Calculating Driveshaft Frequency

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2009 Ford Pickup, 2009 Ford F550 Super Duty, 2009 Ford F450 Super Duty, and 2009 Ford Cab & Chassis. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Knowing the tire and wheel frequency allows for easy calculation of driveshaft frequency. The driveshaft drives the tires through the rear axle. Therefore, to determine driveshaft frequency, multiply tire and wheel frequency by the ratio of the rear axle. Calculate driveshaft frequency by performing the following steps:

Obtain the axle ratio of the vehicle. Suppose the vehicle you are diagnosing has a vibration problem at 64 km/h (40 mph) and a rear axle ratio of 3.08:1.
Multiply the tire and wheel frequency of 7 Hz (calculated previously) with the rear axle ratio of 3.08:1. This results in a driveshaft frequency of 22 Hz at a vehicle speed of 64 km/h (40 mph).

The calculated frequency of 22 Hz is the first order driveshaft frequency; the second order frequency of the driveshaft is twice this number, or 44 Hz; and so on.