Really simple question.

Is it safe to have a driveshaft cut down, and then welded back together? I've been hearing yes and no.

I'm trying to get everything squared away for my Vega project this winter so when I trailer my pos car home this summer I won't have to waste time.

 

No.

The drive shaft single peice is like that for the strength. If you cut and reweld it will crack at the weld, because it becomes a weak point.

 

I have a friend that broke a Dana 60 rear end, and he cut and rewelded the driveshaft that turned it. There was a LOT of torque to do that.

 

Oh yeah, and take a look at the ends of a driveshaft, they're welded on. A seam in the middle of the shaft will be no weaker, just make sure that it's balanced.

 

the ends of drive shafts are friction welded which is stronger than regualar MIG or TIG welding since mig or tig can only penitrate so deep on a surface. Friction welding covers the ENTIRE surface being welded.

Yes you can weld the middle of a driveshaft but it wont last for long. A driveshaft is designed to have flex in it when under torque.. or allowed to twist slightly, and it can handle that being one piece, but when broken in half and rewelded the area around the weld becomes weak from the heat. However the weld itself is stronger that the acual material was.

Another problem i could image is the driveshaft being warped from welding or not being welded so that it is perfectly strait.

 

My hollow aluminum driveshaft is welded solid? Amazing.

If it wasn't possible to weld a driveshaft, don't you think that driveshaft shops would be out of business?

Obviously you have to get it straight and balanced, but that doesn't mean it can't be done.

 

Solid on the surface area, yes.

I was thinking more along the lines of a steel driveshaft... im not even sure if aluminum can be friction welded. Im petty sure it can however.

 

FWIW, yes you can cut and weld a driveshaft. I've had it done on more than one car. Personally, if you're talking about a FWD honda, I don't know why you'd want to. There are companies out there that will make you whatever you want.

 

If you cut it, you will need to get one side turned down so you can slide it into the other half up to the length you need it to be. Then reweld. Should be good to go after that.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Kookz &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My hollow aluminum driveshaft is welded solid? Amazing.

If it wasn't possible to weld a driveshaft, don't you think that driveshaft shops would be out of business?

Obviously you have to get it straight and balanced, but that doesn't mean it can't be done.</TD></TR></TABLE>

a place local to me does this , they cut your drive shaft down and reweld it, and also balance it , costst like 40 bucks to have it done, and never had one fail , the tube will rip apart or twist, b4 the weld fails,

 

You can cut the driveshaft to shorten it. I'd have a professional shop do it though to make sure it's balanced properly. For the most part, only oem driveshafts are friction welded. Any custom driveshaft done at an aftermarket shop is going to have it machine Mig welded.

http://www.shafts.com/hp/hp.html

I've had a bunch of work done to driveline parts at this local shop near me, and everything is Mig welded. They make driveshafts for 1500+ hp "street cars", so I'd trust that they're doing something right.

 

Lowriders do it all the time, my brother did it. Of course lowriders are usually producing a lot of power or racing. But his hasnt broke and its been 2 years. His damn hydraulics havent broke it yet.

 

Thanks. Looks like i won't need to spend an assload on a custom one now.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slowdx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...Of course lowriders are usually producing a lot of power or racing.... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Huh? They do? Never seen one with a lot of power or race.

Besides, how hard could you accelerate on 4" wide tires...

 

yes - look in the phone book..

i went to one of these places a long time ago with my honda driveshafts and they laughed at me.. so yeah.. you can shorten a RWD driveshaft NO PROBLEM.

 

i have a friend with a '68 riviera lowrider thats pushing 400 hp, and thats all from low end torque. plus, i saw this one time where someone did it with fwd cv shafts, i'm sorry i can't find the link.

 

FWD axles that are welded wont last till the garage door. mig or tig welded.

 

TAOB- yes you can weld a driveshaft. Cut it off from the flange at the end near the rearend, then take a section out of it and re-weld it. That way if something does go wrong the shaft will fall out of the car instead of stay attached to the rearend and go whipping around under the car and risk sticking into the ground and ripping the rearend out backwards. I recommend just hiring a professional who can balance it when it's finished.

Brian- with enough heat you can penetrate fully. My welders do it day in and day out since in aerospace you aren't allowed to weld both sides (this can cause cold lap which will fail x-ray)

Clayton- Honda never made the "Vega," but Chevrolet did

legendboy- A guy brought his truck into my shop one day with a driveshaft welded in the middle. On the test drive after I built his transmission the shaft broke and half flew out and went through the windshield of a Corvette, then the half still attached to the rearend whipped around and punctured the gas tank and ripped out the brake lines. All of this wouldn't have been so bad if I wasn't driving down a hill. That thing was a bitch to get back up over the guardrail...
Needless to say I don't recommend welding in the middle.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kb58 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Huh? They do? Never seen one with a lot of power or race.

Besides, how hard could you accelerate on 4" wide tires...</TD></TR></TABLE>
typo, you know what i meant.

 

I own a Honda CR-Z hybrid, I love it! My drivers side drive shaft snapped. Cannot get a replacement in the UK. Quoted £1300.00 yes with shipping and import tax. So have had it welded and balanced. Just hoping it will be ok.
if only I could have purchased this part here, tried getting a 2nd hand one - No joy.
haven’t had it put back on, and a little apprehensive but the fabricator who welded it said it will be fine. So fingers crossed.

 

I’ve been quoted £1300 for front drivers side drive shaft for my Honda CR-Z hybrid!! No choice but get it repaired

 

Woah 16 year old thread LOL
and 1300 quid is no joke. I see why you'd want to repair it