Quote:
Originally Posted by BlackBird1
Question: Why did GM put a two piece drive shaft on the Camaro anyway?
I have a Mitsuubishi where the driveshaft center bearing faild luckly I didn't have my foot in it or the drive shaft would have come through the floor.
|
In the past (I started in driveshafts in 1975) they used two piece shafts when the application was two long for one. Driveshafts - based on tube diameter and operating RPM, can only be so long before critical speed will destroy it. By making a two piece shaft, you obviously shorten the tube of both. Another reason is taking up a large offset angle of the trans and diff. As in, one being higher (from the ground) than the other. The center bearing breaks up the offset.
Why on a relatively short run at almost zero angle on the Camaro? I’d have to say critical speed. There’s not a lot of room for larger dia tube. I’ve not had my out but I have seen one at the shop I used to call on. I’m guessing it’s about 2.5” in dia and about 50” long. To use a 1-piece 2.5” tube at 50”, it would have a critical speed of about 5000 RPM. At 3” dia it would be approximately 6000 RPM.
Maybe just CYA-ing knowing the car might see those RPM’s on a track and they didn’t want anyone on the ragged edge of failure. But that’s just my educated guess.