steel or aluminum driveshaft?

a pontiac · 12-03-2014, 11:05 AM

Is there a measureable advantage for aluminum over steel driveshaft? Is one more durable? This is a SS car.

Jim Caughlin · 12-03-2014, 12:23 PM

I ran a back to back test when I swapped over, steel driveshaft weighed 16#, alum was 13#. Zero performance improvement.

Jim Caughlin
SS 6019

tj310 · 12-03-2014, 12:23 PM

Maybe 1/2 a tenth max in my car , steel is more durable , if something rubs on aluminum it's gonna break.---Trevor

Ed Wright · 12-03-2014, 12:37 PM

I've had both Indy car, saw nothing.

Dragsinger · 12-03-2014, 01:33 PM

No performance difference between the two seems reasonable considering the rotating radius is very small.

This seems to me a good part to slightly lower cost of a build up without any downside in performance.

Bill Diehl · 12-03-2014, 01:37 PM

Its a function of rate of acceleration and rpm.

If you spin your stuff to 9-10,000 rpm aluminum or carbon might be for you, but you must have the total package to see any measurable gains, lightweight clutch, flywheel, axles, spool, ect....anything that spins.

If you have a 5 or 6' long shaft, aluminum or carbon might be for you.

BUT.....with that being said, if you have a converter full of fluid that spins (like what's in a mini van) save ur money, as there is too much slippin'/slidin' and torque multiplication and weight going around to make most lightweight driveline components worthless.

I would have Carbon in mine if the rules allowed it

Mark Ugrich · 12-03-2014, 01:40 PM

I've had both steel and aluminum in my car also, with no noticeable improvement. An aluminum driveshaft looks cool, but I think it's one of those things that in theory makes a lot of sense, but in practice really doesn't make any difference.

Run to Rund · 12-03-2014, 02:32 PM

There have been several heated threads on yellow bullet; if there is any consensus, it is that the e.t. improvement is slight. I think the bigger point is the critical speed of the shaft, which is a function of length, diameter, and material.

Jim Caughlin · 12-03-2014, 02:33 PM

Same issue with lightweight rearend parts, gundrilled axles, alum spool, lightened ring gear, no noticable improvement. On the other hand, lighter weight flywheel and clutch made a huge difference. In my case, this is a 4 cyl motor that crosses the finish line at 9200.

SSDiv6 · 12-03-2014, 02:38 PM

Some good reading on the subject:

http://www.dragzine.com/tech-stories...for-your-ride/

http://markwilliams.com/driveshafttech.aspx

12-03-2014, 11:05 AM	#1
a pontiac Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 64 Likes: 3 Liked 36 Times in 11 Posts	steel or aluminum driveshaft? Is there a measureable advantage for aluminum over steel driveshaft? Is one more durable? This is a SS car.

12-03-2014, 12:23 PM	#2
Jim Caughlin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Woodburn, Or Posts: 674 Likes: 77 Liked 768 Times in 235 Posts	Re: steel or aluminum driveshaft? I ran a back to back test when I swapped over, steel driveshaft weighed 16#, alum was 13#. Zero performance improvement. Jim Caughlin SS 6019

12-03-2014, 12:23 PM	#3
tj310 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Dresden On. Canada Posts: 460 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: steel or aluminum driveshaft? Maybe 1/2 a tenth max in my car , steel is more durable , if something rubs on aluminum it's gonna break.---Trevor

12-03-2014, 12:37 PM	#4
Ed Wright Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sand Springs, OK Posts: 8,132 Likes: 896 Liked 389 Times in 169 Posts	Re: steel or aluminum driveshaft? I've had both Indy car, saw nothing. __________________ Ed Wright 4156 SS/JA

12-03-2014, 01:33 PM	#5
Dragsinger VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Liberty City [East Texas] Posts: 1,760 Likes: 5 Liked 99 Times in 60 Posts	Re: steel or aluminum driveshaft? No performance difference between the two seems reasonable considering the rotating radius is very small. This seems to me a good part to slightly lower cost of a build up without any downside in performance. __________________ Larry Woodfin 471W

12-03-2014, 01:37 PM	#6
Bill Diehl Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 311 Likes: 2 Liked 9 Times in 8 Posts	Re: steel or aluminum driveshaft? Its a function of rate of acceleration and rpm. If you spin your stuff to 9-10,000 rpm aluminum or carbon might be for you, but you must have the total package to see any measurable gains, lightweight clutch, flywheel, axles, spool, ect....anything that spins. If you have a 5 or 6' long shaft, aluminum or carbon might be for you. BUT.....with that being said, if you have a converter full of fluid that spins (like what's in a mini van) save ur money, as there is too much slippin'/slidin' and torque multiplication and weight going around to make most lightweight driveline components worthless. I would have Carbon in mine if the rules allowed it Last edited by Bill Diehl; 12-03-2014 at 01:41 PM.

12-03-2014, 01:40 PM	#7
Mark Ugrich Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Auburndale,Florida Posts: 220 Likes: 27 Liked 71 Times in 38 Posts	Re: steel or aluminum driveshaft? I've had both steel and aluminum in my car also, with no noticeable improvement. An aluminum driveshaft looks cool, but I think it's one of those things that in theory makes a lot of sense, but in practice really doesn't make any difference.

12-03-2014, 02:32 PM	#8
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 583 Likes: 8 Liked 54 Times in 27 Posts	Re: steel or aluminum driveshaft? There have been several heated threads on yellow bullet; if there is any consensus, it is that the e.t. improvement is slight. I think the bigger point is the critical speed of the shaft, which is a function of length, diameter, and material.

12-03-2014, 02:33 PM	#9
Jim Caughlin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Woodburn, Or Posts: 674 Likes: 77 Liked 768 Times in 235 Posts	Re: steel or aluminum driveshaft? Same issue with lightweight rearend parts, gundrilled axles, alum spool, lightened ring gear, no noticable improvement. On the other hand, lighter weight flywheel and clutch made a huge difference. In my case, this is a 4 cyl motor that crosses the finish line at 9200.

12-03-2014, 02:38 PM	#10
SSDiv6 VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Glendale, Arizona Posts: 3,023 Likes: 706 Liked 1,514 Times in 563 Posts	Re: steel or aluminum driveshaft? Some good reading on the subject: http://www.dragzine.com/tech-stories...for-your-ride/ http://markwilliams.com/driveshafttech.aspx