What does a driveshaft do?

A driveshaft is essentially the component that “drives” a car by transferring power from a car’s engine to its wheels. It has a tubular design and is usually made from aluminium, steel or carbon fibre to ensure it's both strong and lightweight.

Front-wheel drive vehicles don’t usually have driveshafts. However, because in four wheel and rear wheel drive vehicles the gearbox and differential are separate units, the driveshaft is needed to transmit the turning motion of the gearbox to the differential. As the output shaft of the gearbox rotates it spins the driveshaft, which then turns the differential ring gear to rotate the wheels.

Driveshafts are a very precisely balanced and weighted component because they rotate at very high speeds in order to turn the wheels. When the driveshaft has an issue, it can instantly affect the drivability of the vehicle.

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer.

It is part of the Renault–Nissan–Mitsubishi Alliance but has had connections with many other vehicle manufacturers throughout its history—as shareholders, part owners, and suppliers of parts and components.

How popular is Mitsubishi in the United Kingdom?

Mitsubishi celebrated 100 years of automotive manufacturing in 2017 and has created a solid position for itself in the UK market with around 350k vehicles on the roads today.

Making a mark in an SUV orientated market

The selection of Mitsubishi models does feature the Mirage hatchback and the L200 pickup, but the rest of the range is predominantly SUVs. Even the Mirage has strong SUV overtones.

And why not? They’re sturdy, versatile and roomy enough for families of all sizes, and the Outlander PHEV is perfect for company car drivers with its low fuel bills and plenty of interior space.

Outlander PHEV: The world’s first plug-in hybrid SUV

In 2013 Mitsubishi introduced the world’s first plug-in hybrid SUV. As a company that continues to make significant breakthroughs in driving technology, their work with renewable fuel types is establishing them as a leader in ecological systems.

The Mitsubishi Shogun: the beginnings of the SUV generation

The roots of the Shogun can be traced as far back as 1934 with a prototype for the Japanese Government, but it wasn’t until the Tokyo Motor Show in 1973 that Mitsubishi presented their first commercial prototype.

The Shogun was launched in 1982, and along with other 4x4 originals: predominantly by Land Rover, Jeep and the Toyota Land Cruiser, it helped boost the popularity of rugged go-anywhere motoring into the mainstream.

How often should a driveshaft need replacing?

There is no set lifespan of a driveshaft, but it shouldn’t need to be replaced for at least 75,000 miles, unless it gets damaged. It’s important to note that this can vary a lot depending on the car, driving style and habits. The driveshaft will need to be replaced sooner if it gets damaged. Because driveshafts are very precisely balanced and weighted, when there is an issue, it will instantly affect the drivability of the car.

What happens during a driveshaft repair?

Our certified mechanics will:

• Safely jack the car so they can inspect the driveshaft.

• Replace the faulty or damaged driveshaft if necessary.

• Check any related components and advise if any need to be replaced.

• Double check the drive assembly and test drive the car.

• Make any final adjustments, if needed.

What causes a driveshaft to break?

Since drive shafts must rotate very quickly in order to do their job, they must remain weighted down and balanced exactly right. Therefore even the slightest damage will prevent the drive shafts from operating properly. This damage is usually due to an accident or can occur whilst driving over a bump or pothole. In most cases, when the driveshaft becomes damaged the car will become very bumpy and difficult to handle.

When should a driveshaft be replaced?

While there is no set lifespan of a driveshaft, it shouldn’t need to be replaced for at least 75,000 miles. It’s important to note that this can vary a lot depending on the car, driving style and habits.

The driveshaft will need to be replaced sooner if it gets damaged. Because driveshafts are very precisely balanced and weighted, when there is an issue, it will instantly affect the drivability of the car.

What are the symptoms of a bad driveshaft?

Usually, there a few signs you can look for:

• Scraping, squeaking and rattling sounds from underneath your car.

• Problems when turning your car is a tell-tale sign of a bad driveshaft.

• Intense vibrations coming from underneath the car.

• A significant shudder when accelerating from low speed or a stopped position.

What happens during a driveshaft repair?

Our certified mechanics will:

• Safely jack the car so they can inspect the driveshaft.

• Replace the faulty or damaged driveshaft if necessary.

• Check any related components and advise if any need to be replaced.

• Double check the drive assembly and test drive the car.

• Make any final adjustments, if needed.

What is the average life of a driveshaft?

There is no set lifespan of a driveshaft, but it shouldn’t need to be replaced for at least 75,000 miles, unless it gets damaged. It’s important to note that this can vary a lot depending on the car, driving style and habits.

Can you drive with a bad driveshaft?

Driving with a bad driveshaft is not recommended. A damaged or faulty driveshaft will severely affect the drivability of your vehicle, making it very difficult to handle and potentially dangerous on the roads. If your driveshaft is damaged you will experience issues when turning, shuddering when accelerating and intense vibrations when driving.

What happens if you don't replace a bad driveshaft?

Failing to replace a bad driveshaft could result in further, more expensive, damage to the car. If you begin to experience any of the above symptoms, we recommend having your driveshaft inspected and replaced if necessary. Having your car regularly serviced will ensure that any issues related to the driveshaft are picked up and dealt with early.