so my 87 supra 5 speed targa needs a new bearing. whats my best option. i was thinking steal one peace. i think that a one peace aluminum may not be as strong. what have you guys have good luck with?
stupid drive shaft. whats better steal or alumn
- Thread starter Orangeracer
- Start date
Aluminum should be strong enough. It will be lighter than steel as well which is good for many reasons. a 3.5" diameter aluminum with standard wall thickness (1/8"ish?) should be plenty. It's good enough for 750hp+ 509CID past 170mph, 3000lb cars.
Might I add LS1 Camaros and Firebirds have aluminum driveshafts? My LS6 Supra also has an aluminum driveshaft from a Camaro, shortened of course.
Can't recall who makes the carbon fiber shafts. From what I do recall, they cost about $800.00USD. Aluminum is $400.00 or less if you go to the right place. Obviously carbon fiber is the best choice on the market when it comes to racing.
i might be wrong but i dont you can fit a driveshaft larger than 3". thats what i was told when i asked a company to make a 3.5"
IJ.;1134747 said:Ironic thread title
(wonder if the shaft can spell "steel"?)
Orangeracer;1134738 said:
i was thinking he said he might steal one...
get the alumn, steal is haevyer
1 piece steel driveshaft arents that heavy, i remember checkin a website that said the steel one was around 15-20 lbs and alum somewhere around 11lbs.
And being 3" diameter the PMoI is so low the extra weight would barely be noticable..... come on guys you're not racing class cars where 1hp will make a difference quit being weight weenies. :nono:
RockPaperSwoRD;1134801 said:
Yeah, exactly. 5 pounds counts alot when you multiply it by the rear-end ratio. Especially when it's a drivetrain inertia value. I doubt you save much money with a 1-piece aluminum shaft vs. a steel shaft. The steel shaft will likely weigh a little more.
the steel one is still lighter than stock so either way your loosing weight, but the steel one is stronger.
wat are your power goals?
i thought a couple people on here broke the alum ones
wat are your power goals?
i thought a couple people on here broke the alum ones
I have a steel one pice and its about 17lbs, I'm more than happy with it. It only cost me $350 to get done.
I have herd that Aluminum is good as it can take some shock out of the drove train. Aluminum has an ability to twist a bit (Im not an engineer and have only herd this in some drag race cercles).
Jeremy
I have herd that Aluminum is good as it can take some shock out of the drove train. Aluminum has an ability to twist a bit (Im not an engineer and have only herd this in some drag race cercles).
Jeremy
I went back to my 2 piece I had a nasty vibration turned out to be a twisted AL 1 peice drive shaft my guess is from drag racing even though I only had maybe 20 passes on it plus street driving if I were to do it again I would stick with the 2 piece and spend the $ somewhere else I did not notice much difference when I switched back.
my 2cents now ive got a 400$ paper weight the cost to fix it is not worth it to me.
my 2cents now ive got a 400$ paper weight the cost to fix it is not worth it to me.
This debate will never be ansewered. But I grew up with the old muscle cars with steel 2pc dirveshafts. The reason 2pc are so nice is cus ur putting all the power to the wheels through 3 joints instead of 2. Sure that 1pc shaft can pull more power cus it takes less to spin but I would rather trust something that was a originial idea....old muslce cars were built to make good passes without going 1pc driveshaft...and a lot of ppl are worried about weight IJ I think get rid of the stuff you don't use like ac or heat....its understandable but when you get down to 5 lbs for something holding most of your power who gives a flying fuck lol... that's just a higher threshold of pain...I personaly would go 2pc strenghtened shaft...but this is a debate I can't win because I will say I have scene people put down big numbers and not break there alum. 1pc's....but I stick to wat I was tought...also aluminum has the ability to stretch if needed(which it shouldn't b stretching) but it has those capabilities and it heats up quicker than steel and wraps easier so go with your gut instincts
These guys do a great job on DS replacements...easy to work with, good pricing:
http://www.supramania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62442
Aluminum, steel, or an aluminum aft section replacement that gets rid of the stock rubber damper/two tube shaft.
Here's the review on the one piece shafts:
http://www.supramania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58990
And, the two piece shaft:
http://www.supramania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60628
http://www.supramania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62442
Aluminum, steel, or an aluminum aft section replacement that gets rid of the stock rubber damper/two tube shaft.
Here's the review on the one piece shafts:
http://www.supramania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58990
And, the two piece shaft:
http://www.supramania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60628
I went to a local drive shaft maker. I asked about carbon fiber. he said that they are weaker then steal. I was like no way. then he showed me 3 that he just got in off a Titan? that were snapped. He said get steel if you want it to be strong. aluminum is weaker.. .
It's basic physics
PMoI aka Polar Moment of Inertia.
3" shaft is very different to say a flywheel.
I doubt you'd be able to measure a power difference between Steel and Aluminium.
The 2 piece shaft is done to keep the shaft's critical speed well below and danger point.
Universal joints don't spin in circles it's more a figure 8 rotation, if you spin them too fast they whip and self destruct.
Length/Diameter/Material ALL affect this speed (critical speed)
PMoI aka Polar Moment of Inertia.
3" shaft is very different to say a flywheel.
I doubt you'd be able to measure a power difference between Steel and Aluminium.
The 2 piece shaft is done to keep the shaft's critical speed well below and danger point.
Universal joints don't spin in circles it's more a figure 8 rotation, if you spin them too fast they whip and self destruct.
Length/Diameter/Material ALL affect this speed (critical speed)
Titan Motorsports makes the carbon fiber DS 
One good thing about a carbon fiber shaft is if it does break all you have under the car is a broom.
Steel is going to be more harsh and is more torsional. Very little "give" with a aluminum shaft...steel will absorb some of the shock from a hard launch. You will have to push a lot of HP/torque to break a well made aluminum or steel DS. Read the above reviews.
One good thing about a carbon fiber shaft is if it does break all you have under the car is a broom.
Steel is going to be more harsh and is more torsional. Very little "give" with a aluminum shaft...steel will absorb some of the shock from a hard launch. You will have to push a lot of HP/torque to break a well made aluminum or steel DS. Read the above reviews.