Driveshaft question
Driveshaft question
What is the stock ls430 driveshaft made of it is steel correct? What are the thoughts on replacing it with an aluminum or carbon fiber driveshaft, also a one piece or two piece shaft. I would like some thoughts about this.
Last edited by 05ls430518; Dec 1, 2017 at 04:39 PM.
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From: Alabama
Not sure about cost benefit on a mod like that. Likely not cheap to fabricate a replacement driveshaft. Since the car was designed to be an ultra smooth luxury cruiser what does a lighter weight driveshaft add to the party?
This is up in the air right now, I am trying to come up with other things to make the car faster without ruining drivability.
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,254
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From: CALIFORNIA
I was going to have DSS make a custom one piece carbon fiber one. It's about $1000 for the driveshaft I am having them finalize a quote for me. This is my idea it's like putting lightweight pulleys on the engine you would be reducing rotating mass hence freeing up a little power, also it would be less shock other components with launching the car hard accelerations and such. One piece driveshafts are also much stronger than 2 piece ones. This mod alone would show barley any gains but the drivehsaft coupled with headers, exhaust, cai, sticky tires and light weight rims would show results.
This is up in the air right now, I am trying to come up with other things to make the car faster without ruining drivability.
This is up in the air right now, I am trying to come up with other things to make the car faster without ruining drivability.
Check out my posting in LS400 section."extrude hone".
I posted a link in LS430 section but someone elected to remove it.
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 418
From: CALIFORNIA
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-1st-and-2nd-gen-1990-2000/846076-1998-2000-ls400-2001-2006-ls430-intake-manifold-extrude-hone.html
The 1998-2000 LS400 intake is same as 2001-2006 LS430.
20 RWH and 25 ft pounds torque gain under the curve.
I investigated producing a composite driveshaft .
Cost is $2,500-3,000....
The vendor wants to produce as one piece, assembly , however ours has a center spline for length adjustment-removal/installation.
The way to work this would be to obtain a doner shaft for couplings and have the vendor produce a shaft.
They also recommended producing the shaft to eliminate rubber guibos to make the car more athletic,
If you want to investigate, obtain a donor shaft and I will place you in touch wirh vendor.
Extrude honing is far less expensive...
Check out my other postings in LS400 section.for ideas.
Last edited by YODAONE; Dec 2, 2017 at 08:29 AM.
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 418
From: CALIFORNIA
The lighter driveshaft will show RWHP gains on a dyno, although incremental.1-3% for composite driveshaft.
OP is correct less shock to other drivetrain components with composite driveshaft and reduction in NVH.
What OP does not talk about is a longer one-piece driveshaft will have reduced critical speed, so diameter must be increased...and things are tight in driveshaft tunnel now.
Not worrh doing in Aluminum...which requires larger diameter tubing.
Go composite.
The extrude honing has demonstrated gains and I have posted dyno results to that effect.
Please have a look.
I tell you this; my stock 1999 LS400 (save for extrude honed intake).is now faster than a stock LS430.
OP is correct less shock to other drivetrain components with composite driveshaft and reduction in NVH.
What OP does not talk about is a longer one-piece driveshaft will have reduced critical speed, so diameter must be increased...and things are tight in driveshaft tunnel now.
Not worrh doing in Aluminum...which requires larger diameter tubing.
Go composite.
The extrude honing has demonstrated gains and I have posted dyno results to that effect.
Please have a look.
I tell you this; my stock 1999 LS400 (save for extrude honed intake).is now faster than a stock LS430.
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The lighter driveshaft will show RWHP gains on a dyno, although incremental.1-3% for composite driveshaft.
OP is correct less shock to other drivetrain components with composite driveshaft and reduction in NVH.
What OP does not talk about is a longer one-piece driveshaft will have reduced critical speed, so diameter must be increased...and things are tight in driveshaft tunnel now.
Not worrh doing in Aluminum...which requires larger diameter tubing.
Go composite.
The extrude honing has demonstrated gains and I have posted dyno results to that effect.
Please have a look.
I tell you this; my stock 1999 LS400 (save for extrude honed intake).is now faster than a stock LS430.
OP is correct less shock to other drivetrain components with composite driveshaft and reduction in NVH.
What OP does not talk about is a longer one-piece driveshaft will have reduced critical speed, so diameter must be increased...and things are tight in driveshaft tunnel now.
Not worrh doing in Aluminum...which requires larger diameter tubing.
Go composite.
The extrude honing has demonstrated gains and I have posted dyno results to that effect.
Please have a look.
I tell you this; my stock 1999 LS400 (save for extrude honed intake).is now faster than a stock LS430.
Back to the driveshaft if I have it done i will have it done in carbon fiber I am still waiting for my quote it's gonna be around $1000 I was told initially time will tell though.
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Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 418
From: CALIFORNIA
I am gonna call around some speed/machine shops and see how much it would cost to do that. How much did it cost you to have that done?
Back to the driveshaft if I have it done i will have it done in carbon fiber I am still waiting for my quote it's gonna be around $1000 I was told initially time will tell though.
Back to the driveshaft if I have it done i will have it done in carbon fiber I am still waiting for my quote it's gonna be around $1000 I was told initially time will tell though.
Read my Extrude Hone posting in its entirety and you will find pricing and correct contact person at Extrude Hone.
They have special fixturing plate that I f fabricated for blocking off high RPM runner ports in ACIS manifold.
Chassis dyno your car before and after.
Also excellent time to replace your starter, water crossover gaskets and intake vacuum hoses..knock sensors.
Last edited by YODAONE; Dec 4, 2017 at 04:24 AM.
Not necesssary to call a speed shop.
Read my Extrude Hone posting in its entirety and you will find pricing and correct contact person at Extrude Hone.
They have special fixturing plate that I f fabricated for blocking off high RPM runner ports in ACIS manifold.
Chassis dyno your car before and after.
Also excellent time to replace your starter, water crossover gaskets and intake vacuum hoses..knock sensors.
Read my Extrude Hone posting in its entirety and you will find pricing and correct contact person at Extrude Hone.
They have special fixturing plate that I f fabricated for blocking off high RPM runner ports in ACIS manifold.
Chassis dyno your car before and after.
Also excellent time to replace your starter, water crossover gaskets and intake vacuum hoses..knock sensors.
I am deffinetly interested man. Thank you for going and taking the time to do that and get it dynoed =).
What is your end game? Reduced drag times? I'd think dollar per dollar a tune is best bang per buck...
Perhaps a mild gear ratio change or lighter rotors? I think I might go after the torque converter before the driveshaft (depending on your objective that is).
How much mass will it loose going to CF?
Perhaps a mild gear ratio change or lighter rotors? I think I might go after the torque converter before the driveshaft (depending on your objective that is).
How much mass will it loose going to CF?
What is your end game? Reduced drag times? I'd think dollar per dollar a tune is best bang per buck...
Perhaps a mild gear ratio change or lighter rotors? I think I might go after the torque converter before the driveshaft (depending on your objective that is).
How much mass will it loose going to CF?
Perhaps a mild gear ratio change or lighter rotors? I think I might go after the torque converter before the driveshaft (depending on your objective that is).
How much mass will it loose going to CF?
I thought about tuning the ecu but was told toyota/Lexus ecu's are impossible to tune and even if you can get a base tune there is 75% chance the ecu will just reset itself and get rid of your tune, so I am just going of of what I have been told.
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 3,254
Likes: 418
From: CALIFORNIA
Around like 2-5% but my major problem is I live in NY and everything 95 and up must pass obd2 and it's a pain in the *** to mod anything, so I am just trying to think outside the box and keep the car street legal and able to pass inspection every year.
I thought about tuning the ecu but was told toyota/Lexus ecu's are impossible to tune and even if you can get a base tune there is 75% chance the ecu will just reset itself and get rid of your tune, so I am just going of of what I have been told.
I thought about tuning the ecu but was told toyota/Lexus ecu's are impossible to tune and even if you can get a base tune there is 75% chance the ecu will just reset itself and get rid of your tune, so I am just going of of what I have been told.
Stock steel driveshaft is 2-piece...going to one-piece with same diameter carbon-fiber, despite composites' higher critical speed, as one piece, will result in reduction in critical speed.(not to mention lost ability to adjust length.)
Not much room in driveshaft tunnel.for larger O.D. driveshaft.
Perhaps best solution is to leave front half steel and rear half as carbon fiber.
So you know...my 1999 LS400 with extrude honed intake manifold handily passed emissions.
Cost effective when compared to reengineering and replacing your driveshaft.
Start with Extrude Honing.
Visit my post on topic.
Reduction in mass from steel to one-piece composite driveshaft is 50-60%
Stock steel driveshaft is 2-piece...going to one-piece with same diameter carbon-fiber, despite composites' higher critical speed, as one piece, will result in reduction in critical speed.(not to mention lost ability to adjust length.)
Not much room in driveshaft tunnel.for larger O.D. driveshaft.
Perhaps best solution is to leave front half steel and rear half as carbon fiber.
So you know...my 1999 LS400 with extrude honed intake manifold handily passed emissions.
Cost effective when compared to reengineering and replacing your driveshaft.
Start with Extrude Honing.
Visit my post on topic.
Stock steel driveshaft is 2-piece...going to one-piece with same diameter carbon-fiber, despite composites' higher critical speed, as one piece, will result in reduction in critical speed.(not to mention lost ability to adjust length.)
Not much room in driveshaft tunnel.for larger O.D. driveshaft.
Perhaps best solution is to leave front half steel and rear half as carbon fiber.
So you know...my 1999 LS400 with extrude honed intake manifold handily passed emissions.
Cost effective when compared to reengineering and replacing your driveshaft.
Start with Extrude Honing.
Visit my post on topic.
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