1997 k1500 carbon fiber drive shaft question

[Chevy529]

My drive shaft is aluminium with a carbon fibre wrap. The front 1/2 of the wrap came off in a flurry the other day.

I don't feel any vibration issues but was wondering how much strength I've lost without the wrap? Am I running on borrowed time? Do I need to immediately change it? Or can I put it off for awhile if I'm careful?

 

[Chevy529]

Par for the course. I guess few others have this, so nobody knows anything about them.

 

[strikk]

I might be out of the loop on this but I havnt ever heard or seen a gmt400 with legitimate carbon fiber on the drive shafts. on the multiple 96+ GMT400's I have had they were aluminum drive shafts. Did the previous owner just put a large vinyl graphic on it? I doubt it provides any strength to the shaft.

I could be totally wrong.

 

[Ironhead]

Yeah, mine has no wrap at all, and as far as I can tell, the truck is totally original except for battery and tires.

The aluminum driveshaft surprised me with how large a diameter it has when I first crawled under the beast.

 

[Chevy529]

Nope, it's original, maybe a Canadian truck thing. I thought it was fibreglass but was told it was carbon fibre. They don't make them anymore. A failed experiment I guess. Good thing as they were grossly priced.
1997 Sierra SLE 3 door Z71. I am original owner.
Edit:
Out of curiosity, what is the diameter of your aluminum shaft? Maybe this one is thinner walled.

 

[Ironhead]

I'll have to get out tomorrow and measure the damn thing. Will post later.

 

[Chevy529]

Geez, I didn't mean for you to crawl under, a ball park would b fine

Edit: Ironhead
Just noticed u r from Vancouver so maybe it isn't a Canadian truck thing after all. Maybe it's a Z71 addition??

 

[Supercharged111]

My 88 had that wrap. I ****** up a rear U joint install and it threw the caps out and the shaft hit the ground. Rode home on a tow truck that day. State Farm was not impressed when I handed them the bill. Point being I destroyed the CF wrap on that shaft, so I peeled it all off. After unfucking the Ujoint, the truck was great. Not too sure what the point of it was.

 

[Chevy529]

So it was fine after you removed it? Wish I knew that two days ago before I bought a used steel one

 

[Supercharged111]

Yup. Not too late to put the aluminum one back on. Even with the aluminum shaft, my critical driveline speed was only a tick over 100. Has the steel one vibrated on you yet? Mine was a RCLB at the time.