Driveshaft Shops in Bay Area

[doba s]

Looking for a recommendation for a shop in Bay Area who is capable to modify/retube driveshaft to convert to DC on 80 series.

After 3” lift I developed a slight vibration at the highway speeds so it looks like it’s time to upgrade to DC.

Thanks!

 

[enox]

i ordered a front DC DS from Custom Drive Shaft Shop | Tom Wood's Custom Drive Shafts - https://4xshaft.com/ shipped same week, kept my original as a spare.

120 wall DOM tubing and non-greasable joints.

 

[doba s]

i ordered a front DC DS from Custom Drive Shaft Shop | Tom Wood's Custom Drive Shafts - https://4xshaft.com/ shipped same week, kept my original as a spare.

120 wall DOM tubing and non-greasable joints.

Why non-greasable joints?

 

[migz808]

In SF try Driveshafts by Frank Wallace. The old man and son did a couple of custom driveshafts for me. I believe Frank is gone, but the son continues his workshop. There is also Drive Line in Sac/San Leandro and South Bay Driveline San Jose.

 

[enox]

Why non-greasable joints?

Because they're sealed. I'm trying them out for the first time too...ya know with serviceable joints, were supposed to service aka grease them after water crossings and every few thousand miles.

With sealed joints, they said 99% of the time they just work great and can last for as long as serviceable ones.

After talking to the rep and finding out he too who had an 80, put non serviceable joints in, I decided to give it a try. One less thing that needs attention.

When I do the rear I'll do the same and see how they hold up..

 

[CJK]

Looking for a recommendation for a shop in Bay Area who is capable to modify/retube driveshaft to convert to DC on 80 series.

After 3” lift I developed a slight vibration at the highway speeds so it looks like it’s time to upgrade to DC.

Thanks!

Where at in the Bay?

I'm in Mountain View and will be dropping my front driveshaft at Southbay Driveline in San Jose on Friday to get a DC Front Driveshaft built

 

[doba s]

Where at in the Bay?

I'm in Mountain View and will be dropping my front driveshaft at Southbay Driveline in San Jose on Friday to get a DC Front Driveshaft built

I am in Fremont. Do they have experience doing this type of job? Are you using your driveshaft or a spare one from like Tacoma that has DC ? lol

 

[Road Apple]

Where at in the Bay?

I'm in Mountain View and will be dropping my front driveshaft at Southbay Driveline in San Jose on Friday to get a DC Front Driveshaft built

Southbay Drive chargers over $600 for a double cardan. Their customer service is so, so at best. I dropped 2 shafts for retube and order a completely fresh double cardan. When I called to verify they would be completed in time for my trip, they informed me they were out of tubing and couldn’t do any of the work. Didn’t bother telling me this when I dropped off or pick up the phone to let me know.

Tom Woods to the rescue. I explained that I needed a DC fast for my trip. They prioritized my job and over nighted it, all at no additional cost. Tom Woods is about $450, faster, with great service. I did need to drill out the holes on the t-case side one drill size over to compensate for metric verses standard. No big deal.

 

[doba s]

Southbay Drive chargers over $600 for a double cardan. Their customer service is so, so at best. I dropped 2 shafts for retube and order a completely fresh double cardan. When I called to verify they would be completed in time for my trip, they informed me they were out of tubing and couldn’t do any of the work. Didn’t bother telling me this when I dropped off or pick up the phone to let me know.

Tom Woods to the rescue. I explained that I needed a DC fast for my trip. I prioritized my job and over nighted it, all at no additional cost. Tom Woods is about $450, faster, with great service. I did need to drill out the holes on the t-case side I drill size over to compensate for metric verses standard. No big deal.

Sounds like Tom Woods solution is cost effective. Are the DC shafts they supply a good quality ? Did anyone have any issues with them?

 

[enox]

I did need to drill out the holes on the t-case side I drill size over to compensate for metric verses standard. No big deal.

Oh weird... I didn't need to drill mine out and I reused the factory hardware. DONT use my measurements to order one for yours if you need, my front lift is 4.5" so my DS may be longer than your needs.

Full transparency, here's my invoice from like 2 months ago..

 

[enox]

Showing splines and amount of travel along with DC joint.

 

[nukegoat]

Southbay driveline sucks. Avoid.

 

[CJK]

Southbay Drive chargers over $600 for a double cardan. Their customer service is so, so at best. I dropped 2 shafts for retube and order a completely fresh double cardan. When I called to verify they would be completed in time for my trip, they informed me they were out of tubing and couldn’t do any of the work. Didn’t bother telling me this when I dropped off or pick up the phone to let me know.

Tom Woods to the rescue. I explained that I needed a DC fast for my trip. I prioritized my job and over nighted it, all at no additional cost. Tom Woods is about $450, faster, with great service. I did need to drill out the holes on the t-case side I drill size over to compensate for metric verses standard. No big deal.

Oof, well that saves me a trip down there. I was trying to do the ol' "Support Local" thing but it seems a lot easier to order from Tom Woods. I'll go that route — Thanks for the heads up

 

[CJK]

Just ordered same thing as @enox from Tom Woods (except measurements and elected for greaseable joint)

I have 3.25" lift (measured from Front Hub to Fender - 20.5) and my flange-to-flange measurement came out to ~31.5" (technically like 31 9/16th but with 1.5" of extension and compression I ain't worried).

 

[doba s]

Oof, well that saves me a trip down there. I was trying to do the ol' "Support Local" thing but it seems a lot easier to order from Tom Woods. I'll go that route — Thanks for the heads up

I am thinking to go the same route. Do they know the proper length for the shaft based on your lift kit or you need to mearuse it ? May give them a call next week.

Truck will be down for a week as i need to do valve cover gasket, oil pump gasket, transmission pan gasket ... just trying to go after all possible leaks

Aleks.

 

[enox]

I am thinking to go the same route. Do they know the proper length for the shaft based on your lift kit or you need to mearuse it ? May give them a call next week.

Truck will be down for a week as i need to do valve cover gasket, oil pump gasket, transmission pan gasket ... just trying to go after all possible leaks

Aleks.

You will measure flange to flange while you're at ride height.

 

[CJK]

I was typing exactly the same as what @enox said. It will take more time to grab your tape measure and walk to the car than it takes to get the measurement

 

[lky21]

Southbay driveline sucks. Avoid.

Another downvote here for Southbay. Asked them to install u-joints and balance; u-joints weren't greased, c-clips weren't seated, and orientation was incorrect. Asking the owner for rework was impossible. See my yelp review for the full story. Fixed the orientation issue myself and ended up going to Frank Wallace for balancing.

 

[nukegoat]

Another downvote here for Southbay. Asked them to install u-joints and balance; u-joints weren't greased, c-clips weren't seated, and orientation was incorrect. Asking the owner for rework was impossible. See my yelp review for the full story. Fixed the orientation issue myself and ended up going to Frank Wallace for balancing.

They are really unbelievably terrible