Before I put in the '93 driveshaft...

izackary

izackary

Nomad
So before I install my new-to-me solid driveshaft, I of course would like its balance to be confirmed by a shop. The second shop I called to see if they offer this service informed me that even though they can send it out for balancing, they would be unable to offer any warranty on their work. The reason being that, as the guy on the phone explained, the reason for the 2-piece change in the '94 model year was because of the U-joint failure rate. I told him that even if this becomes a problem, I would prefer that over the stresses that vibrations have surely been putting on my drivetrain. Have any of you guys with solid driveshafts seen premature U-joint failure since replacing the stock 2-piece shafts??
 
budpytko

budpytko

Super Senior Associate
I bought a D/S from a 93 oh so long ago and have never had a problem with it. JP, when did I get that D/S from you??? 2004? 2005? or earlier.
 
izackary

izackary

Nomad
Did you even bother with balancing? This has some marginal lathing from the insulation pad on the top of the tunnel forward of the gas tank, but it feels smooth. I'd like to make sure that it will be as balanced as possible before installing it. I prefer to do it only once. :)
 
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beerdog

New member
It is definetly worth balancing. You want to verify if they do high speed balancing. I took one to a shop and only found afterwards that his balancer only goes to 2500rpms. That is fine for a passenger sedan or a big truck, but not a geared up Mark 8.

Try to find a shop that makes performance drive shafts. Regardless, balencing at a lower RPM is better than not balencing. Based on the propaganda, performance drive shafts are balanced at 5K-6K RPMs. Are you instaling gears?

Where is the base of Michigan's pinkie?
 
budpytko

budpytko

Super Senior Associate
Where is the base of Michigan's pinkie?

Looks to me like in the middle of Lake Michigan!
 
izackary

izackary

Nomad
Mike, I'm in the Grand Haven area. I was hoping to do this local and not have to venture into Grand Rapids, but it seems there is a specialty driveline shop there. I haven't called them yet as I have been doing other things today, but they appear to be a place that would do high speed balancing. Anyways, here is what the front looks like, a pic I shot for Eric T as I was pulling it out:



The surface there just feels polished, not at all grooved. Only the threads of the pad were hanging down, unlike when Joe and I did his, and the metal sheet actually scored into the metal of his old one.
 
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KStromberg

KStromberg

Vortech kicked in yo
Have it high-speed balanced at 6k rpms aand put solid spicers in there and you'll be good for a long long time. Back in my pre-mod days, I had a 93 shaft put in with a chitty balancing machine and it still vibrated with. A quality high-speed balance makes all the difference.
 
izackary

izackary

Nomad
Thanks for the advice, guys. I shot an email off to these guys, so we'll see what they say. I'm not doing the install until my low fuel warning comes on once or twice anyways. :D
 
Mad1stGen

Mad1stGen

Booster
Ship this thing over here, and I'll take it to Dynotech.

I honestly don't know of many driveline shops in MI that balance to 6k and this was exactly one of the reasons I went with Dynotech instead of Shaftmasters.
 
izackary

izackary

Nomad
Mad1stGen said:
Ship this thing over here, and I'll take it to Dynotech.

I honestly don't know of many driveline shops in MI that balance to 6k and this was exactly one of the reasons I went with Dynotech instead of Shaftmasters.
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If this place in GR doesn't do a high speed balance, then I might. PM me details if you need to, including price if possible, please. Thanks!
 
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beerdog

New member
There is this place near Chicago. I have never used them but I hear they are good. I will be taking any drive shafts I need balanced there next time. I did not learn about them untill after my last balancing. I spoke to them over the phone once. They do allot of high performance shafts and can high speed balance up to 10,000+ RPMs. He did educate me that all shafts have a limit to how fast they can spin before they rip apart so don't expect to get it balanced that high. The balancing was only $45 or so. Of course you would have shipping on top of that.

http://www.mdsdriveshaft.com/index.htm

Of course going with Jeremi is the safe bet. Just throwing an option out there.
 
Mad1stGen

Mad1stGen

Booster
I took one of their 3.5" driveshafts there recently and it was $133 or so to R&R brand new u-joints, and balance it to 6k, parts and labor. That's a must IMO as at some point you will be in 3rd gear and max engine RPM.
 
izackary

izackary

Nomad
Dennis at D&R out this way got back to me already. He says they do not have high speed balance, and their fee including new Spicers is from 65-95 dollars for a standard balance...
 
B

beerdog

New member
Mad1stGen said:
Standard balance is usually to 2500 rpms. Put your car in 3rd gear and go to 2500. No thanks lol
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So let me test my understanding. You want to get it balanced to 6K because the 3rd gear ration is 1:1. This means the drive shaft is spinning the same RPM's as the engine. So get it balanced to the same RPMs or higher than the max RPM you will run the engine to.
 
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