Anyone have a 1 piece drive shaft?
#1
Since i am undergoing the 80E swap, and the fact that i hate the two piece drive shaft with that carrier bearing relocation bracket crap, i have a local shop that i actually haven't consulted yet. But, just wondering if anyone has an ecsb that has done a 1 piece and about how much it was. Since the truck is lowered, it's like a straight shot to the rear end, so again no point in having 2 piece, just something to blow out now. Figured i would get it done since i'm under the truck right now anyway.
#4
formerly silverbrick (changed 02/17/2013)
iTrader: (5)
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena, Tx
I read somewhere, can't remember, that you can have a one piece steel or carbon fiber driveshaft made. 72" or something...not positive. In fact, I could actually be making all this up.
#5
copy/pasted from my post on GMFS... just for FYI... ask CHEV6000VHO how many problems he had trying to find a one piece that length.
DONT get a one piece made at that length....
I'll tell you why. Get a long dowell rod. I mean LONG (get an un-cut one).... grab it at the ends and spin it. see what it does in the middle? it flexes and the center axis of the dowell moves around. same principle as a long driveshaft. with the speeds those things turn, it has to be PERFECTLY balanced or it will be unsafe and shake the hell out of your truck.
-now, cut that dowell in half. do the same thing. the shorter section of rod will not want to wobble and move around on you like the long section. Thats why they use two shorter driveshafts, instead of one longer one.
Carrier bearings do not make it any less strong. I'm putting easily over 500lbft of tq to the wheels and there are many people making much more than me on stock two pieces. The only thing I have had problems with is U-joints..... thats because they kept giving me the wrong ones...
Even a driveshaft with a bigger diameter will not help. its just worse. Aftermarket driveshaft makers, Denny's driveshaft etc etc... will not even built it, there's the reason.
Originally Posted by silver-mod-o
DONT get a one piece made at that length....
I'll tell you why. Get a long dowell rod. I mean LONG (get an un-cut one).... grab it at the ends and spin it. see what it does in the middle? it flexes and the center axis of the dowell moves around. same principle as a long driveshaft. with the speeds those things turn, it has to be PERFECTLY balanced or it will be unsafe and shake the hell out of your truck.
-now, cut that dowell in half. do the same thing. the shorter section of rod will not want to wobble and move around on you like the long section. Thats why they use two shorter driveshafts, instead of one longer one.
Carrier bearings do not make it any less strong. I'm putting easily over 500lbft of tq to the wheels and there are many people making much more than me on stock two pieces. The only thing I have had problems with is U-joints..... thats because they kept giving me the wrong ones...
Even a driveshaft with a bigger diameter will not help. its just worse. Aftermarket driveshaft makers, Denny's driveshaft etc etc... will not even built it, there's the reason.
#6
formerly silverbrick (changed 02/17/2013)
iTrader: (5)
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena, Tx
Interesting. So is there any way to get a two piece light weight drive shaft made? I would definitely take it to a drive line shop and have them make everything straight as an arrow with the correct angles but would it be possible to have a light weight one made?
#7
Originally Posted by silverbrick
Interesting. So is there any way to get a two piece light weight drive shaft made? I would definitely take it to a drive line shop and have them make everything straight as an arrow with the correct angles but would it be possible to have a light weight one made?
Trending Topics
#10
I checked the GMC website, and theyl ist the same wheelbase for the ECSB and the CCSSB as I suspected. I'm not sure why they would not use the same setup for the driveshafts if the wheelbase was the same, though.
Maybe the CC's have more tortional rigitity since the cab goes farther back on the frame? That's all I could think of. But at any rate, I would think a 1 piece CC driveshaft should bolt right up.
Maybe the CC's have more tortional rigitity since the cab goes farther back on the frame? That's all I could think of. But at any rate, I would think a 1 piece CC driveshaft should bolt right up.


