spuare tube driveshaft debate

[DTB]

CLANK CLANK CLANK BANG CLANK....last time I saw one I asked the guy what broke on his truck when he pulled up at the campsite....he said, "oh nothing broke....thats just my driveshaft"



true story

[88toyota]

[BLACKDOG]

mine is more like a gentle ticking.  It isn't very loud at all.  Like I said, I did wrap the inner tube in duct tape before I wedged it into the outer sleeve, to eat up space. 

[Thomas P]

they are only loud and clanky when the duct tape needs to be serviced, which was about once a year when i had one

[46&2]

My engine is louder than the clank (which is very intermittent and I dont use duct tape either) which itself I only hear from time to time. For the price Im not complaining

[porkchop]

when I made mine I run a small bead down two opp. sides of shaft with welder  mine slides good but very quiet

[Gittinit]

CLANK CLANK CLANK BANG CLANK....last time I saw one I asked the guy what broke on his truck when he pulled up at the campsite....he said, "oh nothing broke....thats just my driveshaft"



true story

Was that me? 

Ya know for the first two years it didn't make a sound. These last two have been verry hard on it though, it must be wore pretty bad, couse it makes lots of noise in 4wd. I need to run a weld bead down each side to tighten it back up.

No matter how loud it seems I wouldn't trade it for one of those high dollar. I just cant see destroying a $600 driveshaft on the rocks, when a $30 driveshaft holds up so well. My square front is gonna beround sood enough , couse I keep using the rocks as a sort of lathe to round the corners. 

[WHITE_TRASH]

The loud square shafts all seem to be made of receiver tubing which is a super loose fit even when new and makes for a tank of a shaft.  All of them that I have built for myself and friends have been 1 1/2x1/4" inner and 2x1/4" outer.  Nice snug fit and only a slight clicking when the hubs are locked and the case is in 2x.  I have driven many miles at near highway speeds with mine as have my buddies going from trail to trail with the hubs locked and none of us have had any issue so far. 

[ROCKO]

i have a square driveline on my dd no problems on the street the only problem i have is not from the square drive line it from the locker in the front when im in 4-lo on the trail trying to make a tight turn.....
if already put about 10000 miles on my rig since built and alsways had the square in the front....

[twistedtoy92]

i had my front and rear round DL's done for $100....... no vibs at 75mph 

[Gittinit]

The loud square shafts all seem to be made of receiver tubing which is a super loose fit even when new and makes for a tank of a shaft.  All of them that I have built for myself and friends have been 1 1/2x1/4" inner and 2x1/4" outer.  Nice snug fit and only a slight clicking when the hubs are locked and the case is in 2x.  I have driven many miles at near highway speeds with mine as have my buddies going from trail to trail with the hubs locked and none of us have had any issue so far. 

Thats the same tube I use. I would recommend it for a nice tight fit. It will wear just as any other though. I built one using reciever tube, but it has since been used as a reciever tube. The reciever tube definately has more play than the 1/4 wall tube. I had to grind a groove in the inner pice to clearance for the seam of the outer tube.

[BLACKDOG]

I used the reciever tube as well.  Followed the directions that minisimp posted.  Mine isn't tight by any means, but it really isn't that loose. 2-3 wraps of duct tape was all  I needed to get it pretty dang quiet. 

[DTB]

Was that me? 

Yea, that was you....

[MiniSimp]

i had my front and rear round DL's done for $100....... no vibs at 75mph 

But can you say this: I made my front and rear shafts square, they are both interchangeable and I can rest the entire weight of my truck on a pointed rock supported by my driveline only, and no vibrations at 70mph.

[WHITE_TRASH]

Almost... my rear shaft is .188 DOM... I've abused the hell out of it and it doesnt have any dent as of yet.  SO I have under $200 into both drivelines.

[twistedtoy92]

But can you say this: I made my front and rear shafts square, they are both interchangeable and I can rest the entire weight of my truck on a pointed rock supported by my driveline only, and no vibrations at 70mph.

no i cant but i sure as hell dont want ANY weight on ANY part of my drivelines especially the weight of my whole truck..... pinions and output shafts dont exactly like that much weight on them....... plus things that are round tend to turn smoother than square.......... soooooo i'll just stick with my toyota DL's!!!! BUT I'm glad you can park your vehicle with either DL on a pointed rock without damage, gotta give you two        up there!!!!! :thumpup: