I don't now if this idea any merit technically. My Equinox is all wheel drive. I am experiencing what I believe to be problems with the rear end. At about 30 mph I am experiencing a severe shudder of the drive shaft. It feels like the drive shaft is hitting the underside of the vehicle. Probably isn't but it feels that way. Once I get over 40 I'm ok and highway travel is not an issue. As I slow down back through the same speed range the shudder returns until I get down in the 20 mph range.

I don't want to invest a lot of money into fixing the rear end but would like to keep the vehicle on the road.

Here's my idea / question - Being an AWD vehicle, if one were to disconnect and remove the drive shaft to the rear would it become a FWD vehicle. Would the rear end become free wheeling? Or would it lockup or drag? Would there e safety issues that I'm not thinking of?

 

Sounds like a drive shaft issue.

 

You cannot just disconnect the driveshaft and run the vehicle.

Your problem is the driveshaft carrier bearing or the mount. The mount is probably rusted out. Mine went bad and produced the same results...a severe vibration. When I took it in for service they said the bearing and the driveshaft were constructed as one unit. I questioned that and eventually they removed the old bearing from the driveshaft and somehow put a new one on. Cost was about $800...thats at a GM dealership