Product Alert: DriveShaft Shop Aluminum DriveShaft

[R32GT-R]

Well I just thought I will let you know. I bought a aluminum drive shaft and I waited to install it as my car is a project and it did not need to be installed untill i had the clutch to go with it. When i finaly got around to the install, it vibrated really bad at speed. I took it to a coastal powertrain to check it for balance and when they inspected it. It was way out of spec where the slip joint is and was machined very poorly. Eg. male/female. and did not contain any grease in the joint. I contacted DSS and was informed that their was only a one year warrenty and I was not covered.

So watch out they sell defective products and do not stand behind them.

800 down the drain

[JD74]

That sucks. Sorry to hear about that.

In that case, they completely deserve some (alot of) negative publicity all over the internet.

Be sure to be a post whore with this and spread it to every forum around if they are unwilling to do anything for you.

Include job sheets/paperwork from the 'fix' to back up your claim and show more proof.

Hope it works out for you in the end though.
Allan

[R32GT-R]

it seams they might help now, it sucks that you have to push this hard to get product support. i will keep you guys posted as to what happens

[mcfly]

OS Giken are a bunch of dicks too

[NismoS-tune]

I had planning on buying the same shaft a few months ago. Good thing I chickened out since the dollar isn't where I need it yet.

[R32GT-R]

OS Giken are a bunch of dicks too

please elaborate, i am voting with my dollars these days. i dont want to buy anything from companies who offer no after support.

Tomei US, Gave me bad service as well, when i was asking simple questions about parts i bought from Tomei Japan.

[mcfly]

My second r4c came with the diaphragm bolts loose and they wouldn't even give me a discount when they forced me to order a new on.

[malibusst]

we had an os giken clutch literally fall apart. first thing we noticed were the odd little cracks around the flywheel bolt holes (BRAND NEW). then once that was sorted out, the second clutch let go after 30 minutes of driving on the streets ( during break in, damper spring snapped on second plate)

-os gikens excuse for this was that the clutch was not sold by a valid distributor so GTFO

[mcfly]

-os gikens excuse for this was that the clutch was not sold by a valid distributor so GTFO

same issue for me
i bought from rhdjapan the second time and they told me to suck it because they are not allowed to distribute to n/a
had to order the plate from rhd at retail + shipping

[Z-Tuned]

As for Driveshaftshop, I have had good experience with them. I used to run their aluminium 1-piece in my AWD Eagle Talon. Install was quick and easy and didn't need to be balanced at all.

[RWDragoon]

My two cents:

I am the authorized dealer for OS Giken in Alberta.

I talk with OS Giken regularly and they actually brought up this specific topic. The problem is that RHD Japan is NOT authorized to sell to north America and to be honest OS Giken isn't sure where they buy some of the products from, as the most OS Giken Failures are sold by this company in north America. They have NEVER had any issues with the cover plate bolts being improperly torqued and they are to never be disassembled by anyone except OS Giken.

Not that it matters now but both myself and OS Giken stand %100 behind the products we sell. When you buy it cheaper from RHD Japan and other "Gray" companies you get exactly what you pay for.

If anyone does have issues with OS Giken I can try and help you out, as we have never had a single failure or issue with any of the products we have sold.

As for DSS

We also deal directly with them. And we have had major problems with products and service. We have a full-race SRT4 that is only making 270whp but is used in rally. We upgraded to the stage 3 axles with DSS "Rally Prep" ($100 boots) and have had nothing but problems with them. Even when you finally convince them of a problem it costs you the same price as an OEM Axle to ship it to them, and for them to ship you another axle with a different problem, and the downtime of 3 weeks shipping it both ways or $300+ for rush shipping

-Ryan

same issue for me
i bought from rhdjapan the second time and they told me to suck it because they are not allowed to distribute to n/a
had to order the plate from rhd at retail + shipping

[BlackAura]

My two cents:

I am the authorized dealer for OS Giken in Alberta.

I talk with OS Giken regularly and they actually brought up this specific topic. The problem is that RHD Japan is NOT authorized to sell to north America and to be honest OS Giken isn't sure where they buy some of the products from, as the most OS Giken Failures are sold by this company in north America. They have NEVER had any issues with the cover plate bolts being improperly torqued and they are to never be disassembled by anyone except OS Giken.

Not that it matters now but both myself and OS Giken stand %100 behind the products we sell. When you buy it cheaper from RHD Japan and other "Gray" companies you get exactly what you pay for.

Not to bash you, or OS Giken, as I have dealt with neither of you, but I've found when companies use "authorized retailers" it's to make extra profit, either by providing tiered pricing depending on the locations, or to charge authorized-seller fees to the retailer, who then sells the product for more to cover those fees.

For example, and this is for a different product entirely, but a similar concept....I called a few places in Calgary to buy an Pioneer stereo headunit. The setup I wanted (this was 5 years ago at least), also had the iPod connector / box that plugged into the stereo. Quote around town: $700. This was just for the stereo + iPod box, not installation.

Checked around online, and found it for $300 US + shipping, which came to $400 CAD all said and done at the time. The only difference between buying from these two markets.....in Canada I'd have a 3 Year Warranty (I think? Whatever the Premier Warranty is), buying from the states, just a month warranty from the person selling it to me, basically if it was DOA, because they were not an authorized retailer.

Reason for the price difference:
- Location: Canada, as you know, generally pays more for a product than the CAD/USD conversion would be if you bought it online from the US
i.e.
US Price: $60 USD
Canadian Price: $90 CAD
Converted US Price: $66 CAD (assuming 1.10, which it's below these days)
- "Authorized Resellers": If I wanted the 3 year warranty with the product, I had to from an authorized reseller, which, oddly enough, always seems to charge more for the product that the eBay sellers.

Now again, with stereos, I know I'm getting the right product....they are pretty hard to fake.
With clutches, I'm sure it's a lot easier, so maybe this is an issue, and RHDJapan is selling fake clutches.....in which case, you don't want to be liable for fakes of your product, and I fully understand that.

But you do say RHDJapan is not authorized to sell to North America, which makes me think there is a tiered pricing setup, and unfortunately, we're getting screwed......so people buy from RHDJapan because it's cheaper.

Just thoughts, again, not trying to bash you or your product.....you can actually see these tiered pricing setups in a lot of things, for example, video games in Europe, which generally cost 50% more the last time I checked (over a year ago).

80GB Playstation 3:
Amazon.co.uk: £289.99
Amazon.com: $399.99 (USD)
Amazon.ca: $399.99 (CAD)

and I almost proved myself wrong with this one.....Amazon is offering the PS3 for the same price to Canada, and the US, but, as expected, Europe is getting screwed:
UK cost in USD: $478.13
UK cost in CAD: $525.78

[R32GT-R]

ya i dont think authorized reseller is much of a reason, the manufacturer gets paid for every product that leaves their door, they should cover every product that leaves their door. period!

[RWDragoon]

Well again I am not very familiar with electronics such as stereo equipment, but I can tell you how the automotive, racing and hi-performance areas work.

Most hi-end respectable companies such as OS Giken, HKS(some parts), Motec, Motul, and Haltech can (should) only be purchased from direct dealers and distributors. The places that are authorized to sell such products often must go through strict quality control, dealer training and are in written contract to sell products at a minimum fair price. These companies often require large initial purchases, and minimum sales volume. This helps keeping "unskilled joe's garage" from becoming a dealer and damaging the companies image, and standards.

This is why you never see Motul in Canadian tire. Not because Canadian tire cant afford the oil, but because Motul knows Canadian tire cant provide the proper advice, assistance and support of such a high quality product.

Most Higher end products have something called a Minimum Advertized price. This is the price that all dealers must follow. This is to ensure that competition is fair, and prices are standardized. Companies such as Greddy never had or never enforced this policies and as im sure you can see with Ebay companies just bleed themselves dry trying to compete. Eventually companies realized selling Greddy's products didn't make them any money at all, even though they are a decent product, and lack of sales put Greddy-Trust into receivership. (China knockoff parts also had a large part in this)

RHD Japan is NOT an authorized distributor, therefor they can sell any of the products they have access to at any price they choose. In return you may get counterfeit parts, or even if the part they sell you are legit, you still have little to no support from the actual manufacturer of the part. It is sort of like buying a stolen part, and then trying to warranty it.

[mcfly]

If that's the case its os gikens responsibility for cutting off rhd japans supply for circumventing the system.

Taking it out on the consumers is bad for business and since that I have been more then willing to share my ill fated experiences with anyone that comes along all while never buying another product they offer.

I went straight to Japan for my tech support which is the market I purchased it from, they lost my business completely because they wouldn't help me in any way. They need a lesson in customer relations.

A happy customer tells one friend, an unhappy customer tells everybody.