GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Chevrolet 🢒 2001 🢒 Tracker - 4WD 🢒 General Information 🢒 Vibration Diagnosis and Correction 🢒 Propeller Shaft Runout Measurement

Tools Required

    • J 8001 Dial Indicator Set
    • J 7872 Magnetic Base Dial Indicator Set

A propeller shaft with excessive runout may cause first-order driveline vibrations. Use the following procedures in order to measure the runout of the propeller shaft:

    • Clean the areas of the propeller shaft to be measured before inspecting the runout.
    • Inspect for damage and dents.
    • Replace dented propeller shafts.
    • Remove any undercoating from the propeller shaft before proceeding.
    • Refer to Measuring Propeller Shaft Runout, below, for the measurement procedure that applies to the following shaft assemblies:
       - One-piece
       - Two-piece

One Piece Propeller Shaft

    Object Number: 182256 Size: SH
    (1)Slip Yoke
    (2)Tube
    (3)Rear Runout Check
    (4)Center Runout Check
    (5)Front Runout Check
    (6)Damper
  1. Raise the vehicle on a suitable hoist. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
  2. Allow the wheels to spin freely.

    3. Object Number: 182270 Size: SH
  3. Attach a J 8001 or J 7872 .
  4. Place the transmission in NEUTRAL.

    5. Object Number: 652343 Size: SH
  5. Rotate the pinion flange or the transmission yoke by hand and record measurements at three points on the propeller shaft (1,2,3).

    6. Important: The propeller shaft turns easier in one direction than in the other. Removing the wheels and the drums will make turning easier. Do not include fluctuations on the dial indicator due to welds or surface irregularities.

  6. Only perform the following steps for one-piece propeller shafts if the runout exceeds the tolerances:
    7. 6.1. Mark the position of the propeller shaft on the pinion flange.
    6.2. Remove the propeller shaft from the pinion flange.
    6.3. Rotate the propeller shaft 180 degrees from it's original position.
    6.4. Reinstall the propeller shaft.
    6.5. Record the measurement at the same three places.
    6.6. If the runout still exceeds the tolerance, inspect the pinion flange runout before replacing the propeller shaft.

Two Piece Propeller Shaft

    Object Number: 182256 Size: SH
    (1)Slip Yoke
    (2)Tube
    (3)Rear Runout Check
    (4)Center Runout Check
    (5)Front Runout Check
    (6)Damper
  1. Raise the vehicle on a suitable hoist. Refer to Lifting and Jacking the Vehicle in General Information.
  2. Allow the wheels to spin freely.

    3. Object Number: 182270 Size: SH
  3. Attach a J 8001 or J 7872 .
  4. Place the transmission in NEUTRAL.

    5. Important: The propeller shaft turns easier in one direction than in the other. Removing the wheels and the drums will make turning easier. Do not include fluctuations on the dial indicator due to welds or surface irregularities.


    Object Number: 652343 Size: SH
  5. Rotate the pinion flange by hand and record measurements at three points on the rear propeller shaft (1,2,3).
  6. Mark the position of the rear propeller shaft at both ends for proper reassembly.
  7. Remove the rear propeller shaft.

    8. Important: The splined end of a propeller shaft is critical to the smooth operation of a multiple piece propeller shaft. When inspecting stub-shaft runout, ensure that the dial indicator readings are accurate.


    Object Number: 652360 Size: SH
  8. Rotate the transmission yoke by hand and record the runout measurement at one point on the front propeller shaft (1).

    9. Object Number: 182285 Size: SH
  9. Rotate the propeller shaft by hand and record the runout of the splines about a half inch from the end of the stub shaft.

    10. Important: When you replace a propeller shaft, inspect the new shaft for runout. Inspect the pinion flange runout if the replacement shaft runout is also out of tolerance.

  10. Replace the propeller shaft if either measurement is out of tolerance. Refer to Two-Piece Propeller Shaft Replacement in Propeller Shaft.