I just picked up this aluminum driveshaft off a guy locally here on craigslist. I only paid $10 for it, so I would assume thats a good deal. But what I was wanting to know is what these aluminum driveshafts are good up to, powerwise?

 

Damm thats a great deal.

Tony.

 

on my truck i had an aluminum and it was quicker than the steel. drawbacks would be the larger diameter of the tube needed for strength (could complicate an exhaust system).
also they're weaker at the yokes. i ended up breaking the yoke on mine only pushing 300 horses behind an auto, truck weighs 4400 or so.

 

I thought I heared something bad about aluminum drive shafts just dont remeber where though.

Tony.

 

The one pictured above is the so-called 1LE shaft, which has a smaller diameter than later versions (2 3/4 vs 3"). I once sold 60+ of the above (and I run one in my car), and never heard of a failure--though, of course, failure depends on power and how that power is used. Under normal driving conditions, I don't see a downside. They're lighter and as a consequence get up to speed quicker. Their balance is as smooth as silk. As a matter of fact, IIRC, when the steel shaft developed a vibration, dealerships swapped in the alum.

Oh, I'm running a three-inch exhaust system with no interference.

JamesC

 

i have an aluminum ds on my car, it was really needed when i swapped to 3.42 gears. You can find them out of ls1 fbodys pretty common also, mines from and 02 with about 20k miles on it and is as smooth as silk
i plan on putting a 350 in and then a 383 so i guess i will see when it will break

 

I got one on my 89 GTA I havent had any issue. The car has 130K and it still looks new.

Smitty

 

also i think i read that the aluminum shaft can spin more r's than the steel shafts

 

drive shat hoop, drive shat hoop, drive shat hoop, drive shat hoop

Then if one breaks, of any metal type, allot less damage.

Often the damage caused by a broken shaft is more then it cost as it flais around under the car at speed. It can come right through the floor like its made from a wet paper bag.

 

i shouldn't need one until i get my 383 and t56... hopefully

 

the 4th gen driveshafts handle a lot of power. i mean a lot of power. i have put over 500 horses thru one with nitrous and it never gave up

 

So these came stock on the ls1's?

Thanks. Tony.

 

Well its gonna be behind a 305 for now, and then a 350 here this summer, so I dont really think im gonna havta worry about breakin it lol

 

Nice good look with your swap.

Tony.

 

The one pictured came under thirdgen GTAs and 1LEs. My 1989 GTA has one from the factory. The later fourth gens had the larger diameter aluminum shaft with a dampening ring on the transmission yoke.

 

Is it a good idea to take one off the the 4th gen's?

Tony.

 

i am getting one off a fourth gen. they are way better.

 

I've always wondered why the fourthgen shafts have a dampening ring? It would seem, if they're well balanced, none would be required. Anyone have an answer?

JamesC

 

You did not have to get the 1le to get the aluminum shaft, same goes for the aluminum spare tire

How so?

 

You are correct, I didn't mean to imply that you had to have a 1LE or a GTA. sorry for the confusion. It seems to me that the aluminum shaft was simply more common under the GTAs.

As for the aluminum spare, it was standard with the PBR rear calipers, I believe.

 

Or did the PBR setup get a 15 inch version? I remember reading that the 14inch aluminum spare would not clear the PBR brakes.

 

The spare question should be answered in the following link:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/brak...e-4th-gen.html

JamesC

 

you not talking about the V6 drive line are you?

 

My understanding of the damper is to reduce drive line noise. It makes for a quieter vehicle.

RBob.

 

Makes sense, I guess--I say it in that fashion because my car ran quiet with both the iron and now the alum shaft. However, since I have no experience with the LS1 shaft, perhaps I can't really appreciate its effect.

V8, ArticwhiteZ.

JamesC

 

A heavy inertia ring bonded to the center by an elastomer.....just like a harmonic crank damper

 

Like the 50ton weight hanging off the tailshaft of a T5?

 

GM TSB #67-41-01: VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED:

http://www.justanswer.com/questions/...ave-vibrations

Note the reference to noise when changing from a driveshaft (PROPELLER shaft) with a damper to an aluminum without the damper ring.

Note the other information about 1st and 2nd order harmonics to be able to tell whether the vibration is driveshaft (PROPELLER shaft) balance related or related to another issue.

RBob.

 

wanted to make sure no one was getting the V6 drive line mixed up with the 5.7.

Remember the V6 has a 2 piece line..cuss of the harmaonics (spelling)