Can a driveshaft be lenghtened ?
Can a driveshaft be lenghtened ? Can an aluminum driveshaft be lenghtened by a DS shop ?
I have the ls1 camaro DS sitting at home but it's too short. I'm wondering if it could be used...
I have the ls1 camaro DS sitting at home but it's too short. I'm wondering if it could be used...
Originally Posted by Brains
Its not exactly the safest thing to do, every drivetrain shop I know of will simply cut you a new shaft.
So is it worth it for me to hang onto it ?
Would they still need the ends ?
Originally Posted by Hal StClair
Bring it to any shop that can do the alum. welding. They will just replace the tube and balance it. Hal
So they can make it longer by replacing the tube... And keep the OEM ends..
How much should that run me ?
Any reputable shop I can ship it to to get this done ?
Trending Topics
yeah, that's what I (asked) to have done. my dad took it in for me and the dips^^t told my dad that the ends of my almost new driveshaft wouldnt cut it, kept my old one and sold me a new one for $300. friggin rip off. if i had known I woulda kept my old as a spare and paid the same price. in short, yes they can cut the ends off and weld a new tube in place. id replace the u-joints if they've got some miles on them, though. Spicer FTW.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,148
Likes: 12
From: Downers Grove, IL
Driveshafts have a certain speed at which they will destroy themselves. It depends on the lenght, diameter, material, thickness and probably some other stuff that is over my head. There are calculators to determine what the driveshafts critical speed are, if you google driveshaft critical speed lots of info should come up.
What happens at the driveshafts critical speed is that it is stressed too much, and bends, it starts to whip around like a jump rope, shortens and pulls out of the back of the trans, rotates back under the rear wheels and either the u-joint/yolk breaks and sends the driveshaft flying behind the car or the rearend could rip out from under the car.
Interesting sidenote
Critical speed on the new chevy 5.3L avalanches is between 100 and 120(can`t remember exactly), I forget which aftermarket company found that out the hard way on their dyno
What happens at the driveshafts critical speed is that it is stressed too much, and bends, it starts to whip around like a jump rope, shortens and pulls out of the back of the trans, rotates back under the rear wheels and either the u-joint/yolk breaks and sends the driveshaft flying behind the car or the rearend could rip out from under the car.
Interesting sidenote
Critical speed on the new chevy 5.3L avalanches is between 100 and 120(can`t remember exactly), I forget which aftermarket company found that out the hard way on their dyno
9 Second Club
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 13,616
Likes: 185
From: Norn Iron
I found out the hard way too....
I ordered a shaft, circa 53" long, 3" chromoly steel for my car, from a big name supplier.
Not once was critical speed ever mentioned to me, and this cause me no end of hassle. IMO it was an utter disgrace of any such company not to inform the purchaser of such an important thing when placing the order..
I installed the shaft, and car was driving fine....until I got around 120-125mph, then an almighty vibration entered the car.
I took this to mean the shaft wasnt balanced properly. I had it checked locally, and they said it was fine ( they werent aware of this term either, although they mostly do truck etc )
I re-fitted, and the same crap happened.
I got them to re-check and balance it again....still the same. Only then did I start asking, and learn about this critical speed issue.
At the same time, I was lucky, my shaft didnt fail.
The best analogy I can give, is try and spin a flag pole, and you can imagine what will happen. It will eventually flex and vibrate itself apart.
I ended up with a custom 2 piece shaft, that so far Im have taken safely to over 8000rpm.
The 1 piece could barely go above 5500rpm.
Carbon and Alloy shafts will have a higher critical speed, as will larger diameter shafts. These werent an option for me though. The 2 piece assuming it will withstand the power/torque, is perfect for my car.
So far so good.
I ordered a shaft, circa 53" long, 3" chromoly steel for my car, from a big name supplier.
Not once was critical speed ever mentioned to me, and this cause me no end of hassle. IMO it was an utter disgrace of any such company not to inform the purchaser of such an important thing when placing the order..
I installed the shaft, and car was driving fine....until I got around 120-125mph, then an almighty vibration entered the car.
I took this to mean the shaft wasnt balanced properly. I had it checked locally, and they said it was fine ( they werent aware of this term either, although they mostly do truck etc )
I re-fitted, and the same crap happened.
I got them to re-check and balance it again....still the same. Only then did I start asking, and learn about this critical speed issue.
At the same time, I was lucky, my shaft didnt fail.
The best analogy I can give, is try and spin a flag pole, and you can imagine what will happen. It will eventually flex and vibrate itself apart.
I ended up with a custom 2 piece shaft, that so far Im have taken safely to over 8000rpm.
The 1 piece could barely go above 5500rpm.
Carbon and Alloy shafts will have a higher critical speed, as will larger diameter shafts. These werent an option for me though. The 2 piece assuming it will withstand the power/torque, is perfect for my car.
So far so good.