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Chevy S10 - GMC S15 and Sonoma Accident Damage Questions

12 messages,  Last post on Nov 13, 2007 at 12:15 AM

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#1 of 12 Hit from behind, could driveshaft be damaged? by masterguns Apr 13, 2007 (11:58 am)
Hi all, this is my first post on these forums and I'm hoping you can help me. I was rear ended about two months ago in my '03 GMC SONOMA ZRX EXT CAB. Fortunately, I only needed a new bumper to repair the body damage done, but my drive shaft is now screwed up. Before the wreck, there was nothing wrong with my vehicle. Afterwards, I noticed a sort of clicking sound coming from the rear that would get faster as I accelerated. The sound steadily worsened to moderately violent shaking of the bed. The body shop guy says the U-joints are worn out. I took it to a mechanic and he suggested a fully-rebuilt drive shaft. A lot of people seem to agree that worn out U-joints and drive shafts are common on ext cab trucks like mine. My question is; Is it at all possible, and if so how, that the U-joints or the drive shaft was damaged when I was rear ended? In case it's relevant my odo is 58000 miles. Replies to this message: hoodlatch (Apr 13, 2007 4:44 pm) kcram (Apr 13, 2007 7:57 pm) gonogo (Apr 14, 2007 8:16 am) philscbx (Nov 13, 2007 12:15 am)
#2 of 12 Re: Hit from behind, could driveshaft be damaged? [masterguns] by hoodlatch Apr 13, 2007 (4:44 pm)
Replying to: masterguns (Apr 13, 2007 11:58 am) My guess its possible all the above are correct. However, I have a two pice drive shaft on my 92 S-10 with around 170k miles on it and its still going strong. I hope it last forever because a new drive shaft cost an arm and a leg.   You might check out your drive shaft center bearing. If its worn out or somehow came loose, it will case your drive shaft to fill like a UH-1H Huey about to lift off.
#3 of 12 Re: Hit from behind, could driveshaft be damaged? [masterguns] by kcram HOST Apr 13, 2007 (7:57 pm)
Replying to: masterguns (Apr 13, 2007 11:58 am) The shock from the impact can easily cause this kind of driveline damage... the vehicle wabts to quickly move forward from the impact, but if your foot was on the brake at the time, that energy has to go somewhere.   kcram - Pickups Host
#4 of 12 Re: Hit from behind, could driveshaft be damaged? [masterguns] by masterguns Apr 13, 2007 (8:38 pm)
hoodlatch wrote: "If its worn out or somehow came loose, it will case your drive shaft to fill like a UH-1H Huey about to lift off."     -Trust me, it already does. I drove my truck fine after the wreck and the noise and shaking steadily got worse over the past two months to the point I can't even drive it now.   kcram wrote: "The shock from the impact can easily cause this kind of driveline damage... the vehicle wabts to quickly move forward from the impact, but if your foot was on the brake at the time, that energy has to go somewhere."     -My foot was indeed on the brake. I was on the interstate stuck in traffic when someone not paying attention ran into the guy behind me and pushed his Suburban into my truck. My truck ran great before this. I even drove two hours before the accident with no sight or sound of a drivetrain problem. After the wreck, the symptoms started to occur and get worse, but all the mechanics and the claim adjuster assigned to my case say my problems are due to normal wear and tear and not due to the collision. I don't doubt the mechanics' ability to do their jobs, but I feel like something fishy is going on.   Please, if you would, can you tell me in as much detail as you care to write, how the impact could have easily caused this kind of driveline damage and what I should look for so I can show the claim adjuster that I know better and he needs to pay for me a driveshaft repair. You don't know how much you'd be helping me out! Replies to this message: hoodlatch (Apr 14, 2007 4:40 am) kcram (Apr 14, 2007 9:32 am) hoodlatch (May 12, 2007 3:38 pm) masterguns (May 14, 2007 6:45 am) darkpunk33 (Jun 21, 2007 9:18 pm) and 1 more...
#5 of 12 Re: Hit from behind, could driveshaft be damaged? [masterguns] by hoodlatch Apr 14, 2007 (4:40 am)
Replying to: masterguns (Apr 13, 2007 8:38 pm) You might contact the experts at this web site:http://www.troublecodes.net/. They ask a small fee for their expertise but I have the impression they are subject matter experts, unlike a shade tree mechanic as yours truly.
#6 of 12 Re: Hit from behind, could driveshaft be damaged? [masterguns] by gonogo Apr 14, 2007 (8:16 am)
Replying to: masterguns (Apr 13, 2007 11:58 am) U-joints are no big deal, surely not a rebuilt drive shaft. Not too long ago for $7-$8 you could buy a u-joint. All you need to install is a large vice. Seems like everything now is plug and play, nobody want to repair anything any more. All drive shafts have slip joints so during normal suspension movement the shaft slides on the splines. My 99 Sonoma was rear ended on the Interstate when traffic got backed up about 5 years ago, new bumper and nothing else. Replies to this message: philscbx (Nov 13, 2007 12:15 am)
#7 of 12 Re: Hit from behind, could driveshaft be damaged? [masterguns] by kcram HOST Apr 14, 2007 (9:32 am)
Replying to: masterguns (Apr 13, 2007 8:38 pm) You got nailed by a Suburban... that explains a lot. It's all basic physics, same basic concept as whiplash. If you're hit hard enough from behind while your vehicle is stopped, your body is jerked forward from the transferred momentum, then snapped back because the vehicle isn't moving. Same thing happens to the U-joints and driveshaft. The harder you're hit, the more energy is transferred from the collision to those parts.   It's always "buyer-beware" after an accident when things seem minor at first. You see some minor cosmetic damage and figure nothing else happened. Then later on, you get the shimmy-and-shake that says something underneath didn't survive, and it's very difficult to justify for the adjuster. I'd recommend getting an estimate from a specialty shop that deals in drivetrain (shafts, axles, U-joints) with an expert opinion as to what caused the damage.   kcram - Pickups Host
#8 of 12 Re: Hit from behind, could driveshaft be damaged? [masterguns] by hoodlatch May 12, 2007 (3:38 pm)
Replying to: masterguns (Apr 13, 2007 8:38 pm) Did you ever find a solution to your situation? Replies to this message: masterguns (May 14, 2007 6:45 am) darkpunk33 (Jun 21, 2007 9:18 pm) masterguns (Jun 23, 2007 8:49 am)
#9 of 12 Re: Hit from behind, could driveshaft be damaged? [hoodlatch] by masterguns May 14, 2007 (6:45 am)
Replying to: hoodlatch (May 12, 2007 3:38 pm) Well, apparently, a U-joint was knocked loose in the collision. One of the mechanics at the shop offered to tighten it back on his own time for about $150. My truck runs great now with the same drive shaft it had before which is fine by me. Thanks for asking! Replies to this message: darkpunk33 (Jun 21, 2007 9:18 pm) masterguns (Jun 23, 2007 8:49 am)
#10 of 12 Re: Hit from behind, could driveshaft be damaged? [masterguns] by darkpunk33 Jun 21, 2007 (9:18 pm)
Replying to: masterguns (May 14, 2007 6:45 am) Hey,   I was also hit from behind and i'm getting this weird noise as well also gets louder as the speed increases. However did you happen to notice if you got this noise in Reverse? Mine doesnt make the noise in Reverse which pushed me away from the drive-shaft? Anyways this noise is reallly annoying!! Anyways any input would be GREAT!! Thanks   Matt Replies to this message: masterguns (Jun 23, 2007 8:49 am)

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