[LX-Tasy]

I would like to know what the deal is with everyone saying that our driveshafts are un-safe above 120.Is that in a stock application or one that has gears?I am just wondering where and what mods can be done before you have to upgrade it.
I am not trying to start a battle here but I would just like to know the concept of the driveshaft that comes in our cars.
Thanks,
Chris

 

[GreenBird]

you know how you need your tires to be balenced, or they will vibrate or even be downright dangerous? same thing with the driveshaft, only it is much longer, and subject to more stress.

when a driveshaft is spun faster than it's balenced rpm, will start to bend. this is a VERY small bend, but at 6000rpms, it becomes enough to make the entire car vibrate, or even break drivetrain componets.

the stock drive shaft is only good till 5500rpms. to make sure it wouldn't fail, ford decieded to limit the car below this speed..at ~4300rpms or 105mph. If you are keeping the stock driveshaft and getting 4:10 gears that would be 84mph!

P.S. a broken driveshaft will leave you on the side of the road, and may destroy your transmission and/or pumpkin. not pretty.

 

[Johnny Langton]

Dude..you're in Jacksonville? Go by and visit Dennis Reinhart in Orange Park..he can get you the best driveshaft out here..a Dynotech..And he's better to deal with than Denny's..
JL

 

[W.Cup]

Greenbird said:

"P.S. a broken driveshaft will leave you on the side of the road, and may destroy your transmission and/or pumpkin. not pretty."

I some cases it can cause loss of vehicle control & then loss of life!

 

[Kevin]

While we're on the topic of drive shafts then,

With 4.30 gears and a 5.0 with an AOD, what's my drive shaft spining at for RPM at 100mph? My car IS governed at 175kph, and that's fast enough, but I am a bit worried about the RPM's of the shaft at high speeds.

Now I'm told, that a stock steel shaft can be ballanced properly so that it too is as reliable as an aluminum shaft, but isn't there critical mass to take into account?

As for safety, because our drive shafts don't travel up and down, a drive shaft loop at BOTH ends isn't a bad idea - I've seen what a snapped driveshaft can do ! Blow an engine or tranny, and yes - it's a pain in the ***, but blow a drive shaft, and you've got REAL problems. It can tear through the floor, your gas tank, wreck your tranny, or rear end. Nasty....

 

[LX-Tasy]

Dude..you're in Jacksonville? Go by and visit Dennis Reinhart in Orange Park..he can get you the best driveshaft out here..a Dynotech..And he's better to deal with than Denny's..
JL

I know Dennis is like 30 minutes away but I already have a Dennys out of my Mark VIII.It has only about 2 thousand miles on it.Got rid of the car beacause of a blown tranny and other complications.I am taking all the high performance stuff out so it will be going into mt T-Bird soon.
Thanks for the reconmendation though.
Chris

 

[GreenBird]

While we're on the topic of drive shafts then,

With 4.30 gears and a 5.0 with an AOD, what's my drive shaft spining at for RPM at 100mph? My car IS governed at 175kph, and that's fast enough, but I am a bit worried about the RPM's of the shaft at high speeds.

Now I'm told, that a stock steel shaft can be ballanced properly so that it too is as reliable as an aluminum shaft, but isn't there critical mass to take into account?

As for safety, because our drive shafts don't travel up and down, a drive shaft loop at BOTH ends isn't a bad idea - I've seen what a snapped driveshaft can do ! Blow an engine or tranny, and yes - it's a pain in the ***, but blow a drive shaft, and you've got REAL problems. It can tear through the floor, your gas tank, wreck your tranny, or rear end. Nasty....

Click Here for a speed by rpm calculator.

techninically...an aluminum and metal shaft have the same mass, the aluminum weighs less. you are correct.

 

[Kevin]

Cool - thanks Greenbird - but I don't know my tranny ratios .

My best bet IS to get myself 2 loops, regardless of what drive shaft I have - peace of mind, you know? I'd rather have a high speed tire blow out than a driveshaft snap....

 

[dode]

Are you planning on replacing the factory loops or what?

John

 

[Kevin]

There is only one, right? At the back? Well, I won't replace the back, but I might modify it. It only encloses the bottom, and not the top.

Or is there one at the front? I can't remember .

 

[dode]

I am 99% sure there are already two loops there. This is because the gas tank must be protected from the driveshaft if it fails. You could add a brace across the top, but I believe the body sheet metal is already reinforced in those areas.

John