Monday, March 24, 2014
What are the Types of Steel Drive Shafts
Drive shafts, also called propeller shafts, are a very important part of a vehicles engine system. They are essentially hollow tubes which connect the transmission output shaft to the differential pinion shaft. The vast majority of drive shafts are made from steel, including those for racing vehicles, motor homes, trucks, four-by-four vehicles and replacement parts. Different kinds of steel are used on various types of drive shafts.
OEM Steel Drive Shafts
OEM steel drive shafts are rated for less heavy-duty service than other types of steel drive shafts. Usually they can handle about 350 pounds per foot, or about 350 to 400 horsepower. This is the lowest performance level for steel drive shafts.
Dsaya Steel Drive Shafts
Dsaya steel drive shafts, stronger than OEM drive shafts, usually can handle about 1,300 pounds per square foot of pressure, which is comparable to about 1,000 to 1,300 horsepower. If your car does not require a lightweight unit, a Dsaya steel drive shaft is an excellent choice.
Chrome-Moly Steel Drive Shafts
Chrome-moly steel drive shafts are the strongest possible type of steel drive shaft. You will find this type of steel drive shaft in Pro Stock-style racing cars. Chrome-moly steel can be strengthened even further if it is heat-treated. Heat treatment will raise the torsional strength about 22 percent and raise the drive trains critical, or maximum, speed by about 19 percent.
CV Steel Drive Shafts
Constant-velocity (CV) steel drive shafts are so named because they revolve at the same speed during the entirety of their operation. One of the most common types of drive shaft, they come in several different subtypes, mostly characterized by the way in which the transmission output shaft and the differential pinion shaft connect.
Split Drive Steel Drive Shafts
Split drive steel drive shafts are two-piece drive shafts used on many vehicles with longer wheelbases. They are characterized by an extra U-joint and a center bearing which provides greater support to the shaft assemblys middle area.
Torque Tube Steel Drive Shafts
Torque tube steel drive shafts are used on cars with independent rear suspensions. This type of drive shaft is connected rigidly at both ends, with a rotating inner shaft.
Flexible Steel Drive Shafts
Flexible steel drive shafts are very rare and quite different than other steel drive shafts. They are not rigid shafts but are instead just large steel cables.
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