Balancing the propeller shafts is necessary to eliminate vibrations, the action of which can cause destruction of the vehicle's structural elements. Balancing includes the determination of the imbalance on a special dynamic stand and its subsequent elimination by welding or drilling metal.
Balancing the propeller shaft is necessary to eliminate its imbalance, which can cause increased vibrations when the engine is running. Vibrations of the cardan can cause destruction of both itself and adjacent parts and assembly units. The vibration level depends on the speed of rotation of the shaft, determined by the mode of operation of the engine. The reasons for the imbalance are the following factors:
- violation of the requirements for the manufacture of propeller shaft components;
- non-observance of the shaft assembly technology;
- violation of the alignment of the shaft parts relative to each other and mating structural elements of the vehicle transmission;
- errors in heat treatment of propeller shaft parts;
- mechanical damage to the structure.
Balancing the propeller shaft of a car transmission includes 2 main stages: determining the imbalance and its subsequent elimination.
Definition of imbalance
Unlike wheels, which can be statically balanced in a garage, propeller shafts require dynamic balancing. This operation involves the use of special equipment and in most cases can only be performed in a service station.
Dynamic balancing of the propeller shaft is performed on special balancing machines. The machine allows simulating the real operating conditions of the cardan during balancing, providing its rotation speed at the level of 500-5000 rpm. Rotation is created through the use of an asynchronous electric motor, the torque from which is transmitted to the cardan through a belt drive.
When balancing, the propeller shaft is fixed between two rotating pins, one of which is driven by an electric motor. If necessary, the balancing machine can have intermediate supports.
The deviations are measured using sensors that move along the length of the propeller shaft. The measured values are processed using special software and displayed on the monitor screen. Next, the program determines the installation location and the mass of the balancing weight or the amount of metal removal.
Eliminating imbalance
The imbalance is eliminated by selecting or adding the required amount of material. Automotive maintenance technicians use methods to correct imbalances such as drilling through metal, installing balancing plates or weights, and shims to correct misalignment.
