Silverado Aluminum Driveshaft Question...

[08chev]

i have noticed most of the 1500's have aluminum driveshafts... my 08 reg. cab short box has a steel drive shaft... did gm offer an aluminum one for the the 119" wheel base trucks or were they steel only??? if anybody has an aluminum one on their reg cab short box, i could really use the part #... Thanks!!!

[08chev]

anybody...?

[wages999]

I don't know the exact answer, but I am going to say that the aluminum drive shafts are only on longer wheel base trucks. My '04 crew cab has an aluminum drive shaft, a friend's 2500hd ext. cab long bed is aluminum, but his brothers 2500hd regular cab is steel.

[pm26]

The main reason why GM is using aluminum driveshafts on longer wheelbase trucks is to eliminate the need for a center support bearing and two piece steel driveshafts. Aluminum shafts are lighter than steel shafts, although they must be made of thicker material to have the same torsional stiffness. Still, aluminum specific gravity is 1/3 that of steel.