stability on the road, the drive shaft itself must be stable and well-balanced. However, one of the problems common to drive shafts is a lack of balance, which could be due to weight imbalance, poor installation, or manufacturing errors. A damaged or unbalanced drive shaft does not transmit power to the wheels as efficiently as it should and this could affect the performance of the vehicle.
In the future, you can take necessary precautions to avoid drive shaft problems in your car. Here are some tips you should bear in mind.
Keeping the drive shaft well lubricated can help to prevent wear and damage caused by friction of drive shaft parts. This helps to extend your BMW’s drive shaft lifespan.
Bad roads and other harsh road conditions are implicative of damage to a car’s drive chain. Hence, as much as possible you should avoid bad road conditions and drive carefully to protect your car’s drive shaft from damage.
If you notice minor signs like weird noises when you turn or vibrations when you accelerate, take your car to a mechanic so they can find a quick solution before more damage that could be more difficult or costly to fix occurs.
Caring for your car involves caring for its parts, including the drive shaft, which helps to keep the car moving at a steady pace. Aside from regular inspection and maintenance, you also need an experienced mechanic to help care for your vehicle.
Ultimate Bimmer Service is one of the best auto repair shops in Denton and we are always ready to receive you and your car. Our services include regular maintenance and repair services for luxury cars. Hence, if you live anywhere around Carrollton or Dallas, we can help you check your BMW’s drive shaft and fix any problem.