There is another pattern that i see here with driveshafts that there are more breaking with the new aluminium driveshaft that is standard on the 01 trucks and have not heard of many of the 99-00 steel drivehafts breaking that are not using NOS!Last year there were quite a few that broke but they were the new aluminium ones not the steel ones i just wonder if the 99-00 driveshaft might hold up better for us since we are making alot more power now!

Matt

 

HIGH ROLLER,

I agree, The Aluminum is lighter, but I think the steel may hold up better. There are a few other things that come into play, but mine looked like it twisted at the ears to the universal joint. I will post pics when I get them...

 

ICULOKN,
Sorry to hear about what happened to you yesterday. This has been on my mine for some time now from ever since these aluminium driveshafts came out there has been many people report from here and nloc that they have broken there aluminium driveshaft and i never here about any steel ones breaking.Most people i know that have 99-00 trucks have already installed the new aluminium also.I will probably order a extra driveshaft for when i go to the track because i have to drive a few hours as do you and i don't want to take that chance and have it towed!

Matt

 

Matt, I am pretty sure (not 100% though) that the aluminum shaft is a replacement for the steel. I had a customer try to order a 99 shaft, and was told it was "updated" and when it came in it was the alimunum one.

We knew about the driveshaft issues early on with the aluminum shafts. That's one reason we developed the Caltracs for the Lightnings. I believe the broken aluminum shafts come from the excessive axle wrap, which torque the shafts badly to the point where they snap. Spiro snaped one of the first ones at WFC00, with no kind of traction device. We threw his stock steel one in and he was good to go for the rest of the event. Of course my 01 has an aluminum driveshaft, and I've run 11.20 and a handfull of 11.30s, with 60fts in the 1.5-1.6 range, with no problems at all, running both the Truck-Traks and Caltracs.

I don't think the shafts themselves are bad or weak. Aluminum get stronger every time you bend it, but it also gets more brittle. Too many hard lauches with no traction device to stop axle wrap, and it's only a matter of time before it snaps.

BTW, did you get me e-mail the other day?

 

Genuine 99-00 steel driveshaft for sale for 1k plus exchange lol.

 

I am pretty sure that was my problem. I have made plenty of passes and it was time for something to let loose.

Will these tracktion kits work with a Lowered truck?

 

Richard, If there are enough pieces of the driveshaft to do a postmortem, you can tell if the driveshaft bound up, causing it to break.

Look on the outside of the yoke where it goes around the ujoint cross. You will usually see a gouge in it if it bound up. My guess is that this part of the driveshaft was lost, being that it probably flew off.

The rear end rotates upward when you launch the truck. Street tires will break loose before the rear rotates too much, so the driveshaft will rarely bind. With ET Streets, it's a different story.
If you are turning 1.7 second 60' times, you are pushing the limits of the spring, and the rear is rotating too much. When it does, the yoke on the driveshaft will actually hit its mounting point on the rear. When it does, it will tear it off.

An aluminum driveshaft also has a larger rear yoke than a steel one. This is done to equal the strength of a steel driveshaft. It will bind before a steel shaft because of the reduced clearance between the yoke and the rear end.

The Truck-Traks are a simple, bolt on device that will reduce the rotation of the rear and help weight transfer under acceleration.

 

I have the Ford aluminum drive shaft in my 00L. I did get rid of a lot of vibrations when going with the aluminum shaft. I do not run my truck that hard. So I can not answer if it will hold up better than the 01 or 02. L,s. Bob.