roadtrip1098
New member
This is just a feeler going out there to see who would be interested in a group buy on CF drive shafts. I have done almost no research on the cost of a group buy at this time, but they normally sell between $1000 and $1100. I have done plenty of research on the benefits of running a CF shaft and have listed them below. So if you're interested or have any input, please post below. Ask questions, I'll do my best to source answers - and not answers from the guys trying to sell the product, but people who actually have and use the product. The only time I will get info from the seller is to get the brand, specs, and price and shipping quotes. Once I see how much interest there is I'll contact a few retailers and see what the best deal is going to be.
Some of the benefits noted by people who have installed CF Drive Shaft:
1. Less vibration - Since the center bearing is removed, the drive shaft is no longer fixed to the car to transmit NVH (Noise Vibration and Harshness)
2. Less rotational mass post flywheel - this means not only will your car be easier to drive (less initial torque to get moving) but it will also accelerate faster.
3. Less jerking - CF is more compliant, acting like a spring, so drive line lash is minimized
4. Easy install - should take less than half an hour (Aluminum shafts require hammering the tunnel to fit)
5. In the event of an extremely unlikely failure, the shaft will shred rather than become a giant steel nun-chuck flopping around under your car
6. Durability - Here's the link to a video of a CF shaft going up to 4500lb/ft before failing. Typically a stock shaft will fail in the 1350lb/ft region
Also CF shafts are used on many production vehicles to include the 350z. 7. Tried and true technology - For years in aviation, CF shafts have been used in applications for high speed, high torque and light weight were needed. Examples would be the high speed shafts in nearly every turbine powered helicopter.
8. Improved manufacturing processes - Your steel/aluminum drive shaft was as good as it was ever going to get by about 1960. Composite shafts have been around since the 80's and were successful then. They have been and continue to advance in the manufacturing process and quality.
Disadvantages
1. Price - Yes it costs a lot more than the equivalent Aluminum or Steel drive shaft.
2. Uncertainty - Sure, I understand, why risk it, it's new and scary to you.
3. Chips from rocks and Maine road debris - Also understandable.
4. Not a whole lot for a sample group because there's not as many as the steel/aluminum crowd.
Addressing the disadvantages:
1. Sure it's expensive, dynos show a consistent 10-18 HP and LB/FT gain through the entire RPM range. That equates to around $50-$100 per HP.
2. Uncertainty, how many aftermarket turbos have you seen fail? Yet you'd still put one in if you haven't already....
3. Here's some reviews, one guy has been running a CF shaft for years in Minnesota which is very much like Maine. http://www.iwsti.com/forums/2-5-liter-litre-factory-motor/225749-who-has-carbon-fiber-driveshaft.html
4. There's not a huge sample group, but to that same end there's not many failures outside of track environments, and I haven't seen a thread yet where a CF shaft has failed on a Subaru.
Here's some additional info I've found:
http://driveshaftshop.com/blog/?p=546
http://www.iwsti.com/forums/2-5-liter-litre-factory-motor/233177-carbon-aluminum-drive-shaft-overview.html
I will continue to update this post as more information is made available. If you're posting here to bash on cf drive shafts, take a hike, I am however, open to factual information. If you have first hand personal experience with cf shafts, please post. If you have an uncle's second best friends twin brother that heard of something, please don't post it here. If your grandmas spades partner has a nephew that did an online engineering course, we don't give a shit, please don't post that garbage.
Some of the benefits noted by people who have installed CF Drive Shaft:
1. Less vibration - Since the center bearing is removed, the drive shaft is no longer fixed to the car to transmit NVH (Noise Vibration and Harshness)
2. Less rotational mass post flywheel - this means not only will your car be easier to drive (less initial torque to get moving) but it will also accelerate faster.
3. Less jerking - CF is more compliant, acting like a spring, so drive line lash is minimized
4. Easy install - should take less than half an hour (Aluminum shafts require hammering the tunnel to fit)
5. In the event of an extremely unlikely failure, the shaft will shred rather than become a giant steel nun-chuck flopping around under your car
6. Durability - Here's the link to a video of a CF shaft going up to 4500lb/ft before failing. Typically a stock shaft will fail in the 1350lb/ft region
8. Improved manufacturing processes - Your steel/aluminum drive shaft was as good as it was ever going to get by about 1960. Composite shafts have been around since the 80's and were successful then. They have been and continue to advance in the manufacturing process and quality.
Disadvantages
1. Price - Yes it costs a lot more than the equivalent Aluminum or Steel drive shaft.
2. Uncertainty - Sure, I understand, why risk it, it's new and scary to you.
3. Chips from rocks and Maine road debris - Also understandable.
4. Not a whole lot for a sample group because there's not as many as the steel/aluminum crowd.
Addressing the disadvantages:
1. Sure it's expensive, dynos show a consistent 10-18 HP and LB/FT gain through the entire RPM range. That equates to around $50-$100 per HP.
2. Uncertainty, how many aftermarket turbos have you seen fail? Yet you'd still put one in if you haven't already....
3. Here's some reviews, one guy has been running a CF shaft for years in Minnesota which is very much like Maine. http://www.iwsti.com/forums/2-5-liter-litre-factory-motor/225749-who-has-carbon-fiber-driveshaft.html
4. There's not a huge sample group, but to that same end there's not many failures outside of track environments, and I haven't seen a thread yet where a CF shaft has failed on a Subaru.
Here's some additional info I've found:
http://driveshaftshop.com/blog/?p=546
http://www.iwsti.com/forums/2-5-liter-litre-factory-motor/233177-carbon-aluminum-drive-shaft-overview.html
I will continue to update this post as more information is made available. If you're posting here to bash on cf drive shafts, take a hike, I am however, open to factual information. If you have first hand personal experience with cf shafts, please post. If you have an uncle's second best friends twin brother that heard of something, please don't post it here. If your grandmas spades partner has a nephew that did an online engineering course, we don't give a shit, please don't post that garbage.
