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Topic: Carbon Fiber Half Shafts

in Forum: C3 Driveline Components


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Carbon Fiber Half Shafts (1/15)
 11/13/08 10:12pm
corvette440hpLifetime Member
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Has anyone had any experences with Vansteel's carbon fiber half shafts? Here is a link to them:   http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=shop.showItem&subgroup=1918&ID=2462 

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Carbon Fiber Half Shafts (2/15)
 11/13/08 10:14pm
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What I don't get is that they can handle up to 1000hp......they mention that they shouldn't be used for drag racing, hmmmm? corvette440hp2008-11-14 10:04:23

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Carbon Fiber Half Shafts (3/15)
 11/14/08 10:38am
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I would guess the bond between the carbon tube and the yokes is not strong enough to handle a 6500rpm clutch drop with a 700+ hp engine, 5.88 gears, and 15" wide slicks...just a guess...

For a smooth power apply, with no abrupt "shocks" to the driveline, I'm sure they'd be fine...if ya got an extra $1000 laying around...

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Carbon Fiber Half Shafts (4/15)
 11/14/08 1:17pm
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[QUOTE=Adams' Apple]I would guess the bond between the carbon tube and the yokes is not strong enough to handle a 6500rpm clutch drop with a 700+ hp engine, 5.88 gears, and 15" wide slicks...just a guess...

For a smooth power apply, with no abrupt "shocks" to the driveline, I'm sure they'd be fine...if ya got an extra $1000 laying around...[/QUOTE] Sooo, how about 500 HP, 3,500 RPM, 3.70 gearing and 10.5 BFG TA's??? Thanx Joel for respondingThumbs%20Up.............$1,000 cost........there is the "BIG" problem.............

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Carbon Fiber Half Shafts (5/15)
 11/14/08 8:43pm
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Wow...$1000. I can think of a dozen different things I'll buy before these things. They definitely look trick, but not that trick. IMHO.

Scott

ranger32008-12-16 19:18:00
Carbon Fiber Half Shafts (6/15)
 11/20/08 5:22pm
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I spoke with Dan Dorsett at Van Steel. With a little arm wrestling I got him to lower the newer style much stronger carbon fiber half shafts. The price I got them for was $800.00.  He says that with street radials you can't break them. Christmas is coming early to my house. I need to finish getting the body off to completely redo everything from the bottom up. Fun this winter for me...YES! 

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Carbon Fiber Half Shafts (7/15)
 11/21/08 12:01am
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  I see that they are not for the 80 to 82 Dana 44 Rear. I would think that as small as they are they wouldn't be much of an advantage over Aluminum. I'm still wondering what it would take to use C4 Half Shafts.

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Carbon Fiber Half Shafts (8/15)
 11/21/08 8:57am
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So how much punishment can stock half shafts take? I have heard that they were used on many drag racing set ups and the real concern is the strength of the u joints, not the shafts...

Carbon Fiber Half Shafts (9/15)
 11/21/08 10:34am
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When I spoke with Dan at Van Steel, he said that the original carbon fiber half shafts were breaking at the welds on the aluminum ends for the u-joints. That is when they fixed the problem by CNC fabricating the better grade aluminum that is now being epoxied to the carbon fiber. To destroy these, you would need 1000+ RWHP and super sticky slicks. The price jumped up with the CNC/aluminum changes. 

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Carbon Fiber Half Shafts (10/15)
 11/21/08 10:42am
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[QUOTE=LukesVette]

So how much punishment can stock half shafts take? I have heard that they were used on many drag racing set ups and the real concern is the strength of the u joints, not the shafts...

[/QUOTE] The u-joint needs to be Spicer solid 1350. corvette440hp2008-11-21 08:16:15

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Carbon Fiber Half Shafts (11/15)
 11/21/08 11:17am
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[QUOTE=LukesVette]

So how much punishment can stock half shafts take? I have heard that they were used on many drag racing set ups and the real concern is the strength of the u joints, not the shafts...

[/QUOTE] You can get 3 1/2" steel half shafts if you really are putting out some very serious HP.

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Carbon Fiber Half Shafts (12/15)
 11/21/08 11:23am
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[QUOTE=Gale Banks 80]  I see that they are not for the 80 to 82 Dana 44 Rear. I would think that as small as they are they wouldn't be much of an advantage over Aluminum. I'm still wondering what it would take to use C4 Half Shafts.[/QUOTE] My advice is to speak with VanSteel directly 1-800-418-5397. I spoke with Dan Dorsett. Or also just e-mail them with your questions...that's how I started off with them. They are very nice people.

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Carbon Fiber Half Shafts (13/15)
 11/21/08 11:31am
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YES THEY ARE HELPFUL, EITHER SPEAK WITH DAN OR HIS DAD ART. iHAD MY HOLE REAR END AND FRONT END DONE BY THEM. HEAVY DUTY HIGH PERFORMANCE STUFF. NO PROBLEM WITH MY 500+ PONIES.
Carbon Fiber Half Shafts (14/15)
 12/16/08 7:46pm
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I received my wife's Christmas gift............it's from me to her.........my carbon fiber half shafts. They weigh a little over 6 lbs. each with the Spicer universals, all taped up. The tape has to way a little............I hope she likes them, or am I in trouble...............................AGAIN?????? 

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Carbon Fiber Half Shafts (15/15)
 12/16/08 7:47pm
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By the way the half shafts were made by PST, it's marked on the CNC hub. They were shipped from Van Steel.

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