HYPEBEAST!

My 2000 s2000 seems to be vibrating A LOT when I accelerate the car. It happens usually from 40mph-50mph and 70mph-80mph. It only vibrates when I accelerate, but when I put it in neutral or let off the gas vibration stops. I was doing a little bit of research and read that:

The original drive shafts of the S2000 is design at the stock ride height so when the car is lowered with coil springs or coil-over suspension then the drive shafts will be stretched about 10mm each side. This will occur a lot of stress to the drive shaft. As a result, the drive shaft will wear down in a very short period of time. J's Racing offer this spacer which the drive shaft can be 10mm closer to the outer side of the shaft so the shaft will not be stretched. This also allows the drive shafts to have longer life.

Supposedly that is causing my vibration. My drive shaft is balanced and is in good condition. It has nothing to do with my tires or alignment. I put the car up on my friends lift took the wheels off and drove it and the vibration still occurs.


Do you guys think putting on drive shaft spacers will eliminate the vibration? If so whats a good place to buy those spacers from?

Thanks for any input. If I need more specific on anything let me know.!

negcamber

Use the new and excellent search that we have.

This is well known and well discussed.

Drive shaft spacers are one fix for this, but not the cheapest. You can swap rear inner CV buckets from driver to passenger side & vis versa to fix the problem and only costs time.

HYPEBEAST!

i tried searching, but post of the posts were un-solved. maybe i didnt search hard enough. sorry

negcamber

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.ph...ic=490050&st=0

CoralDoc

Try the swap first, and if this solves the problem, you may wish to add spacer to prevent future wear. If you add spacers to the drive shafts as they are now, they may still vibrate since they are already worn.

passmans2kny

i didn't know about the swap, might be doing this soon, my cars already been dropped for a year

SpitfireS

Lowering changes the angle at which the axle enteres the CV bucket.
At OEM ride hight the ange is close to 0 (zero), IOW the axle enters the CV bucket in almost a straight line, axial.
More angle means the bearings on the spide move more inside the CV bucket per revolution.
More movement = more wear.

Spacers move the CV bucket outwards (towards the wheels).
That is, from a mechanical point of view, a weaker set-up.
The CV should be bolted directly onto the output shaft.

Spacers do not change the angle at which the axle enters the CV bucket.
Spacers do not prevent the extra wear due to lowering (explained above)
Spacers do give the spiders bearings a fresh contact patch inside the CV bucket.
So they may stop the vibe during acc thing.
The same as swapping them left/right would.
The same as new CV buckets would.

SpitfireS

My car is at OEM ride hight.
The Koni Yellows are at the OEM perch with OEM springs.

Its clear the angle isn't 0 (My bad ) but closer to 4 degrees.
Follow the orange arrow.
Its also clear that lowering the car will increase the angle between CV bucket and axle.

Look at the yellow arrow.
With the car lowered, one has to get the rear camber back to spec, so getting the hub back to -1,5 / -2 degrees will make the hub be more "upright", again increasing the angel between CV bucket and axle.

Follow the green arrow.
Add a CV spacer and the CV bucket will move outwards, towards the wheel.
The CV bucket will move horizontal along the red centre line.
The axle has a fixed length, so moving the CV bucket outwards does not change the angle between CV bucket and axle.

More angle = more wear.


Maybe this will settle it for once and for all?
(probably not)

RED MX5

Please explain how the spacers prevent future wear. I'm calling BS.

SpitfireS, great post and pics, as always.

F20_C

I would just switch the cups.

Great explanation SpitfireS