Drive-shaft Question

[Carder09]

I understand that drive shafts are balanced to prevent vibrations and wear to components, so Are driveshafts balanced to a certain speed or just balanced?

[markw8]

I wouldn't think to a speed because you drive all different speeds. I'm sure they are just balanced. I'm sure easier and cheaper and should be good at any speed. At least in trucks.

 

Mark

[Silverado4x4]

Driveshafts area just balanced.

[Carder09]

Alright cool, Had a few buddy's arguing about how if you drive over the governed speed limit of the truck, the driveshaft has a possibility to explode or break since it is balance only to a certain speed, and the other say's no its just balanced so they tried to throw me into the covo. and I had no idea i just knew they are balanced.

[kdixer]

Alright cool, Had a few buddy's arguing about how if you drive over the governed speed limit of the truck, the driveshaft has a possibility to explode or break since it is balance only to a certain speed, and the other say's no its just balanced so they tried to throw me into the covo. and I had no idea i just knew they are balanced.

 

I am going to say driveshafts are balanced to a certain speed. Naturally a balancing issue is magnified by speed. So the drive shafts are balanced enough to not cause problems under normal operating conditions. That is the factory spec. Balancing equipment spins the shaft and determines where weight needs to be added. If you spin the driveshaft faster than the balancing equipment, a balancing issue would surface even though it has been balanced to factory spec. That is because an imbalance is magnified with speed. That is how centrifugal force works.

 

That is not to say that your driveshaft will explode over a certain speed because I feel fairly confident the balancing equipment balances the shaft at a faster speed than your truck will go. But there are other factors involved in driveshaft failure besides balancing issues. It usually involves a combination of things. Most driveshaft failures occur on a dyno. There are stresses involved on a dyno that does not normally occur while driving. Mainly, the vehicle is strapped down and cannot move. There is a point where the forces required to rotate the dyno drum are greater than the forces required to propel the vehicle forward. Combine that with high rpm's and big HP numbers and there you go. An aluminum noodle flies out from under the vehicle.