Developement Of A New R32 Front Driveshaft

[MR666]

I gave my "R32" small front driveshaft (propeller shaft) to "The Driveshaft Shop" in assistance in the development of a new replacement front driveshaft. There is really no way to fix the universal joints (crosses) as they are pressed into place and then if you can manage to get it out there is not enough metal in the yoke to put a retainer clip. The Driveshaft Shop will be making a whole new unit which will be stronger than the factory unit.

http://www.driveshaftshop.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=r32

The new shaft should be ready for market in a couple of months. Is anyone interested ?
.

[Bruizer]

Anyone ever break the stock shaft? other than having old components. Even the guys with 1000whp use the stockies but I guess we are in. Canada where GTRs justbreak. Won't be a bad way to spend $600 if you're convinced it'll fix something that isn't broken

I'd be interested but I'm only at 650whp so I'm more than safe with the stocker

[Dragon Humper]

I think its more of a replacement instead of an upgrade for the metal one and a weight saving with the carbon one (however slight it may be). But hey, a pounds a pound, right? As long as the metal one is only slightly more than a new factory one then that would be fine. The joint can be fixed, you just need to find a good machinist who wants a challange.


Jon.

[Black BNR32]

Too many failures or poor jobs from the DSS. I don't have enough faith in them to do a good job on a 1-off or low volume job. sorry.

[rvander1992]

If its a 1 pc drive shaft I can see some reason for interest because you won't lose any torque to the back wheels where they attach. With the stock shaft physics states you'll lose some torque to the bolts that hold the 2 pieces together, although I can't see it being enough to worry. I'd have been interested if it wasn't expensive, my driveshaft got wrecked when transporting the shell after I purchased it. Already replaced it though

[dustyGTR]

We have been using Mark Williams for our custom driveshafts, we have had two made recently, very nice, high quality. I have spoken with the guys at DSS but have not used any of their stuff.

[Dragon Humper]

If its a 1 pc drive shaft I can see some reason for interest because you won't lose any torque to the back wheels where they attach. With the stock shaft physics states you'll lose some torque to the bolts that hold the 2 pieces together, although I can't see it being enough to worry. I'd have been interested if it wasn't expensive, my driveshaft got wrecked when transporting the shell after I purchased it. Already replaced it though

This is the front shaft we are talking about, its not on their website yet, still in the fab stage.

I have heard a few horror storries but i wonder if it was user error more than DDS screwing it up. They have parts in 1400hp 4000lb cars running in the 8s....they must be doing something right.


Jon.

[MR666]

I have 650 whp and only around 80,000 km on the car. The shaft universals were notchy with lots of play. The unversal has such a low angle of rotation that all the wear is vertually in one spot. I brought my shaft to a very reputable drive shaft shop and they said the yokes were to small to put bigger universal crosses in and because they were so shallow and press peened into place there was not enough material in the yoke to effectively put a clip either even if they put the same cross back in. They said the cross would walk it's self right out if they try to put clips in. So that left the only other option and that was to go to Nissan and pay something like $1700 for a replacement front shaft so I could replace the universals. I'd roll over in my grave if I had to pay $1700 for a u joint replacement.

Oh it was the DRive Shaft Shop in Langley that told me this too.

[MR666]

DSS said if I wanted to take the risk (caveat emptor ) then they could try. I wonder if others did the same and the shaft went south ? Then blamed it on DSS ? I don't know ? When they had it in thier hot little hands and were measuring it up, they sure were humming and hahing . Saying boarder line case .That was when I contacted the The Driveshaft Shop in the states. RIPS deals with them.

[NismoS-tune]

I'm gonna do like rips and run a stock (or used stock) shaft, I have 1/2 their average hp. Cool idea though, should be a good product. You should use their axles too, because your stock ones will explode very soon. I think they're under $2k so it's well worth the risk. you have higher chances of breaking axles than the front driveshaft

Too many failures or poor jobs from the DSS. I don't have enough faith in them to do a good job on a 1-off or low volume job. sorry.

As for the comment about DSS shafts failing, this is the internet, anyone can start a rumour so prove it rather than saying "I read somewhere…" or " I heard" or "I believe". You are obviously certain so it should be easy to point this out.

[MR666]

It is true that RIPS is running more power than most but at the same time What do you do when your unversals are gone ? When they are notchy or loose ? Go to Nissan for $1700 and replace the entier shaft ?

No !

This new product is to give the option for those who are upping the horse power levels and to those who need to fix a problem for way less than Nissan will provide. It is clear that the unversals are not replacable or rebuildable. So what do you do? The used ones are already like your shot part, so what are you going to do ? Replace your shot part for another almost as shot part ? Sorry , Not on any car I ever owned would I do that option. Only a kid or a financially strapped person would do that. And if your broke then sell your skyline cause you obviously can't afford it.