Broken drive shaft

[dads longhorn]

I took dads truck out for a cruise around town, (met two people from our forum driving their older restored chevy truck), turned a slow corner and BANG, boom, clank clank, a very serious horrible noise . Pulled over immediately and turned off engine. Saw nothing wrong under the hood so I started it up again put it in gear and the noise started again, no connection between the engine and gears. Fortunately I have a cell phone and AAA and had it towed to the transmission shop. Took a $32 taxi ride home. So, they called today said drive shaft tube, drive line broke and need to replace whole thing. $885. Ugh, but ok. Should be done in a couple of days. The owner at the transmission shop owns his dads 1971 Chevy truck so he's familiar with the model. Good news. I wish the owners manual and repair manual were with me and not in the truck so I could see what part broke. I assume its the long tube between the engine and rear axel. See how smart I am! Not!

It was such an aweful noise and it hurt me to see it being towed. But it's 42 years old and I must expect things to give out and break. For an auto breakdôwn it was very safe and convenient. Now just to pay the bill!
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[Jon01]

$900 for a driveshaft?

Was it solid gold?

[Frijolito1988]

Originally Posted by dads longhorn

I took dads truck out for a cruise around town, (met two people from our forum driving their older restored chevy truck), turned a slow corner and BANG, boom, clank clank, a very serious horrible noise . Pulled over immediately and turned off engine. Saw nothing wrong under the hood so I started it up again put it in gear and the noise started again, no connection between the engine and gears. Fortunately I have a cell phone and AAA and had it towed to the transmission shop. Took a $32 taxi ride home. So, they called today said drive shaft tube, drive line broke and need to replace whole thing. $885. Ugh, but ok. Should be done in a couple of days. The owner at the transmission shop owns his dads 1971 Chevy truck so he's familiar with the model. Good news. I wish the owners manual and repair manual were with me and not in the truck so I could see what part broke. I assume its the long tube between the engine and rear axel. See how smart I am! Not!

It was such an aweful noise and it hurt me to see it being towed. But it's 42 years old and I must expect things to give out and break. For an auto breakdôwn it was very safe and convenient. Now just to pay the bill!
Posted via Mobile Device

Whoahhhh

They are charging you $900 to replace a driveshaft ? You can get them for under $50 at a junk yard and it takes about 10 minutes to replace ( if that was the only broken thing )

If you can try and get the truck out of the shop and save your self some money .

[71K20chevy]

Originally Posted by Jon01

$900 for a driveshaft?

Was it solid gold?

Ditto...

[Ol Blue K20]

Sounds a little steep to me also!!!

[dads longhorn]

Thanks for the info. I'm thinking that shipping is$100 at least, the cost of a new one $200-300 at least. (Im not comfortable putting in a used one since i dont want to be dealing with this same issue anytime soon). That's half the cost right there. And getting it done now, expediently, rather than searching salvage yards, finding labor to put it on adds to the cost. Then labor cost is high. I'm only guessing at these numbers. I could be totally off. Ill see if I can get reduced cost by offering to pay cash. Better start saving now!
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[afcamaro]

That is extrememely expensive, and it does only take 10 minutes to replace. So he should only be charging one hour of labor at most. And theres usually driveline shops in every town that can make a driveshaft for around $200-300 within a day.

[TBONE1964]

Originally Posted by dads longhorn

I took dads truck out for a cruise around town, (met two people from our forum driving their older restored chevy truck), turned a slow corner and BANG, boom, clank clank, a very serious horrible noise . Pulled over immediately and turned off engine. Saw nothing wrong under the hood so I started it up again put it in gear and the noise started again, no connection between the engine and gears. Fortunately I have a cell phone and AAA and had it towed to the transmission shop. Took a $32 taxi ride home. So, they called today said drive shaft tube, drive line broke and need to replace whole thing. $885. Ugh, but ok. Should be done in a couple of days. The owner at the transmission shop owns his dads 1971 Chevy truck so he's familiar with the model. Good news. I wish the owners manual and repair manual were with me and not in the truck so I could see what part broke. I assume its the long tube between the engine and rear axel. See how smart I am! Not!

It was such an aweful noise and it hurt me to see it being towed. But it's 42 years old and I must expect things to give out and break. For an auto breakdôwn it was very safe and convenient. Now just to pay the bill!
Posted via Mobile Device

I would not care if the owner of the shop had 15 67-72 pick ups. Because he is familiar with the truck does not mean he should be ripping people off. This should be reported to the BBB and this guy should be shut down. That is very pathetic. Even with a brand new shaft with all the hardware, this is not worth more than $400.00 with labor included.

Have you agreed in writing to this or signed an estimate? If not, I would have your truck towed somewhere that will treat you with honestly.

Just my opinion.

[Lee H]

If the $885 is for the drive shaft and labor only I agree with everyone else, this should be $400-500 max. Do you have a breakdown of the cost, what all does it include?
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[dads longhorn]

So based on your responses, I went to the shop to get a breakdown of the costs. They are only charging me for 1 hour labor. It's also many parts, slip yoke, u joint, center carriage/carrier, slip and stud, u joint, and u joint, and the tubing that goes between it all. I think i got it all.Special order from Denver, new, shipped, $600 their cost, $700 my cost.
I told them I'd pay in cash and they took off $100 (5.6percent I think) so the total is $751. The local place comes highly recommended and has been in business for 30 years.
It sounds like the cost is at the mfg in Denver.
So does any of this make better sense?
Posted via Mobile Device

[truckdude239]

no i had one made for a truck at the local driveshaft shop 2 piece with new slip jpint bearing and u joints and my cost was $300 out the door...

[Frijolito1988]

Originally Posted by dads longhorn

So based on your responses, I went to the shop to get a breakdown of the costs. They are only charging me for 1 hour labor. It's also many parts, slip yoke, u joint, center carriage/carrier, slip and stud, u joint, and u joint, and the tubing that goes between it all. I think i got it all.Special order from Denver, new, shipped, $600 their cost, $700 my cost.
I told them I'd pay in cash and they took off $100 (5.6percent I think) so the total is $751. The local place comes highly recommended and has been in business for 30 years.
It sounds like the cost is at the mfg in Denver.
So does any of this make better sense?
Posted via Mobile Device

Nope. That is a crazy price. Have you searched craigslist for someone parting a 67-72 chevy truck ?

[Lee H]

Most of these guys are right, this is normally a sub $500 job all day long, and that's being very conservative. However, remoteness, longer wheel base, convenience, shipping, lack of tools and knowledge all add up to extra cost. You have to make the choice that is right for you and your circumstances.
Posted via Mobile Device

[JointTech]

i pad 325 to have my shaft balanced, new ujoints and a new slip joint welded on. oh and it included the carrier bearing already pressed onto the shaft. took me 30 minutes to replace and Ive never done it before. i think its 4 bolts. 2 on the ujoint and 2 on the carrier bearing.

[Bhelton]

Id about bet a tom woods shaft custom built would be cheaper than $751, that's a rip off. New yokes arent but $50 or so and slip joints arent much either. The tubing is the least cost of all parts unless you use thick wall DOM tubing. I'm adding a buddy of mine company web page, call him and ask for a quote...His name is Dave

http://www.oliversdriveshaft.com/

[beetle1960]

Yikes!!!
Posted via Mobile Device

[truckdude239]

Originally Posted by Bhelton

Id about bet a tom woods shaft custom built would be cheaper than $751, that's a rip off. New yokes arent but $50 or so and slip joints arent much either. The tubing is the least cost of all parts unless you use thick wall DOM tubing. I'm adding a buddy of mine company web page, call him and ask for a quote...His name is Dave

http://www.oliversdriveshaft.com/

thats who i use! here in winston salem hes the best

[Jon01]

I had a brand new, 1pc shaft made for mine, stem to stern, solid Spicer joints, yoke and all was under $300.
They're taking the old driveshaft and sticking it where the sun doesn't shine.
If you're into that then fine, otherwise I'd go get the truck, pull the old one out, have a driveline shop build a new one and change it myself.

[trac209]

If you pay that you're crazy period. Find another shop
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[buddylj1990]

i had the same thing happen to me in my first 72 just left red light shifted in to 3rd and bang bang and looked in rear view mirror and i see big peace of pipe rolling down road the road yoke and drive shaft and new center bearing was 300

[Bhelton]

Originally Posted by truckdude239

thats who i use! here in winston salem hes the best

Dave does great work
Posted via Mobile Device

[brad_man_72]

So how much would it cost to repair the old shaft? Retube, weld yoke, ujoints, carrier bearing and a ballance....

I've seen several shafts that cost more to fix than replace, but most just need a little work.
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[Orange67]

I had Six States here in Utah balance and install a carrier bearing for my 67. While I was there, I had him quote a one piece 4" aluminum for my 67 LWB C20..... it was around $300 done out the door. Just be careful bud. (worst part, it was about $185 for the balance and bearing!! I just didn't have the extra $$$ at the time for the new shaft.)

[Fitz]

Originally Posted by dads longhorn

I took dads truck out for a cruise around town, (met two people from our forum driving their older restored chevy truck), turned a slow corner and BANG, boom, clank clank, a very serious horrible noise . Pulled over immediately and turned off engine. Saw nothing wrong under the hood so I started it up again put it in gear and the noise started again, no connection between the engine and gears. Fortunately I have a cell phone and AAA and had it towed to the transmission shop. Took a $32 taxi ride home. So, they called today said drive shaft tube, drive line broke and need to replace whole thing. $885. Ugh, but ok. Should be done in a couple of days. The owner at the transmission shop owns his dads 1971 Chevy truck so he's familiar with the model. Good news. I wish the owners manual and repair manual were with me and not in the truck so I could see what part broke. I assume its the long tube between the engine and rear axel. See how smart I am! Not!

It was such an aweful noise and it hurt me to see it being towed. But it's 42 years old and I must expect things to give out and break. For an auto breakdôwn it was very safe and convenient. Now just to pay the bill!
Posted via Mobile Device

Inland Empire will make one for you $425.00 & 40.00 ups The driveshaft shop is about $400 even

[volksworld]

now that's what I call getting the shaft...