Can We Talk Driveshafts?

[rajicase]

I am going to be installing a 210mm diff in my m3 soon.
I need a driveshaft. I refuse to put a DSS driveshaft in my car as my car is 100% streetable right now and doesn't have any weird noises, excessive NVH, etc.

Research seems to show that the factory driveshafts are twisting on the front half. Could I not just take my front half of my driveshaft to a local shop and have them cut construct the front half out of some thicker wall or stronger tubing?

That or would there be a problem with having them cut off the front and rear flanges and having them make a custom one piece driveshaft that retained the OE flex disc?

I want a solution that doesn't make me hate my life every time I drive my car , I don't see what is wrong with the above options, maybe you guys can inform me?

[someguy2800]

I have seen a couple pictures of them shearing the splines off at the center bearing. I think a 2 piece shaft using the stock front and rear yoke but a thicker tubing and larger center bearing and spline would be a great solution.

[chikinhed]

I've done that to a stock driveshaft until the flange at the guibo (spelt that way on purpose) started to crack and twist. I had the local driveshaft shop make me up another one that I plan on installing eventually. It was under $300 for the replacing of the tube with a straight, non stepped, thicker wall tube and balance. My only advice is to inspect it every once in a while to catch it before it explodes.

[rajicase]

Okay what about using the front and rear yoke and having a one piece ds made? Have it retain the stock flex disc unlike the dss ds.

[chikinhed]

That would be too much deflection for the guibo.

[rajicase]

Okay do you happen to have a pic of your driveshaft? Did you leave the center splines and bearing and rear half alone?

[pbonsalb]

I twisted the splines on one.

[jakeE36325]

Has anyone made a custom 2 piece driveshaft?

[Jkpgt96]

I had the front section shortened and remade with thicker tubing, everything else including the rear section is totally stock. No vibrations to speak of. Akg poly bushings everywhere out back and the rally road rigid mounted large case conversion. I do run stock rubber engine and trans mounts for now.


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[rajicase]

I had the front section shortened and remade with thicker tubing, everything else including the rear section is totally stock. No vibrations to speak of. Akg poly bushings everywhere out back and the rally road rigid mounted large case conversion. I do run stock rubber engine and trans mounts for now.

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So you used thicker wall tubing right? OD remained the same?

[chikinhed]

Wheel hop will kill everything.

[Jkpgt96]

So you used thicker wall tubing right? OD remained the same?

Correct.


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[rajicase]

Wheel hop will kill everything.

What are you doing to help eliminate it?
What are the go to ways to reduce wheel hop in the e36?

[jakermac]

What are you doing to help eliminate it?
What are the go to ways to reduce wheel hop in the e36?

chikinhed's response will send you screaming/running!!!!

[rajicase]

I'm patiently waiting!

[someguy2800]

What are the go to ways to reduce wheel hop in the e36?

The answer to all traction/suspension related problems



Just sayin

[chikinhed]

Yes, that is the straight line solution.

I posted my response to the wheel hop issue in Rajcase's build thread by mistake.

[E36 HateR]

Ive seen modified shafts break, my dss no shake to 170.

[dburt86]

Ya know what doesn't have a guibo?

a th400

- - - Updated - - -

I'll stop

[pbonsalb]

Ive seen modified shafts break, my dss no shake to 170.

Impressive. 6 or 5 speed? Carbon or steel? I have had 3 DSS 5 speed shafts and all are the same -- increasingly unpleasant above 100 mph in 5th.

[crazyyardie]

I've had 2. The first one vibrated hard above 100mph
But the 2nd which was bought this year doesn't vibrate. Maybe they got better ?!?


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[GT35Rm3]

My 5 speed dss ds vibrated like hell. My six speed didn't even to 198 mph. I think the shorter length did the trick.

[wazzu70]

As others have said its not difficult to have the driveshaft upgraded with thicker tubing. I had a custom one built for my car due to no OE driveshaft being the right length. The tube they replaced the front section with was the same OD, but was a much thicker material.

No problems so far with my driveshaft twisting ~100rwtq (not missing another digit )

[Gmfwd]

With enough abuse the stock splines can twist with as low as 350wtq.

Bigger CSB and a DS from an extended cab long bed chevy pickup would make a great starting point to drop off at a driveshaft shop so they can use the splined parts out of it. Actually you could probably just modify the chevy CSB to fit the bmw.

[someguy2800]

With enough abuse the stock splines can twist with as low as 350wtq.

Bigger CSB and a DS from an extended cab long bed chevy pickup would make a great starting point to drop off at a driveshaft shop so they can use the splined parts out of it. Actually you could probably just modify the chevy CSB to fit the bmw.

When I was still planning to use my stock trans I contacted a driveshaft place in Texas that builds 2 piece shafts for diesel pickups. They also rebuilt e36 shaft so the guy was familiar with what I was working with. He told me they could build me a custom 2 piece shaft using a new center support and slip joint for a half ton pickup that would be the same relative size as an e36 shaft but would have about twice the torque capacity.