FAQs
Is balancing a Driveshaft really necessary?
YES!
An out of balance driveshaft can cause damage to the transmission or rear end. Any time you replace any parts on your driveshaft, you should have it balanced. Think of your driveshaft like tires. Any time you change your tires, you balance them right?
I lifted or lowered my vehicle, what should I do next?
Any time you lift or lower your vehicle, you should have your driveshaft checked for proper clearance.
How much slip travel should I have?
In most applications the minimum is 3/4 inch and more than 1 inch is not necessary. This is measured with the rear suspension supported on safety stands or with the rear end on the ground.
How tight should I tighten my u-bolts?
1310 series and 1330 series should be tightened to 17 ft/lbs and 1350 series to 20 ft/lbs. You should never tighten the nuts on any u-bolt excessively. This will cause the cap to distort and the u-joint will fail prematurely.
Why does my rear u-joint wear out so often?
This is usually the case when a u-bolt style pinion yoke is used. The pinion yoke is not the problem the overtightening of the u-bolt is the cause of the failure. You may find that every time you change the damaged rear u-joint you will find that one or both of the journals or caps that are under the u-bolts are destroyed and the ones that are pressed into the shaft are still in good shape. You did it to yourself! 17 ft/lbs for 1310 & 1330 series and 20 ft/lbs on the 1350 series.
Why did my driveshaft tubing twist or break?
There are many reasons. If you are using a stock driveshaft in a racing application then you already know the answer. Stock shafts should never be used for racing. If you had a driveshaft built by a driveline shop and it has broken or twisted the tubing then you should take it back to where you bought it. They apparently built your driveshaft with tubing that was similar to stock driveline tubing or possibly selected a tube diameter or thickness that was not correct for your application. Just because the shop builds dump truck shafts does not mean it can handle the requirements of a race car.
My driveshaft is too short. Can I put on a longer slip yoke to make it fit better?
This is a common problem and many times this seems like an inexpensive way to make it fit better but this type of fix should be avoided. We never recommend installing a longer slip yoke when the shaft is actually too short for the application. Some transmission slip yokes are available with a longer barrel but they were designed longer for a specific application and not for the purpose of extending a shaft. Using one on a driveshaft that is actually too short for the application can lead to vibration and output shaft bushing failure. In extreme cases the internal spline can twist and bind up the slip movement. Don't do it!
My driveshaft is too short. Can you add a little tubing to it to make it longer?
No. The correct way to lengthen a driveshaft is to remove both weld yokes and install a new tube of the proper length.
Do you offer driveshafts or driveline parts for Import cars and trucks?
At the moment we offer a small selection of import driveshafts
How often should I add grease to my non greaseable u-joints?
Never! Just leave them alone and they will last for a very long time. You can do more harm than good by taking them apart.
How often should I grease my greaseable u-joints?
Greaseable u-joints should be greased every 3000 miles or possibly more often. You cannot over grease a greaseable u-joint.
Do I have to measure to order a driveshaft?
YES! We want your order to fit correctly. Measuring is the only way we can be sure your driveshaft will fit and perform perfectly for you. We have provided the best measuring diagrams in the business so that you can easily get the right dimensions
Can I send in my driveshaft so you can use it for a template?
Yes you can. As long as you are 100 percent sure it fits correctly. Please let us know if you want it returned.
How much of a mistake am I allowed in my measurements?
NONE!!! Its too easy to get it right so why do it wrong. Never use the hook on the end of a tape measure to measure a u-joint. It is best done with a good steel machinists ruler or a dial caliper but if those tools are not available any good ruler will do as long as it reads down to 1/16 of an inch. Use the tape measure hook for the overall length only!
I want to order a driveshaft but my car is all apart?
Unfortunately it will be best for you to wait until you have it back together to measure correctly.
What is the difference between 1310, 1330 and 1350 Series?
The "series" of a driveshaft or universal joint is determined by the actual dimensions of the u-joint. While the front and rear u-joint can be of two different sizes the shaft is only as strong as the smaller one. The 1310 series u-joint measures approximately 3 1/4 inches wide. The 1330 and 1350 both measure approximately 3 5/8 wide. The 1310 and 1330 series can have cap diameters of 1 1/16 and/or 1 1/8 inch or a combination of both sizes. The 1350 series has a cap diameter of 1 3/16 inch and the body and journals are bigger than the 1310 or 1330. Remember 1350 is almost never found in production car driveshafts.
When is it necessary to upgrade to 1350 series?
It is always a good choice to upgrade to the 1350 series components whenever your application is used for racing or with high horsepower and street use. Stock driveshafts were designed to handle a modest amount of horsepower. If your application has more than 400 horsepower then its time to consider a new shaft.
What is the difference between the Chrysler 7260 and 7290 series?
The 7260 and 7290 series are the two sizes that are commonly found on Chrysler products. They represent the two stock sizes that have been used for many years. The 7260 series is the “small” Chrysler u-joint size (2 1/8 inch between flats on yoke with 1.078 inch bearing cap diameter) and the 7290 series is the “big” Chrysler u-joint size (2 5/8 inch between flats on yoke with 1.125 inch bearing cap diameter). The 7260 series is similar in size to the 1310 series and the 7290 is similar in size to the 1330 series. They both utilize the inside “C” clip design to hold the u-joint within the yoke flats whereas the 1310 and 1330 use the outside snap ring design.
What is General Motors 3R Series?
General Motors typical u-joint size found on most passenger cars and light trucks is commonly know by a few names. They may be referred to as “3R” or “Saginaw” but they are all one in the same. Depending on who is doing the talking you may hear any one of these terms. The 3R series measures 2 9/16 inches between flats on yoke with a 1.125 bearing cap diameter. The factory original u-joints are held into the yokes by injected plastic. This u-joint is similar in size to the 1330 series. The replacement u-joints utilize the inside “C” clip design to hold the u-joint between flats within the yoke whereas the 1330 series uses the outside snap ring design. You should be extremely careful not to heat the plastic with a torch to remove the original u-joints because the heated plastic will emit toxic fumes that are not good for your health.
My slip yoke has a space where it appears that one spline is missing.
Yes you may find that your slip yoke has the space where one spline is missing. When counting splines you will always add one more to your total count when you see the space. For example on a GM TH-350 slip yoke you may see 26 internal splines and a space...this is in fact a 27 spline slip yoke. This applies to ALL splined parts that have the space. For Chrysler owners you may see some companies list their 904 slip yoke as a 25 spline when in fact it is a 26 spline. The 727 slip yoke may be listed as a 29 spline when in fact it is a 30 spline. This can be very confusing when selecting a slip yoke. The space is found on the slip yoke but is not found on the output shaft of the transmission or transfer case. There is no need to try to match the space with a corresponding spline on the output shaft. You can install the slip yoke in any position on any spline and it will perform the same way each and every time. Remember this and you will never be confused again.
I have had my driveshaft back to the shop that built it many times and it still vibrates. Can you fix it?
The answer is Yes and No. Many times our high speed balance equipment can make a big difference but in some cases nothing will make it run better. We can determine that and let you know what your options are.
Why do I continue to break u-joints?
The answer can be that the u-joint series is too small for the application. Or possibly you are using an inexpensive parts store u-joint that does not offer strength. Maybe you are using a greaseable u-joint and it is breaking across the grease fitting hole. The corresponding yoke is damaged or distorted and causing premature failure.
My transmission slip yoke feels like it is binding inside my transmission?
The problem may be that the internal splines of the slip yoke barrel have a slight twist and the slip yoke needs to be replaced. This problem may be the result of too much horsepower for the slip yoke design and or material. A manual transmission or an automatic with a trans brake can cause this damage because of the forces applied to the splines during a starting line launch. If you look inside the slip yoke you will see a slight twist to the spline. This twist is usually at a point that corresponds with the end of the transmission output shaft. As you insert the slip yoke into the transmission it will bind when it reaches the twisted area.