I want to second (or third or fourth) a thank you for warning folks about this.

Driveshaft issues seem benign, but... unlike so many other potential automotive failures, with driveshsaft, you can't just throw her in neutral and coast to a stop.

If the car is moving, the driveshaft is spinning....

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-Matt I ♥ my ♂

In the early 60's when I was attending San Diego State College, a student reported that his driveshaft failed at a u-joint while driving on the freeway. He said the driveshaft banged around and eventually came up through the floor,caught his pants and snatched them completely off.

Interesting if true otherwise probably an alibi for indecent exposure.

update, from the original poster.

so the repair went as it should, i followed the instructions laid out by Tony at this web address

home.lyse.net/brox/TonyPage5.html

thanks for taking the time to photo and explain such a job.

The drive shaft was still good. i replaced the bearing, the flex disk, the spring, the dust cover and the grease boot. all of which were damaged. it could have been a 50$ bearing job, had i listened to the growl.

I think david samuel's reply to this thread, who said that all advice on growling centre drive shaft bearings are usually accompanied with phrases like 'needs changing' 'needs attention' 'sometime soon' and other threads that say noise is just the beginning and when you feel vibration then you really know it's ready to fail.

take it for what it's worth, but i'll add this thread to the many others that don't warn that it could fail at high speed. and maybe encourage some of you who have left that for a later repair that it's somewhat important to pay attention to sooner than later.

i'll try and post a picture or two of the damage it tore thru the floor. .

great website, !
thanks everyone for making this place what it is ... an incredible resource

I've been involved in a few of these. One where the rusted floor let the shaft wobble.

Best to replace the shaft or check balance if possible.

Make sure the carrier bracket isn't bent and/ or the bolt mounting area pulled down.

If budget is a factor, inspect carefully, replace, and drive cautiously until you're sure it's OK.

When I get a new 240 or service a friend's I always drop the carrier bracket, pop the seal, clean and regrease. Did one this weekend that I'd say was close to seizing.
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240s: 2 drivers and some parts cars

Because it was the Center Bearing and is basically captured by the Bracket and the bottom of the car keeping it from hanging the shaft down too much and stressing the 'U'joints. In spite of that way scaring sound and feeling of the shaft banging around, I would guess the 'U' joints are good. When the shaft-ends drop to the ground and bang around.. That's Scary and dangerous.
Replace the Bearing and the Rubber and see what you got.

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'75 Jeep CJ5 345Hp ChevyPwrd, two motorcycles, '85 Pickup: The '89 Volvo is the newest vehicle I own. it wasn't Volvos safety , it was Longevity that sold me http://home.lyse.net/brox/TonyPage4.html http://cleanflametrap.com/tony/

...not because I take pleasure in your misfortune, but to say "thank you" for relating the incident and warning others of a potentially dangerous problem.

You must've needed a clean pair of drawers after that.

I think the symptoms of impending driveshaft center bearing failure may have been minimized over the years by members of the community in general. There are lots of posts on the board about people driving the car until there is noticeable vibration on takeoff, loud growling, rumbling, even crunching noises. Generally speaking these are accompanied by comments such as "wear", "needs attention", "starting to go" or "sometime soon" etc. It all comes down to lack of familiarity with bearings. Any bearing that is making any noise is worn and is prone to failure. When the center bearings are just starting to wear they hiss, in my experience. If you drive next to a high curb or a center divider, you can hear the hissing. It sounds like a compressed air leak. THAT, in my opinion, is the time to get that bearing out of there. If it has already progressed to rumbling, then the bearings themselves or the races they run in are already seriously damaged and heat is building as a result. Heat causes the side seals to fail or to fall out. Compromised side seals are prone to moisture ingress--a quicker end to a dying bearing. Dropped side seals will let enough dirt in to destroy what's left of the bearing in days.

I would take your shaft to a competent drive shaft shop or machine shop that does drive shafts. Most of the things it hit are far softer than the shaft, as long as it didn't hit the ground. They will be able to tell you if the shaft needs replacement. If any of the yokes that the u-joints fit into were banged badly, deformed, or if the shaft was bent, then yes, it will be cheaper to buy a used shaft and rebuild that one.

Scary experience!

After a beating like that I think that I would replace the entire driveshaft with a used part from a salvage yard.If you only change the joints and bearing it could still be way out of balance causing vibration and premature failure of tranny seal/housing bushing, poss rear end damage.If you have problems finding a replacement shaft in a local yard, I'm sure there are several sources here on the board.You should also check all your mounts and bushings.

What a nightmare!...Yes, It happened to me once, a long time ago, except it was a 1965 Ford Thunderbird.I was on the freeway, doing about 70 mph, and the driveshaft came loose at the front u-joint..It dang near killed me!.
As for your situation, yes, you will need to replace all the u-joints, the center bearing and rubber mounting, and probably the transmission mounts, etc.
12 years ago, when I bought my first Volvo, it had the "growling bearings", you spoke of, and I had to replace the center bearing, the u-joints,and the trans mounts. If you like you car, and you want to keep driving it, (and you can afford it), there is no reason to skimp on refurbishing the driveline.
You are lucky you survived the event !!!
Good luck and best wishes........Dana