Driveshaft Retubing

Spence

Spence

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 20, 2005
Location
Salisbury
after pulling my driveshaft tonight to figure out just how bent it is, and finding it is bent considereably, i am thinking about having it retubed with heavier wall tubing.. just wanted a few opinions.....

Question #1. Is it worth it? how much might i be looking at for a shop to do it? It is for an 88 shortbed MJ, and i am not having much luck finding a stock replacement.

How thick could i go with it? and if i decided to do it myself, would it be necessary to use tube? I almost hate to ask that question, but pipe is a lot more readily available and cheaper.....

It wont see a ton of road miles, but i do drive it to the trail( drove home from callalantee to salisbury with it in the shape it is in now) and would like it to be smooth enough to tool around town. Can I accomplish this with a homemade shaft? If i did retube it myself, could a shop balance it?

Sorry for all the questions, but im kinda new to messing with driveshafts.....

Also, i dont want to get into custom or new shafts, because i am starting the save up for a 9" and dual cases, so hopefuly this shaft would only be around for 6-8 months.
 
also, just figured i would say that i know crawling around in the junkyard until i find one the right length is a decent option, just not one that i really have any time for with my work/life schedule......... but is a route i may consider going to soon
 
I would definetly stay away from pipe because if you get in a bind instead of breaking the shaft you could break something really expensive. I think the tubing is usually between .060 and .100. You're probably looking at around $50 to $100 for tubing, depending on length, and around $50 for labor. And don't let em talk you into balancing it because if they can properlly line it up it shouldn't vibrate unless you're flying.
 
Call Oliver's in WS. Nobody around here can touch their prices.

I've made some with pipe, if you can get a size that your old tube fits tight in.
 
rockmafia said:
Call Oliver's in WS. Nobody around here can touch their prices.
I've made some with pipe, if you can get a size that your old tube fits tight in.
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sounds good, i will give them a call when the cash starts flowing(just started a new job today)

There is a place called, i think, the driveshaft shop, here in salisbury that i am going to call to just inquire, but it seems like they only are into import stuff.

did you run at any speed eith the ones you made? i know my experience could vary greatly, but i would love to be able to cruise along at 55 again
 
To build a jig and deal with potentially disappointing/disatrous results doing it yourself wouldn't be worth it in my opinion. Call Oliver's, aka Ollie's Driveshaft. Honestly, I'm not sure which one is the proper name! All I know is they do great work incredibly cheap. They did my Subaru halfshafts for about $110 each, installed. They shortened a shaft for a 69 C-10 for a guy at work. I can't remember the price, but I think they did the shortening and gave him a new bearing for the shaft carrier for under $100. Well under. The work was top-notch, too. I'll push those guys every chance I get until somebody proves me wrong.
 
awspence said:
did you run at any speed eith the ones you made? i know my experience could vary greatly, but i would love to be able to cruise along at 55 again
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I drove it from G-boro to lexinton and ure a few times. It was very heavy, 3" 3/16 or 1/4 wall. It's not hard to get one fairly straight if you take your time.
 
The driveshaft shop on main street will do one for you they'll have it either same day or next day for you I'd guess it would run you $100 to $150. They've built two for me and shortened one and I have been 100% satisfied
 
Dude I've slapped together so many driveshafts with random tubing, its not that hard, and all i did was eyeball em no jigs and I run interstate on a few of em with no issues . . . heck even made the one for Kevins K5 outta 1/4 thick pipe thing aint gonna break, and it drives fine on the road, the one in the brown chevy i just cut shortened eyeballed and rewelded, drive that thing on the interstate all the time 70mph no issues . . .
 
I can make you one out of .120 wall, thats pretty stought. I run a driveshaft shop in concord Universal Automotive. To fix yours back to brand new will be about 120-125 dollars.
If you got any questions give me a shout 704-721-3319

Josh
 
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