The drive shaft just completely snapped in my dad's car while I was driving it. What happens if a center drive shaft support bearing fails on a Mercedes ML320 while you are driving? I'm not driving the car and I'm not planning on driving it to see what happens when the axle does ... which has deteriorated the unit. It may vibrate more under light throttle, and vibrate less (maybe) when you take your foot off the go pedal. At this point, the bad U-joint is beyond repair, and the entire drive shaft should be replaced. Drive shaft broke...what happens now? This especially happens in overloaded trucks on a hill the pinion shaft can break through overload or to much torque such as drag racing the welds on ends of shaft can crack. But what happens if control arm breaks while driving? Thanks for the A2A on What happens if a driveshaft fails while driving? What should I be looking for that could be the cause of a snapped drive shaft. Before it actually starts to break down other related parts prematurely? When the timing belt breaks, it can be a harrowing event, depending ofn when it occurs and what is around. Additionally, the drive shaft failure will result in a loss of motive power. Right now the CV joint on my axle is ripped and it's making clunking noise. That’s all! Driveshafts are finely balanced before installation to ensure they do not vibrate. >> More Japan used car types are here, click for more information << The Final Words . One such component is the timing chain, which is responsible for allowing the crankshaft and camshaft to rotate at the same time and at the same speed. They said the alternator was bad, and it needs to be replaced, but then they said my center drive shaft support bearing was making a lot of noise, which means it will soon fail. Replacing the broken or severely damaged control arm, ball joint, or bushing is the only way in that case. Or something in between? If the drive shaft breaks, a section of it can strike the transfer case tunnel with enough force that the airbag computer will believe the vehicle is in a crash and thus deploy the airbags. If it breaks, you lose power to the the rear wheels. many times, while … In that scenario, the drive shaft is literally broken and lies on the road. It creates an unpleasant driving experience and several other troubles. Not sure what's happened here, but my gut instinct is telling me that either the drive shaft or the cv joint has gone on my car.. Basically, I was driving home from town, exiting a multi storey car park when all of a sudden a … A vehicle may emit noises if the drive shaft is bad. I knew it happend because I lost most of my braking power, the pedal went to the floor. Well you can't actually accellerate with a broken drive but however if the drive shaft breaks while you are driving your vehicle will keep moving providing you don't press the brakes What Will Happens When a Timing Chain or Belt Breaks While Driving The internal combustion engine has many vital components that keep it functioning and performing well for the vehicle. It seems odd that it would just snap on its own accord or because it got worn out. It is recommended to have a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, diagnose your vehicle and assist you with an axle replacement if required. When the drive shaft begins to have malfunctioning issues, then your driving ability will be impaired. You may hear a low squeaking sound that intensifies with increases in speed. Is this a major problem? If they go out, then most likely you'll lose power to the drive wheels and be stranded. However, even parking may be difficult if the drive shaft is failing. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash. Unfortunately, drive shaft breakage also leads to damage in other vehicle components. This is often the result of a severely damaged U-joint, a part connected to the drive shaft.