aluminum driveshaft question

sspnotcback · Feb 21, 2013

just wondering who runs them and are they a good upgrade to get,also what kind of horsepower can they handle safley?

Illuminator · Feb 21, 2013

I've had the same question, and did some research....as far as I can tell the Ford Racing shaft is good for upto 400 hp, and if you have the money to spare, a carbon fibre unit can take upto 800 depending on which brand you choose. Other than that need to go for a heavy duty steel unit for over 400. There are other aluminum shafts custom built that can take more depending on size ( clearance for fox's exhaust seems to be an issue)

ratio411 · Feb 21, 2013

They handle a good bit of power...
GM put them on the 98-02 LSx/T56 F-bodies...
I tortured the one in my Z28.

Onefine88 · Feb 22, 2013

I've had the FRPP aluminum drive shafts on both my cars for years now. I don't notice the difference after all these years but when I first installed them I could not believe how much smoother with less vibration the car drove.
That alone was worth the cost for me.

TOOLOW91 · Feb 22, 2013

Deffinitly smoother , mine came from a friend with a 351 76mm turbo with a c4 that car went 9.23 with it and began to twist the input spline before anything was wrong with the drive shaft , I think they are a little stronger then we give credit for !!

TOOLOW91 · Feb 22, 2013

Found the pic , when I did all my recent work couldn't figure out what was up couldn't get my shaft in , this was it !

I guess a TRANS brake at 3k will do that haha

RacEoHolic330 · Feb 22, 2013

toolow91 said:
I couldn't get my shaft in

I guess a TRANS will do that haha

Sounds like a personal problem right there

Illuminator · Feb 22, 2013

Denny's Driveshaft's had some good info for shafts http://www.dennysdriveshaft.com/ and chrome moly pinion and slip yokes for both ends. If expense is no concern check out the carbon fiber units here http://www.pstds.com/

TOOLOW91 · Feb 22, 2013

RacEoHolic330 said:
Sounds like a personal problem right there

I see what you did there you got me !

89stang1 · Feb 22, 2013

dam!! twisted metal!! great pic i think u found the maximum capabilities lol im sure they can handle more than 400rwhp i wouldnt go without one

sspnotcback · Feb 22, 2013

well i was wanting to go with a 347 stroker in the future.sounds like it should be able to handle that.i would imagine u can get heavy duty yolk and u-joints for it right...and i definetly have vibration issues right now.if the aluminum shaft can help with that it would be great.

ratio411 · Feb 22, 2013

Since we are now talking about the total package... u-joints and yoke, I will point out that u-joints WITHOUT provisions for grease fittings are stronger than u-joints made to be greased.

Just a heads up.

Illuminator · Feb 22, 2013

I read the same ^^^^^ high quality u-joint's usually don't have grease fittings because they don't tend to lose grease. And the fact it adds a fracture point in the geometry. I too have rpm induced vibration in my drive line. Changed axle bearings, trans mount, checked run out on tailshaft, etc... got better after removing stock rubber trans mount with a urethane one, as I'm pretty sure the solid engine mounts with the soft rubber trans mount was an outlet for the vibration... anyone else have ideas? Seems there's a lot of posts here with different culprits for the vibe.

Shakerhood · Feb 22, 2013

89SSC18 said:
I've had the FRPP aluminum drive shafts on both my cars for years now. I don't notice the difference after all these years but when I first installed them I could not believe how much smoother with less vibration the car drove.
That alone was worth the cost for me.

Thats why I put one in my car, it took away the vibes.

f8tlfiveo · Feb 23, 2013

I have a ford racing shaft. Why would changing to aluminum make a vibration go away? Seems to me if your shaft is vibrating something is not concentric or the balance has been thrown off somehow. Replacing with a new steel shaft will prob give you the same results.

Onefine88 · Feb 23, 2013

f8tlfiveo said:
I have a ford racing shaft. Why would changing to aluminum make a vibration go away? Seems to me if your shaft is vibrating something is not concentric or the balance has been thrown off somehow. Replacing with a new steel shaft will prob give you the same results.

I Da Know? All I know is this made a "drastic" improvement in both my cars. I'm guessing the aluminum units are built alot straighter than the metal ones. That along with less weight equals less vibration.
Also I'm sure the lighter weight improves performance too. Less rotating mass.
Although I don't have numbers to back that up.

MikeH686 · Feb 24, 2013

What could have happened is you did something to the steel. Unit and when you bought the aluminum unit it was a new straight and true unit

84Ttop · Feb 25, 2013

I believe you are talking about a balancing issue. It is possible for your stock 25 year old driveshaft to be out of balance. I have used aluminum shafts in over 500rwhp applications with no trouble. I currently use a steel shaft in my car that just made 1327 rwhp and have friends with bigger budgets than me who run carbon fiber shafts one making in excess of 2000 rwhp and never had an issue.
Balancing in think is the key to your bad vibrations.

tca7291 · Feb 25, 2013

I'm pretty sure the solid engine mounts with the soft rubber trans mount was an outlet for the vibration... anyone else have ideas? Seems there's a lot of posts here with different culprits for the vibe.

I could be wrong, but I always heard that if you run solid engine mounts, you should run a solid tranny mount also.

ratio411 · Feb 25, 2013

tca7291 said:
I could be wrong, but I always heard that if you run solid engine mounts, you should run a solid tranny mount also.

It's the other way around.
Never run a solid tranny mount without solid engine mounts.
You can go the other way without issue.

aluminum driveshaft question

sspnotcback

Member

Illuminator

Active Member

ratio411

Onefine88

Previously 89SSC18

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?

RacEoHolic330

I like to dress like a pretty girl

Illuminator

Active Member

TOOLOW91

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?

89stang1

Stroked and Juiced

sspnotcback

Member

ratio411

Illuminator

Active Member

Shakerhood

f8tlfiveo

My wife likes my spool and blow-off valve.

Onefine88

Previously 89SSC18

MikeH686

Mine is only two inches though.

84Ttop

They make new pistons every day, so why worry?

tca7291

I can see your wieners.

ratio411

Similar threads

aluminum driveshaft question

Member

Active Member

Previously 89SSC18

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?

I like to dress like a pretty girl

Active Member

If you're the village idiot what's that make me?

Stroked and Juiced

Member

Active Member

My wife likes my spool and blow-off valve.

Previously 89SSC18

Mine is only two inches though.

They make new pistons every day, so why worry?

I can see your wieners.

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency