1997 k1500 carbon fiber drive shaft question

Chevy529 · May 25, 2016

Ironhead said:
So I finally found time to get under my truck. The driveshaft is a one-piece aluminum shaft, with an outside diameter of 5 inches. (I actually got 5.09). No wrap at all on the one in my truck, and no evidence that it ever had anything other than a raw aluminum finish. The truck is a 98 C1500 RCLB 2Wd.

Thanks for that. Mine is 4.18" including what I think is the white hardened material that adhered the wrap. So probably 4" untouched. It's odd to me that they used a variety of different shafts within a couple years. Whats odder (is that a word?) Is they would have a larger size on your 2wd. Weird not as much weight . At the wrecker for 1997 k1500 I saw 2 aluminium sizes and one steel. Assuming they put the correct info on it. I should have waited till I knew more. Teach me for trusting someone.

Chevy529 · May 25, 2016

TylerZ281500 said:
it in no way has anything to do with vibration. if anything the amount of center runout with a cover on it would increase vibration. coming straight from AAM and DANA corp back in the day they were testing critical velocity of a Slightly smaller Dia aluminum shaft and running a wrap around it to increase its critical speed/rpm. to which avail none of these truck would ever come close to seeing. the ones that do arent going to be running a stock shaft anyhow.

I'm not an engineer but in theory I could see how the carbon fibre could absorb harmonic vibration just by being there. To a degree.

TylerZ281500 · May 25, 2016

Chevy529 said:
I'm not an engineer but in theory I could see how the carbon fibre could absorb harmonic vibration just by being there. To a degree.

it cannot, rotational mass is rotational mass, theres 3 affected areas to driveshaft runout. if any of these three are out far enough youll have vibration. nothing applid on the driveshaft can absorb this efficiently. ford tried this with their superdutys and added collar that caused more issue than any.

adding a carbon fiber sleeve just adds to added strength and increased RPM

Chevy529 · May 25, 2016

How much added strength? 10%? 2%? 49.786%? Curious how much strength I've lost by losing the wrap. If you've any idea that is. Nobody else seems to b able to give me an answer

Justin S · May 25, 2016

l

Chevy529 said:
How much added strength? 10%? 2%? 49.786%? Curious how much strength I've lost by losing the wrap. If you've any idea that is. Nobody else seems to b able to give me an answer

Unless you're putting out way more torque than stock, you have nothing to worry about.

Chevy529 · May 25, 2016

***t! Shouldn't have been so knee jerk reactive about it.

Grumble, grumble

TylerZ281500 · May 26, 2016

not enough to worry about with aluminum a larger diameter is equivalant to a smaller steel diameter they though by using in most cases a 4" aluminum that a wrap would increase its integrity to be that of say 5" dia. that was a huge misconception and your not really losing much of anything. when those driveshafts came into the shop wed cut them off because they trap moisture and corrode the aluminum by me

Chevy529 · May 26, 2016

Yes, I wondered if the white substance on the shaft wasn't the aluminum corroding/oxidizing. Or glue. Had a Mack back in the day with an aluminum frame. Seen what oxidisation could do.

Ironhead · May 27, 2016

I recall that Mack had to replace the aluminum frame rails on their trucks due to corrosion where things like the iron/steel suspension mounts were joined. Done under warranty as near as I can recall.

Gotta be careful when aluminum, steel and moisture get mixed up. The carbon fibre wrap doesn't inolve another metal, so I'm confused about the corrosion mentioned above.

OlSmokie · May 27, 2016

Mine flew off on the highway 4 or 5 years ago and it has been fine ever since. Only the large diameter aluminum drive shafts had the wrap. It was supposed to dampen vibration in the drive line.

1997 k1500 carbon fiber drive shaft question

Chevy529

Newbie

Chevy529

Newbie

TylerZ281500

Yukon Ridin High

Chevy529

Newbie

Justin S

Truck Hoarder

Chevy529

Newbie

TylerZ281500

Yukon Ridin High

Chevy529

Newbie

Ironhead

I'm Awesome

OlSmokie

OBS Enthusiast

Similar threads

Latest posts

Staff online

Members online

Forum statistics

Share this page