RogerB

Hello Ben, No, I'm not Roger Blasserg with or without amnesia !! Roger

Hi Gaz, Well, if no one out there knows anything about the dampers you're probably right, the answer is to get a pair and fit them anyway. Though as they're just split rings that are clamped on over a sticky pad (according to my manual) there's no need to replace the whole driveshaft. Regards Roger

Hi Chris, Thanks for the response but they're not just little balance weights like you have on a propshaft they're vibration dampers set to detune frequencies in the driveshaft that might otherwise cause it to resonate and eventually fail. This is why the position along the shaft is so critical. What I don't know is how severe the vibration is if they're not fitted and what the long-term effect might be on the adjacent parts e.g. wheel and gearbox bearings. Anyone have any experience of long-term running without the dampers? Roger

Hello Folks, I'm just replacing the driver's side front wheel bearing on my VR6 (replaced the nearside last year) and noticed a rusty section on the outer end of the driveshaft where the vibration damper should be and isn't !! I've had the car for about 18 months and there's never been a damper fitted as far as I know. Does anyone know what effect the dampers have and if running without them can cause premature wheel bearing failure? The car has only done about 65,000 miles. All opinions welcome. Thanks Roger