half shaft loads
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half shaft loads
What type of loads are the half shafts subjected to???
Will aluminum half shafts hold up to those loads in a stock situation. How much could power/roadholding be improved before fatique problems would set in??
ADDED QUESTION: Compression and twisting forces. That is what I was looking for. Now.
What dimensions should the tubing be to hold up to a stock set up + exhaust, induction, ignition, gears(3.31s) and stock size tires(17s though)?
Will aluminum half shafts hold up to those loads in a stock situation. How much could power/roadholding be improved before fatique problems would set in??
ADDED QUESTION: Compression and twisting forces. That is what I was looking for. Now.
What dimensions should the tubing be to hold up to a stock set up + exhaust, induction, ignition, gears(3.31s) and stock size tires(17s though)?
Last edited by montez27; Feb 3, 2008 at 09:31 PM. Reason: Add a question to my original post.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,024
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From: AL
1) What type of loads are the half shafts subjected to???
generally, compression to hold up car, as Batman indicated, and torsion, to make the car roll. (some say it all boils down to shear)
2) Will aluminum half shafts hold up to those loads in a stock situation.
should work if sized properly. those with experience should chime in.
3) How much could power/roadholding be improved before fatique problems would set in??
these two issues are mutually exclusive. some benefit may be realized by the weight savings. fatigue is a separate issue. i would have expected that the factory aluminum suspention parts would have had fatigue issues by now, but haven't heard of any,
, pretty sure that, unlike steel, aluminum has a finite life, however load as a % of yield is a factor in the lifespan
again, the testimonial of those with experience with this particular modification would be most valuable.
generally, compression to hold up car, as Batman indicated, and torsion, to make the car roll. (some say it all boils down to shear)
2) Will aluminum half shafts hold up to those loads in a stock situation.
should work if sized properly. those with experience should chime in.
3) How much could power/roadholding be improved before fatique problems would set in??
these two issues are mutually exclusive. some benefit may be realized by the weight savings. fatigue is a separate issue. i would have expected that the factory aluminum suspention parts would have had fatigue issues by now, but haven't heard of any,
, pretty sure that, unlike steel, aluminum has a finite life, however load as a % of yield is a factor in the lifespan again, the testimonial of those with experience with this particular modification would be most valuable.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 816
Likes: 107
The amount of traction is definitely the key, most cars make decent power but it is hard to say how much will they hold?
I have not broke a halfshaft but I am going through spindles
I could not tell you what kind of power my car makes but it is a fair amount, but the thing is I have a 4-speed and large sticky tires.
I think in a stock application and radials you should be fine, but if you are in the 400-500 hp range (thats at the ground) I would definitely research it before I trusted bolting them on.
I have not broke a halfshaft but I am going through spindles
I could not tell you what kind of power my car makes but it is a fair amount, but the thing is I have a 4-speed and large sticky tires.
I think in a stock application and radials you should be fine, but if you are in the 400-500 hp range (thats at the ground) I would definitely research it before I trusted bolting them on.
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stock is as stock does
This is on my 82 vette. I am going to rebuild the rear suspension as the spindle bearings need replacement. Thanks to this group I know what the problem is and how to fix it.
I will try to improve the vettes performance by first making sure everything is in good or great condition. I like a challenge and taking weight off of this 3300lb vette seems like a nice challenge. I was able to take over 300lbs off of my 1970 camaro and get it in the 2900lb range. Problem with the vette is it is already fiberglass and that is what really helped me with the camaro.
So to answer some questions. It will remain mostly sock with stock size tires, maybe an upgrade to 17s. I have to fix the spindles but afterwards it will be normal types of mods. Exhaust, air filters and such. No blowers or nitrous!During the spindle rebuild I may put 3:31s in the rear to help with off the line performance. Thanks for your replies.
I will try to improve the vettes performance by first making sure everything is in good or great condition. I like a challenge and taking weight off of this 3300lb vette seems like a nice challenge. I was able to take over 300lbs off of my 1970 camaro and get it in the 2900lb range. Problem with the vette is it is already fiberglass and that is what really helped me with the camaro.
So to answer some questions. It will remain mostly sock with stock size tires, maybe an upgrade to 17s. I have to fix the spindles but afterwards it will be normal types of mods. Exhaust, air filters and such. No blowers or nitrous!During the spindle rebuild I may put 3:31s in the rear to help with off the line performance. Thanks for your replies.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 816
Likes: 107
This is on my 82 vette. I am going to rebuild the rear suspension as the spindle bearings need replacement. Thanks to this group I know what the problem is and how to fix it.
I will try to improve the vettes performance by first making sure everything is in good or great condition. I like a challenge and taking weight off of this 3300lb vette seems like a nice challenge. I was able to take over 300lbs off of my 1970 camaro and get it in the 2900lb range. Problem with the vette is it is already fiberglass and that is what really helped me with the camaro.
So to answer some questions. It will remain mostly sock with stock size tires, maybe an upgrade to 17s. I have to fix the spindles but afterwards it will be normal types of mods. Exhaust, air filters and such. No blowers or nitrous!During the spindle rebuild I may put 3:31s in the rear to help with off the line performance. Thanks for your replies.
I will try to improve the vettes performance by first making sure everything is in good or great condition. I like a challenge and taking weight off of this 3300lb vette seems like a nice challenge. I was able to take over 300lbs off of my 1970 camaro and get it in the 2900lb range. Problem with the vette is it is already fiberglass and that is what really helped me with the camaro.
So to answer some questions. It will remain mostly sock with stock size tires, maybe an upgrade to 17s. I have to fix the spindles but afterwards it will be normal types of mods. Exhaust, air filters and such. No blowers or nitrous!During the spindle rebuild I may put 3:31s in the rear to help with off the line performance. Thanks for your replies.
Making your car light is great if you are racing, my car is around 2500 pounds
if it is a street car then why bother there is a lot of removing things to get that weight.IMO if you want better off line preformance go with at least a 3:70 or a 3:90 depending on your trans. If you have a 5 or 6 speed I would go more but then again I have an 8,000 rpm engine and I like to twist it.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 456
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From: Forty Fort PA
Keep in mind when using Aluminum that it is one-third the weight of steel on a same-volume basis. However, it is also one-third the strength on the same basis unless you are going with an exotic (expensive) heat treat version. If you want the same strength, you will end up with about the same weight. That's one reason why Aluminum parts often look bigger than their steel counterparts.
I Know. There are exceptions to this, but in geneal it is true unless you go with an expensive alloy. The place where Aluminum is really effective is where the stress is low.
I Know. There are exceptions to this, but in geneal it is true unless you go with an expensive alloy. The place where Aluminum is really effective is where the stress is low.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
Ask the manufacturer of the aluminum half-shafts if they are as strong as the stock units. Shafts made out of high-strength aluminum should be fine, unless you are putting more than 400-450 hp through them. Shock loads with lots of torque would be the most severe application for those shafts. (High horsepower take-offs with wheel hop)
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Why bother??
To answer Amelios question.
Weight loss is like puting on an intake. It is a performance modification in its own right. If you can loose weight in all the right places then there should be less stress on a lot of the vehicle systems(suspension, brakes and drivetrain) and the car will be quicker and handle better. Aluminum is about the only thing I can work with for the moment. Carbon fiber is out of the question for now. So I will look at driveshafts, half shafts, upper contol arms, calipers, run flat tires so I don't have to have a spare, radiators and various aluminum engine parts including the block(after I hit the lotto). It is just a hobby of mine that I have recently started to try. The camaro was the first guinne pig and it has done pretty well but like I said I was able to use fiberglass in many areas of that car (hood, bumpers, nose) and some aluminum. Not so with the vette. That is why I am interested in the loads of the half shafts. Just one more element that I can possibly change to aluminum to increase performance, or, maybe not, depending on what info I gather here. If there is no benefit other than looking good than I probably wont do it. I can paint steel shafts silver! thanks for your replies and I appreciate everybodies input.
Weight loss is like puting on an intake. It is a performance modification in its own right. If you can loose weight in all the right places then there should be less stress on a lot of the vehicle systems(suspension, brakes and drivetrain) and the car will be quicker and handle better. Aluminum is about the only thing I can work with for the moment. Carbon fiber is out of the question for now. So I will look at driveshafts, half shafts, upper contol arms, calipers, run flat tires so I don't have to have a spare, radiators and various aluminum engine parts including the block(after I hit the lotto). It is just a hobby of mine that I have recently started to try. The camaro was the first guinne pig and it has done pretty well but like I said I was able to use fiberglass in many areas of that car (hood, bumpers, nose) and some aluminum. Not so with the vette. That is why I am interested in the loads of the half shafts. Just one more element that I can possibly change to aluminum to increase performance, or, maybe not, depending on what info I gather here. If there is no benefit other than looking good than I probably wont do it. I can paint steel shafts silver! thanks for your replies and I appreciate everybodies input.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 45
From: Cameron Park CA
GM used aluminum half-shafts on the early C4 Z51 cars (and possibly later into the generation - I'm speaking from experience with my '86), so you should be able to find them. True, those cars didn't have a lot of horsepower, but they did have a fair amount of torque, and I never heard of the aluminum shafts being fragile.
Hope this helps,
Pete
Hope this helps,
Pete
