Hey guys,
I have a rear driveshaft that I picked up from the junkyard with a bit of a ding/bend in it from the yard forklift (long story about why I picked it up in the first place), and I have the typical driveshaft vibration from 60+ because of it. I spent a bit of money on the jeep (stock 2000 xj) for some t-case work and a new, recast 0331 head, and I don't really want to spend the money right now to have the shaft balanced or get a new one. Do you think it will do any harm to run with the out of balance shaft for a couple months (~100 miles or so)? Think it will screw anything up on either end of the shaft? I just replaced a bent T case output shaft and I don't want to screw that up.

For 100 miles, your probably ok. Dont exceed 35mph or so. Understand that a vibration is telling you something, you proceed at your own risk.

Ron

It isn't really a good idea to run a bent or dented driveline. It is not made of tubing that is very thick. It gets its structural integrity from being straight and perfectly round. When it is bent or dented, it ruins that strength. It can bend further and break under torque. You should really replace it.

you realize driveshafts at the junkyard are like $30, right?

Not to mention it can destroy the output shaft u just did along with u joints and of those u joints go and driveline drops from the front side the ur going for a ride. Also could break the pinion seal. Probably one of the most unsafe a bimbest things u can do. Besides like he said above cost 30 bucks to replace it

Yeah I do. That's where I got the one thats on there now. The problem is that rear shafts are almost always messed up at junkyards (mine at least) because they move the cars around with forklifts and more often than not, the lift arm goes under the drive shaft.

Alright, I'm convinced....I won't put this off anymore.

I would try to find another good used one like E rock says they are not a hell of a lot of money . Avoid other issues bent one may cause.