Aluminum Driveshaft

[Muddy Bean]

What are your thoughts on an aluminum driveshaft for the 100?

 

[paflytyer]

What are your thoughts on an aluminum driveshaft for the 100?

Not really for offroad applications. More for racing and weight savings. It's just not strong or dent resistant enough to be practical on an offroad vehicle.

But for the discerning 100 owner who will most likely not go offroad, but likes to spend money.... carbon fiber is an option. $$$$

 

[Muddy Bean]

I was reading up on it and some companies make them specific for 4wd applications. I cannot get the vibrations out of my drive shaft and finally got tired of wasting money trying to fix it and just ordered a brand new one from Onur at Lowe Toyota today. I've read that aluminum shafts are less susceptible to vibrations.

 

[2001LC]

I had no idea they made aluminum or carbon fiber shafts, this should be interesting.

 

[paflytyer]

They are popular for 4WD racing type applications. No matter how it's sliced, aluminum is not as strong as steel and will bend/dent more easily, especially when banged against a rock. If you think your driveshaft vibrates now, imagine an aluminum one that's "candy caned" on a ledge you were trying to climb. Specific for 4wd applications and for offroad use (rocks/debris) are two different things.

I think that may be where the confusion comes from, 4wd vs offroad. There are passenger cars that are 4wd, but they are not meant for "offroad" use.

 

[Muddy Bean]

makes sense. aluminum is inherently soft, and I kinda had visions of it shaving off in nice beautiful curly fries as I spun it over a sharp boulder.... eek. ok well, it's moot I guess. I'll be installing a brand new shaft in my truck next week

 

[KLF]

Was talking to my brother last night, he's helping a friend replace a u-joint on his F150 (can't remember the year). He'd said the driveshaft on that truck is aluminum.

 

[Muddy Bean]

Ford ranger extended cabs with 4x4 were aluminum driveshafts.

only reason I brought it up is since I managed to trash mine and I'm installing a new one, I considered aluminum because I've read there is a bit of better throttle
response using one. not sure how true that is , but yeah