where to buy a drive shaft?

[Lavalamp]

so i might be needing a new drive shaft would it be wise to get a used one from a junk yard or should i just get a new one... or can these be rebuilt?

[roberttran]

Ive seen ads in the Roundel for www.driveshaft.com. No prices on their site though :(

-Robert

[AJGee]

www.bavauto.com, $550-ish with core

[Lavalamp]

would a 'powertrain' driveshaft be better then an OE driveshaft?
like would it be a good thing to get a better one if i drive hard every time i drive my car?

[AJGee]

Couldn't hurt, but the only real potential advantage the average person is going to get would be beefed up u-joints and center support bearing, if the 'powertrain' drive has those. Those are going to be the failure points, if any. As for the shaft itself, it usually takes some serious power to twist up one.

I'd say you'd be ok with the OE-

[murdoc158]

You might want to look into a lighter aluminum or even a carbon fiber drive shaft depending on what your going to do to the car. I would guess an aluminum shaft would be somewhere around $700-$800, and a carbon fiber $1400-$1500. I had a carbon drive shaft on my Supra making 650rwhp, and noticed a huge difference. As soon as the clutch was let out, the car was moving, versus somewhat of a delay in the OEM steel one. I saved 70 pounds of rotational mass with this upgrade too. Just throwing it out there as an option.

[roberttran]

hummm, I might consider an aluminum or CF driveshaft when I do my manual swap. Had no idea something like this was out there :) Do you think it would also be worth it to get lighter half-shafts too?

[murdoc158]

hummm, I might consider an aluminum or CF driveshaft when I do my manual swap. Had no idea something like this was out there :) Do you think it would also be worth it to get lighter half-shafts too?

I can't see any reasons not to do it. The aluminum and carbon drive shafts are alot stronger than OEM, so I doubt you would have to worry about any breakage like the OEM ones.

[Lavalamp]

I can't see any reasons not to do it. The aluminum and carbon drive shafts are alot stronger than OEM, so I doubt you would have to worry about any breakage like the OEM ones.

the main reason for not doing an upgrade is cash money

[Lavalamp]

ok, so i've decided i'd like an aluminum or maybe a carbon fiber driveshaft if it's not too much more... but i can't find any good places to get them.. anyone know?

[roberttran]

ok, so i've decided i'd like an aluminum or maybe a carbon fiber driveshaft if it's not too much more... but i can't find any good places to get them.. anyone know?

http://www.pstds.com/critical-link.cfm

Let me know how much it costs. I'm doing my manual swap in afew months and may opt for one too.

-Robert

[Lavalamp]

ne one got all the dimensions needed so i can get a price for a custom carbon fiber one?

[hellrot325]

I just bought a used one in great condition for $60 if you decide to drop this CF foolishness.

[Lavalamp]

i kinda have this thing that when something fails and i need to replace it, i like upgrading and replacing it with something better... so i'd have to get at least an aluminum one... but if i can get a CF one for not too much i might wanna go that way..

[TITE3NBIGD]

I just bought a remanufactured drive shaft from Automobile Solutions who buys them from Beyer Motor Werks in Arizona. cost $346 plus $100 core charge which you get back when you ship back yours in the tube that comes with theirs, plus return shipping is all paid for. You just call fedex to come and pick up.
Driveshaft wanted $500 plus.
I just wish I had the phone # for Automobile solutions handy right now. It is
at home though.

[Lavalamp]

well right now i'm thinking i want at least an aluminum one.... but i need dimensions..
anyone have all the dimensions necessary to get a custom driveshaft made?

[Truman325i]

its gonna cost alot of money to get one made, just get a used one and put in a lightweight flywheel.

[Lavalamp]

i already have a lightweight flywheel.
does anyone have the dimensions needed in order to make a custom driveshaft?

[roberttran]

i already have a lightweight flywheel.
does anyone have the dimensions needed in order to make a custom driveshaft?

What happened to your old one? I was thinking about calling them seeing if I could send the entire thing to them for them to get a much more accurate measurement and so they can see how it will look like.

[Lavalamp]

well it's kind of in use on my car....................

[hellrot325]

So let's recap...you are going to have a custom driveshaft made...that's going to cost at least a grand...based on dimensions provided by strangers on a forum. :rolleyes

[murdoc158]

Here's what I did. During the offseason (ie winter in WI), I dropped the car off at the shop and had them fabricate a custom drive shaft. Depending where you go it should only take a week or so. I told them there was no rush as I wasn't going to be driving the car for another 6 months anyway. If you really want an aluminum one, just check the phone book and look for some racing shops. Most will be able to help or point you in the right direction for a reputable shop that can hook you up. I wouldn't pay anything more than $900 for an aluminum drive shaft. My 1-piece shaft on my Supra was just under $700.

[Lavalamp]

$900 is CF territory not aluminum....

[Lavalamp]

well i called http://www.pstds.com/ and apparently they don't do anything for BMWs... so anyone know of anywhere else?

[roberttran]

So they flat out said no? I thought they did custom stuff so why wouldn't they? Unless BMW driveshafts are really that different.

[Lavalamp]

they flat out said no.

[crazytmaxx]

you really want to drop 6-8 times the price for an aluminum ds? Doesnt that kinda sound a little steep? Just my thoughts, not to offend.

[Lavalamp]

well considering that the CF ones on that site aren't even 6-8 times as much i doubt it would be 6-8 times as much for an aluminum one, a remanufactured one with serviceable u-joints is like $500, that would be $3000-4000, so of course for that price i wouldn't, but i highly doubt it would be that much.

[roberttran]

I found this today: http://www.modbargains.com/product.asp?pf_id=bmw%2De36%2Dengine002

[Lavalamp]

damn, that's about $300 over my budget...

[Lavalamp]

would an m3 driveshaft actually fit a 328?

[roberttran]

would an m3 driveshaft actually fit a 328?

I would think so since they both use the same transmission.

[old skool]

I have a manual conversion for sale.
328 drive shaft + 5 spd tranny, clutch pedal assembly, 2.93 open diff... etc.

[Lavalamp]

I have a manual conversion for sale.
328 drive shaft + 5 spd tranny, clutch pedal assembly, 2.93 open diff... etc.

i already have a 5 spd...

anyone know if an m3 driveshaft would actually fit a 328?