Aluminum or Steel shaft?

**JwMonE99** · 12-01-2008, 03:55 PM

I can get a good deal for an aluminum drive shaft.
I know it is lighter and allows for more rotations or whatever but is it worth getting? I have the stock one for a 96 M6 Z28.
Also how easy is it for them to bend/break?
I will be building a forged 355 H/C/I setup soon.

**JwMonE99** · 12-02-2008, 08:27 AM

TTT, no one knows about drive shafts?

**dpinson** · 12-02-2008, 08:43 AM

go ahead and get you a steel driveshaft or at least one that is rated for high power

p.s.t makes a nice piece

the aluminum one from a ls1 is stronger supposedly than the steel units the lt1 came with but they wont handle alot more than stock power when it is being launched on stickies

better safe then sorry a busted driveshaft can be one of the most expensive fixes you will ever see,especially when it comes through the floorboard

**BULLET_WS6** · 12-02-2008, 09:03 AM

personally i would go steel for two reasons
future power plans
and following laws of inertia

**Bottesini** · 12-02-2008, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by BULLET_WS6

personally i would go steel for two reasons
future power plans
and following laws of inertia

I agree on the first part. Second is wrong though, heavy driveshaft only hurts you with its inertia.

I have not done the shopping around myself, but it seems the LS1 aluminum driveshaft is a bit of hit or miss, some are very strong while some crumple like a soda can. I would bet the ones that break had some small dent in them that significantly weakened them structurally. I would just shop around and see what the manufacturers are rating their shafts at, and once you found something that looks promising start researching that one.

**INMY01TA** · 12-11-2008, 08:01 PM

There is nothing strong about the LS1 aluminum one. If you have a steel LT1 ds, I'd stick with that.

**thearborbarber** · 12-11-2008, 08:42 PM

I've been satified with my LPE driveshaft. It's made by dynotech engineering for LPE

http://www.lingenfelter.com/store/ln0350s.html

**karpetcm** · 12-15-2008, 07:41 AM

I had the Alum. in my 01 ss with 4.10's and drag radials and never had a issue with it but i only had exhuast cutout, flowmaster muffler, SLP lid and thats it.