An Aluminum driveline?

[mountainexplorer]

Last night I bought an NV4500 5spd that came out of a '95 Chevy 3/4 ton 4x4 for 500 bucks. The guy gave me the rear driveline out of the truck too, and it was extremely light. It looks to be made out of aluminum. That struck me as odd. Are aluminum drivelines common place or is this kind of a rarity?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

They're pretty common on later model Chevy stuff.

 

[goldwing2000]

Ford stuff, too.

 

[mountainexplorer]

I guess I'm living in the past. '95 is newer than anything I've ever had. Just seemed weird to pick up this fairly sizable driveline and have it weigh almost nothing.

 

[goldwing2000]

With sufficient diameter, thick-wall aluminum has fairly good torsional rigidity and also flexes well enough to resist bending. It's good enough for a DD but I wouldn't use one on a trail rig.

 

[Pookster]

they were avaliable on a number of years of newer trucks- as early as 91 I have seen with the aluminum ones. I recall only seeing them on 2x4's or something...

 

[jays68yak]

94 gmc 4x4 rear shaft is alum.

 

[pvfjr]

They've been using those in racing for a long time haven't they?

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

They've been using those in racing for a long time haven't they?

Yep, driveline weight means a lot in racing. Chevy is probably using the aluminum driveshaft to help their MPG ratings (aluminum is more $$ than steel).

 

[yoshisv]

Our 05 GMC Crew cab with a duramax has one and it is huge. looks to be 6' in diameter

 

[atho]

looks to be 6' in diameter

6 FEET??




all of the newer body styled S10's have them, im pretty sure.

 

[Thunder]

I run one in my Mustang to save weight. Alumnium DLs are very common in drag racing. Most Newer vehicles run them to save weight= better fuel MPG

 

[gmc4cw]

this is in a GMC 2500. Its about 6" in diameter. 1500's, vans, and fullsize suv's have them also. Dually's still run steel shafts. sorry for the pic. best I could do lying on my back on the lot.

 

[muddybuddy]

makes that yoke look tiny