Problems w/ drive shaft loop hitting?

[WH1]

Ever since I had my drive shaft safety loop put on my car has made some frightening sounds underneath my console area. I figure it's got to be the d.s. loop. I put all the braces (r. seat, under hood & f. frame braces) on and it stopped. Then the other day I had myself and three other people in the car and every time we hit a bump it did it. I know I could refrain from riding with that many passengers but has anybody else run into this? If so how did you fix it?

 

[blackbuick87]

What loop do you have? I have a Metco loop which is so big is barely fits. Never hits. Maybe your rear suspension is getting tired also, maybe stiffen it up a little or run a couple pounds of air in your airbags if you have them

 

[wagon]

I had this problem before. It was the body bushings. They were shot. The loop connects to the body. The driveshaft comes from the tranny which is connected to the frame. If the body bushings are gone, the body sits lower on the fram, and your driveshaft hits the loop. Mine hit everytime I nailed it. Once I had the bushings replaced, it was gone. My bushings were so bad that they were either missing, or pushed through a hole in the floor.

Brian

 

[WH1]

I picked up the loop at the Nat's this year off an older guy who was selling them and Hot Wheels, looks like a Duttweiler but who knows. I've only got the r.r. air bag so maybe I'll add the left for a matching pair. Thanks for the advice.

 

[WH1]

Hey Wagon, we must have replied at the same time. Did you replace the bushings yourself or have it done. Just wondering on the diffulculty level? Also, if you don't mind, how much did it cost you if you had someone else replace them? Thanks.

 

[Nick Micale]

Lots of the loops will hit, except Metco, and the solutions are to replace it, or modify it by making the "hole" bigger.

We end up cutting them apart and welding together using 2 spacer tabs to lenghten the opening.

 

[bruce]

Look at it and see where it's hitting, I just needed to add a couple washers to space mine over a little.

Body bushings are a function of rust.
No rust and a 4-5 hour job.
Mine took 10 hours, I work slow.

Be sure to have the frame on jackstands, and not the suspension or you wind up twisting things alot more then you would otherwise.

You MIGHT find it easier to take the bumpers off first.

 

[wagon]

Originally posted by WH1
Hey Wagon, we must have replied at the same time. Did you replace the bushings yourself or have it done. Just wondering on the diffulculty level? Also, if you don't mind, how much did it cost you if you had someone else replace them? Thanks.

Mine were pretty bad, and the body itself was pretty bad. A few of the supports needed to be rebuilt, because when they tried to take them out, the supports fell apart. I had them done at Jack Cotton's. I don't remember how much it cost. It was pretty expensive. For the amount of work they had to do, it wasn't a bad price though. It has been a couple of years, and I got alot of other stuff done, that is why I can't remember the price. I should have stripped the car instead. It isn't worth keeping now(falling apart everywhere). But, I didn't have another one at the time. Now it is going to be the donor for my next Frankensteinmobile.

Brian

 

[Louie L.]

I had a Dutweiler style one and nothing i did would keep it from hitting.Body bushings,tranny bushings, didnt matter.

The Metco I now have does not hit period. Its huge.

Good Luck