Drive shaft build material

[Kiel]

Well I'm gonna give a shot at making my own drive shafts. I already have a bunch of cores to get the ends and yokes I need, plus the carrier bearing. The question is what kind of tubing is generally acceptable for making the tube section? I have talked to some people about this with mixed answers and they need not answer

 

[RockMonkey]

I've always used thick pipe for mine. They're undoubtedly not perfectly balanced, but they always stand up to the rocks. I'm sure the "right" material is some thin light seamless stuff that will tie itself in a knot the instant it sees a rock. I've never had a problem using thick heavy pipe. :busted:

Tack it all together under the vehicle so you can spin the shaft and see if it's straight or not. Be patient and you can get it straight and mostly balanced.

 

[Meat_]

The right stuff is heavy wall driveline tube, but then I've already told you that.

 

[RockMonkey]

The right stuff is heavy wall driveline tube, but then I've already told you that.

Is there a local supplier for small amounts? How thick is "heavy wall"?

 

[Meat_]

I'm sure that John at Gaylon's would sell you some. I know you can get .120, not sure if you can get .250 or not. It is different than regular tube in that it can give (twist) without hurting it, thus acting as a shock absorber for the power train.

 

[Kiel]

The right stuff is heavy wall driveline tube, but then I've already told you that.

I told you not to answer

 

[Bucking Bronco]

When I did the one on my bronco I just went to six states and they sold me just the tube. It was like 1.50 a foot but it was just standard tube something like .090 wall.

 

[Caleb]

A lot of d-line shops won't go thicker than .120. HD is usually .120 and standard is usually .090 or thinner. If it were me I'd probably use some .120 wall DOM.

 

[lincolnlock]

Just use 1/4" wall. .250 Then you won't have to worry about hitting your drive shafts EVER. Ok maybe just the yokes hitting rocks. You won't be sorry. Or if your kinda cheap use schedule 80 pipe.

 

[Herzog]

I always use 2" ish .120 DOM. Never had a problem yet.

Kinda nice because you can sleeve it with 1.75 and still be really balanced.

 

[notajeep]

Mine, on the buggy is .120 wall. On the toyota, for the long and exposed rear, I had six states make me a .250 wall one and so far it is holding up great.

 

[420willys]

i use 1/4 wall 2 1/2 DOM, found a 4' piece at the scrap yard. holds up great, its probally a little over kill but my front is song long because of the tranney ( 700r/231 ) i allways would bend .120 walled 2'' shaft's. next set i make will be square shafts front and rear, jason.

 

[GI'sCHICK]

Ian on extreme4x4 built some out of square tube that would slide in and out onto itself and was only like 3/16 inch thick... it held up to some pretty good beating by the two.... and the best part was it wasn't balanced and didn't vibrate like crazy....

 

[Kiel]

Thanks guys and gals, These are going with some 1410's so the tube is a little larger. I seperated one of my cores today to get the ends off, so far so good, now to find some thick tubing, probably .250 if not .120

 

[anvil]

WJ ZUK, what did you get the cores off of that had 1410 yokes?

 

[Kiel]

WJ ZUK, what did you get the cores off of that had 1410 yokes?

They are all from newer ford superduty rears. I have 2 complete rear shafts with carrier bearings to make my front and one regular rear for mine. I have about 60 bucks in my cores but it's around 10 yokes so I will have spares so I don't feel too bad

 

[Andy]

Tack it all together under the vehicle so you can spin the shaft and see if it's straight or not. Be patient and you can get it straight and mostly balanced.

Pipe..... Way to cut corners. Listen to Meat and go see Gaylon.

 

[Kiel]

Pipe..... Way to cut corners. Listen to Meat and go see Gaylon.

Well after pricing out what tubing will be pipe is looking better and better lol. They want over 2 bucks a foot for .156 3.5 inch diameter. I will keep shoping around

 

[RockMonkey]

Well after pricing out what tubing will be pipe is looking better and better lol. They want over 2 bucks a foot for .156 3.5 inch diameter. I will keep shoping around

That's not bad at all! How many feet do you need? A drive shaft can't use more than 3 feet or so, that's only 6 bucks! I just paid almost 8 bucks a foot for some 2" .250 wall!