As a leading brand in both quality and style, Porsche is known far and wide to be unparalleled in providing a world-class driving experience every time you climb behind the wheel.
In order to maintain this high level of performance, it is important to have regular maintenance and upkeep performed on your Porsche. This helps ensure certain issues more common in the brand, such as driveshaft support failure, don’t interfere with your continued enjoyment of your vehicle.
This article will briefly explain what the driveshaft does, cover common warning signs that your driveshaft support is beginning to fail, as well as provide information on who to trust whenever your Porsche is in need of repair.
How the Driveshaft and Driveshaft Support Work
The driveshaft is a long spinning tube that transfers torque to your Porsche’s wheels, allowing the vehicle to move. While the driveshaft is a part of the drivetrain system, it is not fully connected to any other part of the drivetrain. Instead, as a result of the driveshaft’s need to freely move, it is secured to the vehicle by a central support bearing.
This bearing is typically set in rubber, which as a soft material breaks down quite easily given enough time and wear. The constant vibrations caused by driving can eventually wear the rubber down until it cracks and breaks, which is why it is the most common cause of driveshaft support failure.
The Common Warning Signs of Driveshaft Support Failure
Driveshaft support failure is not the sort of problem that can be left alone, as it makes your Porsche dangerously unsafe to drive. Therefore, identifying that your driveshaft support might be starting to fail as early as possible is crucial. Some of the more common signs that the driveshaft support in your Porsche is failing are:
Clunks, Rattles, and Thumps
One of the earliest indications of a driveshaft support problem, any sort of clunking, rattling, or thumping while accelerating should be investigated post haste. These sounds are typically a result of the failing support bearing allowing the driveshaft to bang into other parts of your Porsche’s undercarriage.
These sounds can be heard when you are accelerating as well as when you are braking. This is due to the movements in the driveshaft created by the changes in torque and gear.
Whining
As the rubber setting around the support bearing ages, it can begin to crack during the rotations of the driveshaft. This cracking can be heard as any sort of whine while driving, although typically the sound is more high pitched. Any observed whining from your Porsche is a clear sign to get your vehicle inspected by a trusted mechanic.
Shake and Grind
Occasionally, the CV joint can also dry out, resulting in a grinding sound as the rollers begin to wear out due to the increased friction. This is often paired with a violent shaking sensation, and sometimes even a total loss of control while driving.
If this ever occurs, pull over immediately, and have your Porsche towed to a repair shop you can trust. Continuing to drive your vehicle in this condition is extremely dangerous to you, as well as everyone else on the road.
Fixing the Driveshaft Support
You can never be too careful when it comes to repairing a failing driveshaft support. Finding a trained mechanic who is familiar with the intricacies of your Porsche is integral to properly protecting yourself as well as your vehicle. Not only can driveshaft support failure cause extensive damage to the driveshaft and chassis, it can also result in dangerous collisions.
Therefore, if you observe any of the above warning signs for a driveshaft support failure, it is essential you take your Porsche to an expert immediately.
DART Auto is Making a Difference
Having proudly served Porsche owners in Englewood, Littleton, Centennial, and Denver, CO for the last 20 years, our mechanics here 
at DART Auto are dedicated to making sure your Porsche will last you a lifetime. We firmly believe that part of owning a Porsche is finding a repair shop you can trust.
We equip our certified technicians with the latest factory tools and parts in order to ensure you receive the finest, dealership-quality service in Denver, while our lower overhead provides these services at a more reasonable price.
Due to the occasional frequency of driveshaft support failure problems associated with the Porsche brand, it is important for you to closely monitor your vehicle for any changes in the way it handles. If you believe your Porsche’s driveshaft support is beginning to fail, we hope you will join countless others in trusting DART Auto to professionally diagnose and treat your vehicle’s ailments.
