Best DRIVESHAFT?
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Best DRIVESHAFT?
I am currently looking into reducing some weight on my drive train and can't decide which driveshaft to get, Alluminum, Carbon Fiber, etc... Anyone have any experience on this? What will weigh the least and last the longest without getting out of balance or snapping? Anyone... I am thinking Alluminum over the stock steel shaft....
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Yeap my thoughts too...Carbon Fiber is too costly...I just got in contact with perhaps the largest Drive Shaft maker in Southern California and am waiting for some price quotes for alluminum shafts... I will post my finds...
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I am always planning to run more power and reduce weight... 11lb alluminum driveshaft compared to what a 40lb,50lb, 60lb stock steel driveshaft should make a little difference in performance, maybe 3% maybe more who knows?...It's always a combination of alot of things like light weight rims, driveshaft etc...that eventually makes a noticeable difference...I know it will be a nice addition for three reasons weight reduction, performance, and more driveshaft strength capacity...so I ask you guys why not?
Last edited by jibbby; Apr 29, 2006 at 03:07 PM.
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Thread Starter
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From: CA
I was just holding that stock driveshaft the other day and it feels like around 35lbs-45lbs I could be wrong...I should weigh it...Like I said it is a very mild mod and don't expect to feel anything, it can only help and not hurt..Well, maybe hurt the bank account. a little..Anyway, I posted this thread to gather as much info about driveshaft applications for the SC that I can find..Was hoping for real weight comparisons and or actual noted performance results from the change...
From what I am hearing and have heard weight reduction on the drive train is big, as opposed to weight reduction from the car it's self... What is it a 20%-30% HP difference between dyno's that are measured at the wheels as apposed to the crank...simply said the engine works hard to move and rotate these heavy moving parts... Also, I believe alluminum weighs alot less then half the weight of steel in regards to the same volume mass between the two.... So by reducing the driveshaft weight by more then 50% and adding strength as well has got to be a good thing....
From what I am hearing and have heard weight reduction on the drive train is big, as opposed to weight reduction from the car it's self... What is it a 20%-30% HP difference between dyno's that are measured at the wheels as apposed to the crank...simply said the engine works hard to move and rotate these heavy moving parts... Also, I believe alluminum weighs alot less then half the weight of steel in regards to the same volume mass between the two.... So by reducing the driveshaft weight by more then 50% and adding strength as well has got to be a good thing....
Last edited by jibbby; Apr 29, 2006 at 04:46 PM.
I would guess you have an ~18% loss. If you get a solid al driveshaft you may save several pounds, but I highly doubt even 10lbs.. I have had 2 modified DS failures, and previously some vibrations at high speeds. You wanted opinions, don't bother with this. Get lightweight wheels, breakes, flywheel etc. dont touch the DS.
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Redsupra -Yes, those are the opinions I am looking for, thank you.. Can I ask what caused the two driveshafts to fail on you, were they alluminum? Did they break from to much horsepower, or did they become out of balance over time and fail...
So what I am hearing is that an alluminum driveshaft replacement on the sc400 is not a good idea and maybe I can drop 10lbs tops and not notice any power improvements and most likely will have it fail on me in time?...Are those assumptions correct? If so I will not do it.....
Lextreme.com forum like Dave the owner is trying now to produce alluminum DriveShaft replacements for his customers.. Why are they so bad?
I always thought automatic trannies lose a little more then 18% and I always thought manual tranny's always lose less at the dyno's? This is an SC400 Lexus I am talking about altering the Driveshaft on and not a Supra TT manual 6 speed or SC300 manual. The SC400's do not have a heavy steel flywheel but rather a super light weight setup at stock....No mod needed for that....
Thanks for the responses..I do appreciate any info you can offer...
So what I am hearing is that an alluminum driveshaft replacement on the sc400 is not a good idea and maybe I can drop 10lbs tops and not notice any power improvements and most likely will have it fail on me in time?...Are those assumptions correct? If so I will not do it.....
Lextreme.com forum like Dave the owner is trying now to produce alluminum DriveShaft replacements for his customers.. Why are they so bad?
I always thought automatic trannies lose a little more then 18% and I always thought manual tranny's always lose less at the dyno's? This is an SC400 Lexus I am talking about altering the Driveshaft on and not a Supra TT manual 6 speed or SC300 manual. The SC400's do not have a heavy steel flywheel but rather a super light weight setup at stock....No mod needed for that....
Thanks for the responses..I do appreciate any info you can offer...
Last edited by jibbby; Apr 29, 2006 at 04:59 PM.
Pole Position
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Pa
Im doing a 6spd swap in my car right now, and using a Driveshaft Shop Aluminum 1pc(http://www.driveshaftshop.com/item158844.ctlg) as well as a lightened flywheel. Im curious to know how much of an effect this will have, and will keep yall posted.
Last edited by JoshFSM; Apr 30, 2006 at 09:34 AM.
Originally Posted by jibbby
Redsupra -Yes, those are the opinions I am looking for, thank you.. Can I ask what caused the two driveshafts to fail on you, were they alluminum? Did they break from to much horsepower, or did they become out of balance over time and fail...
So what I am hearing is that an alluminum driveshaft replacement on the sc400 is not a good idea and maybe I can drop 10lbs tops and not notice any power improvements and most likely will have it fail on me in time?...Are those assumptions correct? If so I will not do it.....
Lextreme.com forum like Dave the owner is trying now to produce alluminum DriveShaft replacements for his customers.. Why are they so bad?
I always thought automatic trannies lose a little more then 18% and I always thought manual tranny's always lose less at the dyno's? This is an SC400 Lexus I am talking about altering the Driveshaft on and not a Supra TT manual 6 speed or SC300 manual. The SC400's do not have a heavy steel flywheel but rather a super light weight setup at stock....No mod needed for that....
Thanks for the responses..I do appreciate any info you can offer...
So what I am hearing is that an alluminum driveshaft replacement on the sc400 is not a good idea and maybe I can drop 10lbs tops and not notice any power improvements and most likely will have it fail on me in time?...Are those assumptions correct? If so I will not do it.....
Lextreme.com forum like Dave the owner is trying now to produce alluminum DriveShaft replacements for his customers.. Why are they so bad?
I always thought automatic trannies lose a little more then 18% and I always thought manual tranny's always lose less at the dyno's? This is an SC400 Lexus I am talking about altering the Driveshaft on and not a Supra TT manual 6 speed or SC300 manual. The SC400's do not have a heavy steel flywheel but rather a super light weight setup at stock....No mod needed for that....
Thanks for the responses..I do appreciate any info you can offer...