- Thread starter
- #21
I have herd of guys making drive shafts for the front out of square tube but have never seen one. Any one have experience with one? Any idea on what size tube and what wall would work best? (IE 2" tube 1/4 wall)
long slip drive shaft
- Thread starter phlyfish
- Start date
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If you have a tractor trailer supply or wrecking yard handy you can also use a telescopic steering column for the DS. Dog Walker (on pirate) claims that they work great!
I haveno experience with them tho.
for a square DS get a 2" 1/4 wall piece of tubing and a 1.5" 1/4" wall piece of tubing. Weld on the ends and you are good to go..
I haveno experience with them tho.
for a square DS get a 2" 1/4 wall piece of tubing and a 1.5" 1/4" wall piece of tubing. Weld on the ends and you are good to go..
receiver hitch tubing...works awesome....just hit up your local steel supply and they should have it in bulk lengths...
- Thread starter
- #25
Thanks guys, my friend owns a supply/fab shop in town. Once I get my sm420 plate and the drive train in will fab it up. Still might try and find some splined options, but it prob wouldn't even come close to the cost of the tube.
Eskimo
SILVER Star
[quote author=woody link=board=12;threadid=9430;start=msg82487#msg82487 date=1072878277]
hate to say it, but I don't consider 8" to be long...my shaft will USE 7" of stroke, and has over 11" available. Given the situation where it's fully extended, only 1" of spline isn't enough...
[/quote]
No kidding? I measured mine, I only use around 5" of travel on it... I can't see the only reason being my front axle being further forward... I use every inch of the front shocks, both directions... I'm C&T'd for 13* of pinion angle..
Just curious..
hate to say it, but I don't consider 8" to be long...my shaft will USE 7" of stroke, and has over 11" available. Given the situation where it's fully extended, only 1" of spline isn't enough...
[/quote]
No kidding? I measured mine, I only use around 5" of travel on it... I can't see the only reason being my front axle being further forward... I use every inch of the front shocks, both directions... I'm C&T'd for 13* of pinion angle..
Just curious..
you measured on an RTI or some other "static" location where suspension is maxed at travel...now, start driving up a steep slope where the front end tries to walk away from the rig...and you will pull the shaft another inch or more...
Eskimo
SILVER Star
Yeah, you're right... Wasn't thinking about that.
How did you measure yours then? running along side with a laser tape?
How did you measure yours then? running along side with a laser tape?
[quote author=Eskimo link=board=12;threadid=9430;start=msg87290#msg87290 date=1073620945]How did you measure yours then? running along side with a laser tape?
[/quote]
Nope...bungee'd myself to the skidplate and got lucky
I actually supported the front bumper on jack stands, got the axle hanging, used pry bars on the shackles to ensure they were completely forward, then added an inch since the truck has more torque than I do. Tried to pull it forward with a come-a-long too, didn't work...my conversations with Tom Woods when I ordered my shaft helped a ton too. He suggested a standard 6.5" stroke shaft and a center limit strap initially....
I'm actually working on a front limit strap design now, center mount, since I think that will improve hill climbing and not adversely effect articulation.
[/quote]
Nope...bungee'd myself to the skidplate and got lucky
I actually supported the front bumper on jack stands, got the axle hanging, used pry bars on the shackles to ensure they were completely forward, then added an inch since the truck has more torque than I do. Tried to pull it forward with a come-a-long too, didn't work...my conversations with Tom Woods when I ordered my shaft helped a ton too. He suggested a standard 6.5" stroke shaft and a center limit strap initially....
I'm actually working on a front limit strap design now, center mount, since I think that will improve hill climbing and not adversely effect articulation.
[quote author=woody link=board=12;threadid=9430;start=msg82487#msg82487 date=1072878277]
...my shaft will USE 7" of stroke, and has over 11" available...
[/quote]
Yeah, sure woody. :
That's not what she told us.
...my shaft will USE 7" of stroke, and has over 11" available...
[/quote]
Yeah, sure woody. :
That's not what she told us.
yeah....she tends to understate things.... 
have you considered using a minitruck slip yoke early 79 - 84 have about twice as much length as your stock cruiser one . as far as the cv 60 series crusier front cv's work well and bolt up like normal . you can also clearance a IFS fronnt cv shaft to get more angle but the flange pattern will be different.aftermarket / newer style round flanges come with this bolt pattern.and will allow you a multitude of more options. I also have some implement shaft spline if you are interested.
[quote author=too tall link=board=12;threadid=9430;start=msg89732#msg89732 date=1074014668] I also have some implement shaft spline if you are interested.
[/quote]
I'm considering making a backup front shaft from some implement stuff....just need time to find a local source for it.
[/quote]
I'm considering making a backup front shaft from some implement stuff....just need time to find a local source for it.
Eskimo
SILVER Star
[quote author=too tall link=board=12;threadid=9430;start=msg89732#msg89732 date=1074014668]
have you considered using a minitruck slip yoke early 79 - 84 have about twice as much length as your stock cruiser one . [/quote]
Still too short, I have a pair of driveshafts from some early p/u's in my garage, and the longest slip found was around 4.5" usable...
have you considered using a minitruck slip yoke early 79 - 84 have about twice as much length as your stock cruiser one . [/quote]
Still too short, I have a pair of driveshafts from some early p/u's in my garage, and the longest slip found was around 4.5" usable...
