I wish there were lightweight axles and driveshafts for our cars...
Let's bounce some ideas around.
04-14-08, 06:09 AM
#2
The GS should of came with an aluminum drive shaft imo... There are companies out there that can fabricate aluminum or carbon fiber drive shafts. It may require you sending in your current drive shaft so they can construct a CF or aluminum version since they may not have the template for the Lexus GS drive shaft. ACPT is one company that can make CF drive shafts.. Be the guinee pig Nick
Here is some info..
http://www.acpt.com/index.html
Here is some info..
More Power to the Ground
Independent testing by a leading automotive magazine (Turbo, October, 1996) showed rear wheel horsepower gains of more than 5% with the simple switch to an ACPT carbon fiber driveshaft. This significant increase is primarily due to lower rotational mass of the driveshaft. Carbon fiber offers you more strength to resist extreme torque than steel with about half the weight. Just like the common use of lightweight clutch and flywheel units, a lightweight driveshaft allows more of you engine's power to be applied to the ground.
In addition to minimizing rotational power losses, carbon fiber's unique vibration dampening characteristics also help improve power output. Engine builder's are familiar with the power gains that high performance crank dampeners can provide. ACPT's carbon fiber driveshafts give you similar benefits by cutting power losses due to drivetrain vibration.
Higher RPM, Faster
Driveline vibration is a common problem that can limit RPM. ACPT's involvement in racing began in 1986 when Dan Gurney asked us to apply our expertise in aerospace composites to solve a vibration problem with his IMSA GTO Toyota Celica. In this front engine, rear transaxle race car, the driveshaft ran at engine speed. The metal driveshaft was experiencing harmonic whip, limiting usable RPM and forcing them to run the engine well below redline in each gear. ACPT developed a carbon fiber driveshaft that allowed a 1000 RPM increase in usuable engine speed and gave the engine a chance to work at its' power peak. Gurney cited the ACPT driveshaft as a major factor in winning the 1987 IMSA GTO Championship. Since 1987 many racers in all areas of motorsports have discovered the extra RPM and the resulting tuning flexibility carbon fiber driveshafts provide.
Independent testing by a leading automotive magazine (Turbo, October, 1996) showed rear wheel horsepower gains of more than 5% with the simple switch to an ACPT carbon fiber driveshaft. This significant increase is primarily due to lower rotational mass of the driveshaft. Carbon fiber offers you more strength to resist extreme torque than steel with about half the weight. Just like the common use of lightweight clutch and flywheel units, a lightweight driveshaft allows more of you engine's power to be applied to the ground.
In addition to minimizing rotational power losses, carbon fiber's unique vibration dampening characteristics also help improve power output. Engine builder's are familiar with the power gains that high performance crank dampeners can provide. ACPT's carbon fiber driveshafts give you similar benefits by cutting power losses due to drivetrain vibration.
Higher RPM, Faster
Driveline vibration is a common problem that can limit RPM. ACPT's involvement in racing began in 1986 when Dan Gurney asked us to apply our expertise in aerospace composites to solve a vibration problem with his IMSA GTO Toyota Celica. In this front engine, rear transaxle race car, the driveshaft ran at engine speed. The metal driveshaft was experiencing harmonic whip, limiting usable RPM and forcing them to run the engine well below redline in each gear. ACPT developed a carbon fiber driveshaft that allowed a 1000 RPM increase in usuable engine speed and gave the engine a chance to work at its' power peak. Gurney cited the ACPT driveshaft as a major factor in winning the 1987 IMSA GTO Championship. Since 1987 many racers in all areas of motorsports have discovered the extra RPM and the resulting tuning flexibility carbon fiber driveshafts provide.
04-14-08, 11:10 AM
#3
Precision Shaft Technologies is another company that can make CF driveshafts. I emailed them a long time ago about their 'critical link' cf driveshaft and they said they were going to see what they had on the drawing board at that time. They were suppose to let me know but they haven't yet. I emailed them again to see if they will respond.
http://www.pstds.com/critical_link_drive_shafts.htm
There are these guys too, they already make driveshafts for the IS300, although they don't have cf driveshafts listed.
http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/pric...in/Driveshafts
http://www.driveshaftshop.com/index2.ivnu
http://www.pstds.com/critical_link_drive_shafts.htm
There are these guys too, they already make driveshafts for the IS300, although they don't have cf driveshafts listed.
http://www.horsepowerfreaks.com/pric...in/Driveshafts
http://www.driveshaftshop.com/index2.ivnu
04-15-08, 11:49 AM
#6
This would be a GREAT mod because it would not be model specific. GS300, GS400 and GS430's could all benefit from this mod; it would not throw CELs and you don't need to install something else before you can install these (unlike many other mods). Let's keep this damn thing goin'...maybe Jason at JPI could fabricate something for us.
04-15-08, 12:03 PM
#7
GS300 and GS400/GS430 have different part numbers for the driveshaft assembly. Doubt they are interchangeable since the transmission does not sit at the exact same spot as the other car.
If you guys get it custom made, especially in carbon fiber, expect to pay at least $700, unless you guys can round up a very large group of buyers.
If you guys get it custom made, especially in carbon fiber, expect to pay at least $700, unless you guys can round up a very large group of buyers.
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04-15-08, 12:34 PM
#12
I take it the carbon fiber unit will yield more power to the ground.. There is hidden power in the GS drivetrain. This 300hp car can sure put down more than a sorry 235-245 rwhp N/A.(See chart in post#2 for reference)
04-15-08, 12:47 PM
#14
I was more along the lines of addressing Cherplex's concern about price vs benefit. Obviously using a lighter driveshaft will reduce inertia, we all know that since it's common sense. But how much more power are we going to get down the wheel by utilizing the cf shaft? Put the same kind of shaft on our car vs a Ford F250. I'm sure you'll get a more dramatic result with the Ford. Are people willing to pay $700 if it will only net them 4whp? Or maybe 7whp? Unless someone weighs the OEM shaft, it's going to be hard to tell if it's even worth the price. It might be worthwhile if they can reduce the diameter since it plays a role in the moment of inertia.
04-15-08, 12:52 PM
#15
I was more along the lines of addressing Cherplex's concern about price vs benefit. Obviously using a lighter driveshaft will reduce inertia, we all know that since it's common sense. But how much more power are we going to get down the wheel by utilizing the cf shaft? Put the same kind of shaft on our car vs a Ford F250. I'm sure you'll get a more dramatic result with the Ford. Are people willing to pay $700 if it will only net them 4whp? Or maybe 7whp? Unless someone weighs the OEM shaft, it's going to be hard to tell if it's even worth the price. It might be worthwhile if they can reduce the diameter since it plays a role in the moment of inertia.
