logo
a-premium-image
Hello
Select address
verhicle
Select Your Vehicle
Search
Go back to Blog

How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Drive Shaft?

Published by: Edison
Date of Publish:

When you're driving your car, you probably don't think about how your transmission works or what keeps it in sync with the wheels.

And that's okay! It's enough to know that your transmission and differential are part of a system known as the driveline, which includes other parts such as the drive shaft.

Your car's drive shaft plays a crucial role in making sure that power reaches the ground safely and efficiently when you shift gears, so it's important to understand how this part works and what can happen if it breaks down or needs repair.

In this article, we'll explain exactly what a driveshaft is and why it needs to be replaced (or not replaced) if something goes wrong - plus we'll tell you how much the replacement of a drive shaft costs on average!

What Is a Drive Shaft?

A drive shaft is the part of a vehicle's drive train that transmits power to the wheels or other rotating devices, such as a propeller. The drive shaft transfers power from the transmission to the differential. It connects these two parts and, therefore, links them together as one unit.

Because it's so integral to getting power from your engine to your wheels (or whatever else you might want it to do), you need to make sure that your drive shaft isn't damaged or defective in any way. If there are problems with it—whether they're due to wear and tear, corrosion or other factors—they can lead not only to costly repairs but also unsafe driving conditions for everyone on the road!

What Does a Drive Shaft Do?

A drive shaft is a crucial component of your vehicle. It connects the transmission to the axle, providing power to your wheels. The two most important functions of a drive shaft are keeping your tires from spinning and protecting other components on your car from damage.

When you step on the gas pedal, power from your engine is sent to the transmission through a series of gears that multiply torque and reduce speed before reaching the differential, which distributes it evenly between both wheels (or all four wheels in some cases).

The differential allows each wheel to rotate at different speeds as it turns corners so that one tire doesn't slip more than another—a helpful feature when driving up steep hills or around tight curves!

The second function of a drive shaft is protecting other parts on your car by keeping them in place when they're moving at high speeds like while you're driving down an interstate highway at 75 miles per hour.

If there weren't anything holding everything together then every time one side hit another piece like an intersection or pothole would cause serious damage!

How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Drive Shaft?

Driving a vehicle with a broken drive shaft can be extremely dangerous. The front wheels are linked to the engine by the drive shaft, and if it is damaged, that means that your car won't be moving.

Driveshafts come in all different sizes and shapes, so it's hard to give an exact price as there could be several different parts that need to be replaced. Here is what you can expect when it comes to repairing or replacing your vehicle's drive shaft:

Front Drive Shaft Replacement Cost

The cost to replace a drive shaft depends on the type of shaft, the type of vehicle, and the condition of the vehicle.

The average cost of replacing a front drive shaft is between $300 and $1,000. Most front drive shafts can be replaced at home with basic tools like a jack and a floor jack.

If you're comfortable working on your own car and have some mechanical experience, you may be able to save some money by doing it yourself. If you don't have much experience working on cars or if your vehicle has been dropped off at an auto shop, expect to pay between $300 and $1,000 for labor alone.

The cost will vary depending on whether the shop uses specialized equipment or not and how quickly they are able to complete the job.

Rear drive shaft Replacement Cost

Drive shafts are an integral part of a vehicle's drivetrain. They are responsible for transferring power from the transmission to the rear wheels, and they also provide articulation between the front and rear axles.

The price of a new drive shaft will vary based on your vehicle model, year and mileage. In general, the cost of replacing a drive shaft is around $400 to $1,000 at most repair shops.

Some repairs require more labor than others; so if your car is old or has high mileage, this could affect how much it costs to replace your drive shaft.

The average cost of replacing a drive shaft can range anywhere from $300 to $1,500 depending on where you take it for service.

What Causes a Bent or Break in a Drive Shaft?

It's not uncommon for a drive shaft to be bent or broken. In fact, it can happen for a number of reasons:

  • Poor road conditions can put a lot of stress on your vehicle and cause the drive shaft to bend or break.
  • If you have an accident that causes damage to your vehicle, this might also damage your drive shafts.
  • A worn-out suspension system could result in excessive vibrations that cause wear and tear on the drive shafts, leading them to bend or break over time.

It's also possible that improper maintenance may be responsible for the problem as well. If you don't maintain your car properly (changing filters as needed), then there is likely more dirt and other debris getting into places where they shouldn't be going.

Particles like dust and dirt will eventually cause damage over time if they are left unchecked so make sure that you check all internal parts regularly so nothing gets blocked off!

How Can You Tell If Your Drive Shaft Is Bad?

As with any car repair, there are a few tips to keep in mind when diagnosing drive shaft problems. First, check your vehicle’s drive shaft for damage.

Look for cracks or breaks in the metal casing, especially near where it connects to the transmission or rear differential.

Inspect any boots that cover the ends of each shaft and make sure they are not torn and ragged-looking; if they are damaged, this could be an indication that other parts inside were also compromised by water getting into them during a rainstorm—or even just when driving through puddles!

Next, look at your vehicle's seals: these are rubber components that protect against rust and debris getting into areas like bearings and CV joints (more on these later).

If you see cracks or tears in these seals, you may need to replace them as well as whatever else was damaged along with them (such as bearing housings).

Is It Dangerous to Drive with A Bad Drive Shaft?

The short answer is yes, it's very dangerous to drive with a bad drive shaft. A bad drive shaft can cause the transmission to fail and/or the differential to fail. It can also cause your vehicle to shake, pull to one side, or vibrate.

If you're experiencing any of these issues with your car then the first thing you should do is take it in for service so that we can diagnose and repair the problem as soon as possible!

How Long Does It Take to Replace A Drive Shaft?

The time required to replace a drive shaft varies depending on the type of vehicle and several other factors.

  • The availability of parts: If you're working on a car older than 10 or 15 years, it's likely that you'll need to search for specialty parts that aren't readily available at your local auto-parts store. This can make getting everything you need more difficult and time consuming, as well as increase the cost of replacing your drive shaft.
  • Availability of qualified mechanics: If no one in your area has experience with this type of repair, it may take longer than usual because new techniques will have to be learned and tested. In addition to simply being less experienced with the job itself, there will also be an increased risk associated with learning something new without having been trained properly first (e.g., using jack stands incorrectly when lifting your car).

What Type of Parts Do You Need for Replacing A Drive Shaft?

Replacing a drive shaft can be done with several different parts, depending on what's broken. The most common replacement pieces for a drive shaft are:

  • Drive Shaft Inner Cone
  • Drive Shaft Outer Cone
  • Driveshaft U-Joints (these connect the two cones together)

Conclusion

Your drive shaft happens to be one of the most pivotal components in your wheel system that is responsible for transferring the power and torque produced by the engine to the wheels. With the passage of time, these drive shafts are subjected to wear and tear and require maintenance. Since not many car owners can differentiate between different types of drive shafts or tell their parts, these components are often ignored in the inspection. However, there are certain signs by which you can clearly determine the requirement for a drive shaft replacement. These signs include retarded car movement, vibrations, and increased noises under the vehicle. Depending upon the model and type of your engine, transmission, and derivation, a drive shaft pair will cost you somewhere between $300-$1000.

About A-Premium
Learn more about what makes A-
Premium a brand you can rely on.
Our Story