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Do I have to measure to order a driveshaft?
YES! We want your order to fit correctly. Measuring is the only way we can be sure your driveshaft will fit and perform perfectly for you. We have provided the best measuring diagrams in the business so that you can easily get the right dimensions.
How much slip travel should I have?
In most applications the minimum is 3/4 inch and more than 1 inch is not necessary. This is measured with the rear suspension supported on safety stands or with the rear end on the ground.
What is the difference between 1310, 1330 and 1350 Series?
The "series" of a driveshaft or universal joint is determined by the actual dimensions of the u-joint. While the front and rear u-joint can be of two different sizes the shaft is only as strong as the smaller one. The 1310 series u-joint measures approximately 3 1/4 inches wide. The 1330 and 1350 both measure approximately 3 5/8 wide. The 1310 and 1330 series can have cap diameters of 1 1/16 and/or 1 1/8 inch or a combination of both sizes. The 1350 series has a cap diameter of 1 3/16 inch and the body and journals are bigger than the 1310 or 1330. Remember 1350 is almost never found in production car driveshafts.
Can I send in my driveshaft so you can use it for a template?
Yes you can. As long as you are 100 percent sure it fits correctly. Please let us know if you want it returned.
Why does the rear u-joint fits loosly in the pinion yoke?
A common mistake that is made when measuring is to measure the rear u-joint caps instead of measuring the pinion yoke. This is most common on Ford rear ends where a 1 1/8 inch cap diameter is found at the yoke saddles. Unfortunately someone has installed a u-joint with 1 1/16 inch caps. Always measure the pinion yoke.
How tight should I tighten my u-bolts?
1310 series and 1330 series should be tightened to 17 ft/lbs and 1350 series to 20 ft/lbs. You should never tighten the nuts on any u-bolt excessively. This will cause the cap to distort and the u-joint will fail prematurely. Click to see Photo
How often should I add grease to my non greaseable u-joints?
Never! Just leave them alone and they will last for a very long time. You can do more harm than good by taking them apart.
How often should I grease my greaseable u-joints?
Greaseable u-joints should be greased every 3000 miles or possibly more often. You cannot over grease a greaseable u-joint.
Why does my rear u-joint wear out so often?
This is usually the case when a u-bolt style pinion yoke is used. The pinion yoke is not the problem the overtightening of the u-bolt is the cause of the failure. You may find that every time you change the damaged rear u-joint you will find that one or both of the journals or caps that are under the u-bolts are destroyed and the ones that are pressed into the shaft are still in good shape. You did it to yourself! 17 ft/lbs for 1310 & 1330 series and 20 ft/lbs on the 1350 series. Click to see Photo
How much of a mistake am I allowed in my measurements?
NONE!!! Its too easy to get it right so why do it wrong. Never use the hook on the end of a tape measure to measure a u-joint. It is best done with a good steel machinists ruler or a dial caliper but if those tools are not available any good ruler will do as long as it reads down to 1/16 of an inch. Use the tape measure hook for the overall length only!
Can I order a driveshaft without a transmission slip yoke?
Yes. We will need your slip yoke to balance your driveshaft correctly.
Can I order a driveshaft without u-joints?
No. We cannot build a driveshaft without u-joints.
Can I send my factory driveshaft in for repair or balance?
Yes. We offer repair service for alterations, balancing or diagnosis purposes. Please call to have an order written so that we know what to do with your driveshaft when it arrives.
I have had my driveshaft back to the shop that built it many times and it still vibrates. Can you fix it?
The answer is Yes and No. Many times our high speed balance equipment can make a big difference but in some cases nothing will make it run better. We can determine that and let you know what your options are.
Why do I continue to break u-joints?
The answer can be that the u-joint series is too small for the application. Or possibly you are using an inexpensive parts store u-joint that does not offer strength. Maybe you are using a greaseable u-joint and it is breaking across the grease fitting hole. The corresponding yoke is damaged or distorted and causing premature failure.
Why did my driveshaft tubing twist or break?
There are many reasons. If you are using a stock driveshaft in a racing application then you already know the answer. Stock shafts should never be used for racing. If you had a driveshaft built by a driveline shop and it has broken or twisted the tubing then you should take it back to where you bought it. They apparently built your driveshaft with tubing that was similar to stock driveline tubing or possibly selected a tube diameter or thickness that was not correct for your application. Just because the shop builds dump truck shafts does not mean it can handle the requirements of a race car.
I want to order a driveshaft but my car is all apart?
Unfortunately it will be best for you to wait until you have it back together to measure correctly.
How much driveline angle is right for my application?
Thats a loaded question. The best answer is....the least amount of driveline or u-joint angle is the best amount of angle. Try to achieve the least amount of u-joint angle but don't make it less than 1 degree. A little known fact about u-joints is that they require about 1 degree of operating angle to get the needle bearings rotating. If they do not rotate they will fail. Too much angle will also cause them to fail. The type of rear suspension also plays a big part in setting the angles as well as the engine/transmission angle. Leaf spring cars have a need for more downward pinion angle due to spring wrap-up while coil spring cars control the situation better. Hard acceleration as in the case of a drag race car requires a different setting than a street driven car. Traction bars, ladder bars, 4 links, independent rears all have special needs and requirements.
My driveshaft is too short. Can I put on a longer slip yoke to make it fit better?
This is a common problem and many times this seems like an inexpensive way to make it fit better but this type of fix should be avoided. We never recommend installing a longer slip yoke when the shaft is actually too short for the application. Some transmission slip yokes are available with a longer barrel but they were designed longer for a specific application and not for the purpose of extending a shaft. Using one on a driveshaft that is actually too short for the application can lead to vibration and output shaft bushing failure. In extreme cases the internal spline can twist and bind up the slip movement. Don't do it!
My driveshaft is too short. Can you add a little tubing to it to make it longer?
No. The correct way to lengthen a driveshaft is to remove both weld yokes and install a new tube of the proper length.
When is it necessary to upgrade to 1350 series?
It is always a good choice to upgrade to the 1350 series components whenever your application is used for racing or with high horsepower and street use. Stock driveshafts were designed to handle a modest amount of horsepower. If your application has more than 400 horsepower then its time to consider a new shaft.
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