MeanWS6

Is this a good mod to get if I am getting a 12-bolt?

LS1powerN20

it's a good mod if you plan on putting alot of power to the ground. the stock drive shaft tends to twist and bend a little on high torque engines. it is also lighter than the stock shaft which decreases the rotating mass.

Trevor @ Texas Speed & Perf.

iTrader: (3)

It depends on how much power you're looking to push and which trans you're running. If you have an M6 and you're looking for low 1.5 60' times, then I'd have a custom DS built by Denny's. FWIW, unless you have an A4 w/ 2.73's, you have an aluminum DS. The CFDS doesn't weigh much less than the aluminum one, and it shouldn't be bought to try to get more power to the wheels. The carbon fiber unit is stronger, and that's the only reason you should really consider one IMO. Some look for added power due to less rotating mass, but it's not anything you'll notice unless you have a steel DS.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Will save some weight vs an aftermarket DS from other places.. but the prices are like $700 vs 400. I am running the stock steel one, but will be getting a 3.5" chromoly one soon.

BIGBOS

John, where are you getting your chromoly one??

I was thinking about getting a CF one eventually...how much is the chromoly??

BIGBOS

I did hear though that if you happen to scratch the carbon fiber ones, it can become a problem

Dave

I think most of the weight improvement comes from lightening your wallet... <img src="graemlins/gr_cry.gif" border="0" alt="[whiner]" />

Jacobi

Hmmm...I guess everyone forgot to mention that driving a CF DS on the street is an accident waiting to happen. And I bet the car in question is not a trailer queen, it is driven over little rocks. These little rocks become flying CF chipping debris. As soon as the CF is chipped, cracked, frayed...it becomes the death trap. By the way, can't you get a chromoly DS from denny's for about $400??? Sounds like the best idea even for that trailer queen!!! <img src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

DCPunkSteve

Death trap waiting to happen huh?! I don't think so. a CF driveshaft is far superior to Aluminum and steel when it comes to safety. They don't stay in one piece when they take a hard impact, insted they just desintagrate into a plume of fibers. Thats why in mnay cases your not required to use a driveshaft safety loop when using one. It's built in safety. Shure it might beat up the underside of your car a little, but at least you won't flip over and considering that safety loops don't always stop the driveshaft from falling I would feel alot better. Also a CF drivshaft doesn't permanantly deform like a metalic driveshaft does, and it's more resistant to torsional forces, and dampens vibrations better so it actualy does put more power to the ground, not to mention that it's still lighter than the lightest aluminum driveshaft for our cars, and nothing even comes close to how much smoother the ride will be.
As far as reliabuility goes, if you not insepecting the driveline of your car before pushing it your really asking for trouble. CF driveshafts don't really dent, but the epoxy coating can chip off and cause problems if it isn't repaired. It's easy enough to repair though, just buy some DevCon epoxy and patch the chiped area. I've know plenty of people who have had CF driveshafts on thier street/strip cars for a few years now and none of them have had any real problems. I would say it's worth the money.

CRAGER

I've had my ACPT for over a year now and no problems. I wouldn't but it for power but for strength and how smooth it is.

My ACPT CF driveshaft weighs 9lbs, and my stock aluminum weighs 14lbs. I think the steel driveshaft weighs 21lbs.

I bought it because my previous car was an A4 that had 2.73's with the steel driveshaft.

You guys should click on Tony's (Nine Ball) link in his sig and look what happened to his aluminum driveshaft. Twisted it in two like a soda can.


Peace,
Craig. <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[Burnout]" />

Nine Ball

iTrader: (38)

Umm, have you seen or felt a carbon fiber DS in person? No way in hell those little "rocks" are gonna ding this thing, especially in a low car like the F-body, with the DS tucked up under the car, and the exhaust partially blocking its view. Carbon fiber is not that easy to ding or chip, this sucker is HARD.

moving to drivetrain section

Tony

Trevor @ Texas Speed & Perf.

iTrader: (3)

[quote]Originally posted by Jacobi:
<strong>Hmmm...I guess everyone forgot to mention that driving a CF DS on the street is an accident waiting to happen.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Tony hit the nail on the head. With as hard as the CFDS is, there's no way a rock is going to chip it IF it even makes it up to the DS.

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

I get stuck on the price. I can get a custom driveshaft that will hold 800 hp for $350-400. I'll use the other $300 and buy something else.

BIGBOS

John I will be talking to you about that in the future...that sounds like a sweet deal.. <img src="gr_stretch.gif" border="0">

Mike Hoffpauir

I just bought a used actp cf driveshaft from GTS_SS for $400 bucks, and find myself saying "should i seell this thing?" I went to the track and IMO so no gains. I would save the money, or buy a $400 crack rock, or a big doughnut.

ChrisB

It's worth a tiny amount of HP (reduced rotational inertia loss). Not a bunch, but every little bit helps.

Is it worth 800? that's a personal judgement call.

If I did Silver State, etc. I would definitely want one - it will be one of the smoothest and best balanced driveshaft you can buy.

In regards to chipping, self destruction - it's not going to take out the car, but that is 800 bucks down the drain when it does die (if). Rocks, etc. probably will not chip it, but if there is something on the road, or you break a ujoint, etc - something along those lines might very well scratch it.

That wouldn't stop me from buying one - just something to consider.

All in all it's *not* a hp mod. It's a mod you do for more power handling capacity and a smooth high speed ride. The other benefits not mentioned were the astronomically high critical speed - you aren't going to be going fast enough in your car to have to worry about harmonics and self-destruction.


Chris

jmX

I noticed no smoothness difference between the stock aluminum and carbon fiber. My stock driveshaft weighed 11lbs, my CF one weighed 9lbs. 2lbs difference on a small diameter shaft doesnt do much, and my dyno's came out the exact same as always (405rwhp, done it about 5 times in a row now).

However, I bought it for *safety*. Whoever said these are an accident waiting to happen is out of your mind. The *stock* driveshaft is an accident waiting to happen. When you split yours open into a sharpened metal spike that digs in the ground, then tell me how safe your aluminum one is. A DS loop wouldnt help that at all either...those are meant for ujoint failures, not driveshaft failures. If the carbon fiber one goes, it'll just shred itself up rather than catapult the rear of the car.

And BTW, I've had a steel driveshaft in one car and the aluminum one in my SS, and both were dinged by rocks. I'm sure this carbon fiber one could take a ding or two as well...its not any more invicible than steel from what I can tell. If anything I'd be MORE worried about rocks with this shaft over the metal ones. IMO 90% of aluminum driveshaft failures I bet are from dinged shafts. One ding and its gonna twist on a hard launch.....just like you can stand on a coke can and it'll support you until you dent a side.