Hi all,

I recently picked up a 2003 S2000 with 100k miles. Overall it is in good shape but it does have some vibration from the rear end. It fits all the characteristics of a bad inner CV joint/diff cup/whatever you call it. I took it to a shop to see about swapping them or replacing them and they tried to tell me that it was my drive shaft bearings that had been worn so that the drive shaft was spinning out of balance. I was so sure that it was the cv issue that this caught me off guard. Is there anything I can do to clarify that it is or isn't a drive shaft issue? Then if it is the drive shaft, what would you recommend to remedy the problem. Drive shaft shop one piece aluminum? I read some bad things about the universal joint rather than the CV joint aluminum drive shaft.

Just to clarify the symptoms, from 40-75 mph, there is vibration from the rear end only on acceleration.

I told the shop to put the car back together for me to pick it up since they quoted me $1800 to replace the drive shaft.

Car is great minus the vibration! I came from an NA miata so this is a nice upgrade.
Thanks for the help in advance.

 

Some parts ppl refer to the axels as drive shafts and the drive shaft as a prop shaft. I think they are called drive shafts in the manual. The shop may have been confirming ue suspicion but was lost in translation.
http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...EAR+DRIVESHAFT

 

They said prop shaft. The bit between the transmission and the diff. I talked to him again when I picked the car up and he said they were able to tell because there was play in the shaft. Like it would wiggle slightly. I just got underneath the car and it moves maybe a few mm forward and backward but not at all side to side. I'd be surprised if that much front to back movement created such vibrations. Also, I've been doing research on replacement drive (prop) shafts and everything seems to be made with universal joints even though the origional shaft has cv joints. Any thoughts on this? I'm probably going to take it for a second opinion, not a dealer this time, and if the assessment comes back the same then I'll have to replace the part. I've heard that they take a while to be shipped so I'm trying to be prepared for if that is what ends up happening.

 

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