Square Driveshafts????

Anyone running or see these on the trail. I hear they are great for the front or low speed applications. Seem fairly easy if you can get the yolks on straight. Any opinions?? Trail only I would assume.

 

I have seen it done but the thought I have always heard about them is they are only as spairs. Once you get back onto the road you take them off whether it be front or rear.

 

they are extremaly strong you will break your ends off before you bend the shaft, i had one on front of my 57 and i landed hard on a rock and thought for sure it was bent, but it was still straight as an arrow. the wall thickness is 1/4 and then where the two tubes join together its 1/2 thick, i used recever stock.

i would of made one for the rear but i drove it on the street, i since sold that jeep and now building a single seat buggy ( mid engine ) and will have bolth front and rear square drive shafts. as far as balancing them its no big deal for a offraod rig at slow speeds, jason.

 

What is the point??? Square is not stronger in torsion than round. Ag pto shafts are quite often square but it is for economics not strength.(no splines)

JB

 

like i said early they are not ment for ON THE ROAD, they will vibrate and kill your seals. its there over all thickness 1/4'' wall and where talking about one peace of tube thats 2'' square sliding into another peace of 2.5'' square, where they meet in the middle will be 1/2'' thick, you try bending a shaft of that size and thickness in a willys.

a stock front is what 1 1/4'' round tube .120/.156 wall thickness, its not a matter of torsion its just a matter of brute steel, all most 4 times more materal than stock or any after market, dont knock it till you tried it.

jump over to pirate and search for them there, about 25% of the OFF ROAD BUGGYS/JEEPS there are using them and gaining in popularity, i got tired of bending stock shafts ( 2 ) and made this one, its still in the jeep i sold getting beat on and still laughing at the rocks it plows into, jason.

 

My jeep has never seen 45 mph, it will never see any high speed manuevers, and I sure dont drive it in 4wd anywhere but the trail. I think the point here is that they are incredibly strong. I understand that they will not be torsionally stronger, but with a 63 HP flathead, I am not concerned with twisting it. I am though interested in a cheap shaft that can be used in front or rear in emergency, and able to withstand, or basically support the weight of the vehicle on its own. I dont think a round shaft from the factory will do that. The "build it yourself" pricetag of about $45 doesnt sound that bad either. Thanks for the input, positive and negative

 

I'm running one on the front. I've heard of some people running them up to 65mph with no vibrations, but mine starts vibrating at around 25mph. Maybe I could have gotten it straighter, but it doesn't really matter, it's the front shaft and i just unlock the hubs on the street.

I've had the whole weight of my jeep on it, and it actually walked my jeep sideways across a rock as it turned, no damage.

I think the main reason they're popular is because of the toyota guys. They needed front driveshafts with a really long slip joint to keep the shafts from pulling apart. With a square shaft, you can have as much slip as you want.

On the other hand, if you don't need the slip, cutting down a round shaft is a lot easier / quicker than making a square one, and won't vibrate at all. The biggest downside of the square shaft IMO is the weight. But either works good.

 

that makes since when you're talking about structural strength-----jeep balanced on a big rock with it sitting on the drive shaft. Unlimited slip length too.

Thanx.

JB

 

Remember more rotating weight less HP gets to the wheels.

 

I doubt that horsepower getting to the wheels is that big of a concern, at least in a jeep.

I've been running one for a few years now and its been just fine. I too have supported the front of the jeep with it and it hasn't bent or dented. It also doesn't fall apart when the suspension droops out. I don't drive it that fast, but it seems to do ok. It does make some odd clicking noises and I'd like to have a CV at the t-case end eventually. But, its great for a cheap, heavy duty d-shaft that is open to changes.

Kevo

 

This is all new to me but I'm intrigued. Just git yerself some square receiver material, weld yokes on it, cut it to length, slip it together and go ? The 2 pieces fit tightly enough together ? No special bushings or shims or anything ? I like it. If that's all there is to it, that solves my driveshaft problems for the trail basher I've been gathering parts for. Okay for the rear too?

 

Boy, that's pretty cool. The closest this clunker I'm planning will ever get to a " road " will be the deck of the trailer on which it'll ride, or about 15" above said " road." She's gonna be a real peach........NOT !

 

Yep, thats almost all there is to it. The only other 2 things, if you wanted to spend some time on it, is weld a bead down 2 sides of the sqare tube and then grind them until they're a tight fit beween the 2 tubes. and then add some zerks and grease it. I've had mine at speed on the streets vibrating for a while, and it doesnt leak yet. On the trail, you won't blow through seals at all, dont worry about it.

But for your own sake, put a real round rear shaft in, because even on the trail you'll see some speed and you'll thank me for it.

 

Never had any seal failures on the front. Its allways done a good job. At most trail speeds(low range speeds) its totally seemless and you don't notice it. Once you start to go faster it starts to click and get a little noisy.

I paid good money for a custom made rear cv shaft and it was well worth it as I do drive this on the road. However for the front I just couldn't justify it and I couldn't find stock driveshaft pieces with a long enough slip. Keep in mind I'm SOA and shackle reverse with soft springs. The square shaft was cheap, easy, sturdy and functional.

Kevo