Turbo-Geist

Does anyone know the distance from outside face to outside face on the propshaft couplers for a 02-04 Z06 propshaft? I have attached a sketch to show the dimension that I am needing. The black rectangles represent the rubber couplers.

Thanks

5 Liter Eater

What are you getting at Ben?

BLOWNBLUEZ06

I've got my old prop shaft sitting around somewhere. If you get that dimension, then all you'll need is the coupler thickness right?
Of course the Drive Shaft Shop could probably tell you off the top of their heads.

Turbo-Geist

I'm eliminating the couplers. The Drive Shaft Shop is building me a carbon fiber one and they want to be sure of the length. I won't have it out until this weekend. I figured someone may know off the top of their head.

I ordered through Matt at ECS. I can buy a 3.5" aluminum shaft and poly couplers or go ahead and get the carbon one. I've been wanting to get away from the couplers for a long time.

I'll post up the results.

Bret, if you find yours and get a dimension, many thanks. I have a 2002 Z06 torque tube in the car now, so it should match up with your measurements.

5 Liter Eater

Ah. I didn't catch that this is a "I'm a baller and aluminum is beneath me" thread.

chevylad

I have a drive shaft from the Drive Shaft Shop. They don't have it their blue prints or do they farm out to somebody else?

Turbo-Geist

Good one, Bill. Actually it's "I've been through two sets of couplers already and I'm not replacing them again." Now that someone has a solution, I'm all over it.

5 Liter Eater

Now I see your point. I'm knocking on wood that I haven't had this problem yet. I'm too scared to take it apart and look. Ignorance is bliss.

Turbo-Geist

You're about to experience real TARK!

5 Liter Eater

"So much torque, the guibos twisted coming off the line" - Dom Toretto

FactoryRaceCar

Tark from the Turbos will redefine the meaning of pain. You just wait.

Turbo-Geist

I finally pulled the drive line this weekend. The dimension I was looking for is 42.5" from face of coupler to face of coupler.

Surprisingly, the couplers look ok. However, there is some excessive wear on the input shaft where it rides on the pilot bearing. I think the pilot bearing may be bad. I should be able to check it this week.

Does anyone know what the options are for a new input shaft for the prop shaft? Can I have the pilot bearing surface welded and then machined to spec and polished? Where can you source a new one?

slow ride

You could weld it and re-machine it (that wouldn't be as hard though) or machine it down and press on a hard sleeve. These are like $500 from the dealer by themself. I was going to run it by DSS/RPM to start making these dam things some day.

I'm curious how the carbon fiber tube works out. I was thinking about carbon (couplerless) also since the price is close to aluminum/couplers combo. I'm glad I noticed this topic as I was going to contact DSS about a carbon shaft to fit a c5 since they only list them for a c6.

I've got a 99' tube and a 02' here and I might measure both of them to see if they are the same length. One is the bolt together style and the other is the big azz snap ring. Does anyone know if one of these tubes is stronger than the other? I'm talking shell strength (using upgraded internals)

Turbo-Geist

The complete assembly was built by Unidrive in Australia for GM. Without looking at engineering drawings to know which one has a thicker wall, I can only speculate.

So, as far as the torque tube (external) is concerned, I think the torsional properties are the same between the bolted one and the welded one. Typically a welded connection can develop more strength if the weld is executed correctly.

A bolted assembly will typically be heavier and more labor intensive to assemble. I believe they went to the welded assembly in later years, because it is easier to fabricate.

I have never heard of anyone twisting the actual torque tube. I haven't run a calculation yet, but a tube of that diameter would have a very high moment of inertia and torsional constant.

slow ride

I'll measure both tubes to see if they are the same internal length. Do you know what the cf driveshaft will cost? Any reports of NVH issues without using couplers or flex disks like pfadt uses?

Turbo-Geist

The torque tube is the aluminum housing that connects the engine to the transmission and contains the driveshaft or propshaft inside of it. Are you talking about measuring the inside of the torque tube or the length or the propshaft?

The CF shaft retails for $1299. I would recommend that you contact some of the sponsored vendors from this website for their pricing. I called ECS and their service was excellent.

I'm not too concerned with NVH. I already have some vibration with the factory setup because of the whipping action that occurs at high rpm. I don't plan to pull this assembly again to replace couplers. I may have to pull it for an engine, clutch or transmission, but I'm not going back in again for rubber donuts.

slow ride

I guess I should have been more clear. I'll measure both driveshafts with there respective couplers to see if they are the same length. My 02' measurements should be the exact same as yours and I just wanted to verify the other driveshaft from the 99' is the same. This should help others that plan this upgrade also.

Turbo-Geist

It appears that I have some wear on the input of the propshaft where the pilot bearing makes contact. Does anyone know what the original O.D. is where the pilot bearing rides?