How Custom Driveshafts can Save You Time and Money

Finding the right driveshaft for your vehicle can be complicated. If you’re considering custom driveshafts, this article will cover all the basics in order to help you make an informed decision when purchasing one for your vehicle.

What is a Custom Driveshaft?

A custom driveshaft is a long, metal tube that connects the power source (engine) to the wheels of your car. They can also be broken down into two main parts: the transmission and the rear-end. Due to its position at the rear of your vehicle, it absorbs considerable amount of stress, forcing parts to work harder than they were designed for. Plus, there are different types of shapes and sizes for any type of application or vehicle needs. A driveshaft is a shaft that connects the engine transmission to the rear or all-wheel drive. It carries power from the engine to the differential before it’s sent out to the wheels.

A custom driveshaft enables you to go beyond pre-manufactured options. These are great for things like heightened clearance, road racing cars, or vehicles that need more power transmitted through gears without slipping. A Custom Driveshaft is a shaft consisting of a steel tube with an engine at one end and a wheel at the other. Driveshafts have been around for a while, but they have been manufactured to fit just about any application with customizing options allowing customers the option of joining the tube’s U-joint or yoke together.

Benefits of a Custom Driveshaft

Maintenance

Professional installation

Clearance

Durability

Ease of manufacturing Driving doesn’t seem that different than pushing a wheelbarrow, but they are really two separate motions. A wheelbarrow can never wheel itself so it’s always pushed manually. But the wheel in the car does all of the work for you, moving independently at different speeds and angles, so it doesn’t tire out your arm. A custom driveshaft is installed to allow a vehicle’s weight transfer to really do the work for you, making it so effortless compared to a manual automobile.

How to Choose a Custom Driveshaft

There are five choices in choosing a custom driveshaft: If you are looking to improve performance or replace a damaged driveshaft with another one, you will need to choose between custom and stock options. Some people might even buy two driveshafts for different purposes. A driveshaft is the part of a vehicle that connects the transmission to the wheels. The custom driveshaft stretches from one end of a vehicle’s driveline to another, transferring the torque from a differential or gearbox differential into the axle shear joint of a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, or into a final drive for four-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicles. In most cases, these shafts are designed specifically for each model’s specific needs.

Several different types of custom driveshafts can be made, including solid aluminum, hydroformed steel, curved steel, and straight steel. One step in determining which type you will need is to take measurements. Measuring frame length measures in inches how many inches it is from the centerline A custom driveshaft has the most benefits if the customizer keeps in mind your specific requirements. How much corrosion is there? Are bends needed or is a straight shaft okay? Are they using rubber, fabric, aluminum, or another material for the sheath? If installing a driveshaft inside of a vehicle, how will it be routed around and secured? Make sure that these and any other important considerations are made before choosing a driveshaft provider. Drivers have the choice of three types of custom driveshafts. Hydraulic, automatic torque optimization, or canard. The hydraulic driveshaft is the least expensive type of custom driveshaft. It contains a cylinder that extends to release excess torque after it reaches an optimal level. Automatic torque optimization is the most expensive type for 2017 though it is versatile and offers better refinement compared to Hydraulic pressure-driven systems. Canard driveshafts are better for harsher weather because they are significantly shorter compared to regular hydraulic driveshafts which result in less air resistance on the road.

Metallic vs Composite Driveshafts

Metallic driveshafts might initially be the cheaper option from the beginning but over time you will start to see higher and higher replacement and maintenance costs. On the other hand, composite drivelines can last almost three times as long as metal ones and decrease significant breakage rates. Since they are lighter in weight, this also helps increase fuel efficiency and engine performance. A composite driveshaft is made from recycled materials that are then reformed into lightweight material. This means that the driveshaft will be lighter, which decreases the fuel needed to produce power while driving. The composite driveshaft lasts longer than a metal one because of its flexibility. Custom driveshafts will be stronger and more durable than polypropylene rope, fiberglass fiber, or aluminum tubing for your project. If the danger of an accident happening while driving is not enough to convince you to purchase one, then consider the fact that they can help to increase your vehicle’s fuel efficiency by reducing parasitic drag that doesn’t actually add to propulsion.

Costs of Buying a Custom Driveshaft

When you think of the cost of buying your driveshaft, it’s natural to assume that there are limited options for budget-minded people. If you want quality, brakes, axles, or other additional parts you’ll need to buy an entire kit. Buying Custom Driveshafts can save you time and money because they are designed for any trucks using the same year’s axle type. We also have all the replacement parts needed should one of our bracket brackets fail. A driveshaft is a power transmission device that joins to one or more spinning shafts that turn it into rotational motion. In the automotive application, the driveshaft usually connects from the output of the transmission to the rear differential. Driveshafts attached to four-wheel-drive vehicles generally have a joint halfway through their length where a U-joint glides between two shafts, providing a flexible mechanical connection and allowing a torque alteration to balance out torque distribution. The penalty for failure in a cars’ driveline comes in many forms: sometimes it is an issue with getting power back to the wheels, or breaking half-shafts, or spearing into engine structures when an engine breaks loose from its mounts.