Square Drive Shaft

[FlamesFearMe]

Is there an advantage of a square driveshift? Or is it purely what is available and cosmetic?

[Grandman]

I think there is a dissadvantage , as they rotate they take more room then a round shaft . If you are close to a rock or something it will matter .

Haggar built sqaure shafts and im not sure what his reasoning was .

It is easy to put a huge slide section in a square tube if you need tons of slide .

[sglide]

I think there is a dissadvantage , as they rotate they take more room then a round shaft . If you are close to a rock or something it will matter .

Haggar built sqaure shafts and im not sure what his reasoning was .

It is easy to put a huge slide section in a square tube if you need tons of slide .this is the only reason for it i can see,
but i can see alot of downsides, i dont like the idea of having four corners on somthing that has to rotate for instance

[FlamesFearMe]

That makes sense. I could see it being a hang up on the rocks.

Since Haggar did it, I figured that it was the bomb and everyone should do it.

Thanks for the info guys.

[sodapop]

EDIT: I posted a write-up on my sqaure shaft just in case anyone else finds that teh pros out weigh the cons.:
http://www.michiganwheelers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8777#post8777

My front DS is square and I did it for the following reasons

1. Cost - it was way cheaper to build a square shaft than having a round shaft made.

2. Slip - I've got 4.5" of compression and 10" of extension. I have no need for that much extension but a normal slip yoke was pulling apart on deep droops for me. Long slips cost even more.

3. durability - I'm not concerned at all about smashing the shaft on a rock and the corners will pose no significant problems. A single dent in thin wall round tube oftencauses a shaft to twist. Not only do I think my quarter wall won't be dented, I'm not worried about it twisting in half even if it did.

4. Cost - I know I said this already but I did my square shaft for around $70 with new spicer u-joints.



Now there are definite cons too.
1. basically they aren't something you can balance, so they'll vibrate. Mine vibrates but not too bad and nothing to significant. Also, Mines a front and I've got lockouts so it's not an issue on the street. Under 40 the vibrations are hardly noticeable and I rarely am driving in 4wd faster than that.

2. The fit isn't perfect, it's real close but not exact so you notice a bit of chatter when the shaft is spinning and not under power. I only notice the clatter when I'm coasting and moving at a decent speed.

3. they're heavy - I don't know how much mine ways, but it's WAY more than a normal shaft

4. They bigger around - you do lose some space and I did have to modify my cross member but nothing to significant, just cut a u-shape in it and then reinforced the cut area with some 3/8" bar stock.



Bottom line, I think they would be perfect for:
- a budget wheeler
- someone who needs longer travel
- spare shafts
- front shafts with lockouts on a rig driven on the street sometime

I'd avoid them if:
- your thinking it for a rear shaft
- you're worried about the weight
- you don't have the space because of an oil pan or exhaust tubing


Here's some pics of mine
modified skid plate
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c228/sodapop_yj/Square%20Driveshaft/100_1551.jpg

Axle yoke end
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c228/sodapop_yj/Square%20Driveshaft/100_1557.jpg

T-case yoke end
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c228/sodapop_yj/Square%20Driveshaft/100_1556.jpg