What kind of drive shaft?

[Corey1987]

I read somewhere that 98-02 6 speeds come stock with an aluminum driveshaft but when i was puttin on my headers and y pipe, i noticed mine was steel. Think it has been changed or is what i read wrong? Thanks all.

[2001NBMZ28]

Seen posts about this before on the early LS1 cars. Supposedly M6 and 3.23 A4 cars came with the alum, not always the case. Could've been changed though.

[Y2KPewterSS]

98-02 SS & WS6's have the aluminum driveshaft. 98-02 Z28s and Trans Am's have the steel driveshaft.

[Corvettekid82]

Whats the advantage of the aluminum? I know its lighter so the rotating mass is less.. but is it really that big of an upgrade going from the steel to the alum? If can get a used one for decent $ would it be worth it?

[Ripper415]

aluminum is lighter, but isn't it more prone to breaking than steel would be?

[Corey1987]

i would assume so

[Y2KPewterSS]

Yes, the aluminum is lighter. Thats the big advantage to it. Also, I would much rather a driveshaft break than the 10 bolt :)

[2001NBMZ28]

98-02 Z28s and Trans Am's have the steel driveshaft.

Depends on the gears, 3.23 option on Z28 A4's came with alum. Only the 2.73 cars came with steel.

[Y2KPewterSS]

Depends on the gears, 3.23 option on Z28 A4's came with alum. Only the 2.73 cars came with steel.

I wondered about that, thanks for the clarification :)

[bluefields88]

98-02 SS & WS6's have the aluminum driveshaft. 98-02 Z28s and Trans Am's have the steel driveshaft.

So I guess I have an aluminum driveshaft than? and do you think that the aluminum driveshaft would give out before a 10-bolt? I was thinking of getting a safety loop, but I've enver taken a driveshaft off before. hm.

[Y2KPewterSS]

So I guess I have an aluminum driveshaft than? and do you think that the aluminum driveshaft would give out before a 10-bolt? I was thinking of getting a safety loop, but I've enver taken a driveshaft off before. hm.


You car originally came with an aluminum driveshaft and should still have one unless someone swapped it at some point. Are you an auto or manual tranny? Hard to say which would go first, I have seen several of both go.

[bluefields88]

I have an auto, and bought the car off an older female schoolteacher who didn't do anything to it besides an airfilter.

[Y2KPewterSS]

I have an auto, and bought the car off an older female schoolteacher who didn't do anything to it besides an airfilter.

99.9% sure you still have an aluminum shaft then :yup:

[bluefields88]

excellent. :) all I've done to it to make it faster is a Flowmaster Cat Back exhaust, lid, air bellows, and a throttle body bypass. how much power can the aluminum driveshaft handle do you think? I heard the 10-bolts can break at any amount of power depending on how you drive the car.

[Y2KPewterSS]

excellent. :) all I've done to it to make it faster is a Flowmaster Cat Back exhaust, lid, air bellows, and a throttle body bypass. how much power can the aluminum driveshaft handle do you think? I heard the 10-bolts can break at any amount of power depending on how you drive the car.

The 10 bolts are very weak and will break on a stock power levels. Thats more probable on manual transmission cars than auto trannies though. You put a good set of sticky tires on a manual transmission car and you can bust the 10 bolt fairly easy. Same scenario with an auto tranny and its not nearly as likely to break the 10 bolt though. You probably won't need to worry about breaking your rearend anytime soon if that is what you are wondering :)