Very interesting info about possibly saving our stock axels from breaking during hard launches with wheelhop:
Quote:
Directly from ACPT
"All driveshafts twist to some degree when torque is applied. The resistance to this twist is measured as torsional spring rate. Standard carbon driveshafts have a torsional spring rate a little less than aluminum and about half that of steel. The advantage of a lower spring rate is less driveline shock and a reduction of stress on other drivetrain components, as well as increased traction."
If you are having issues breaking your rear axles, or ring and pinion this might be a good way to prolong the life of those parts. Reason is that the carbon drive shaft will be like a rubber band, when launched hard it will twist slightly to absorb some of the shock and then spring back to its normal shape. The twist would be minimal (only a few degrees 5-10) on VERY hard launches, however that twist is absorption of energy. Thing that breaks many parts such as gears is shock to the part from abrupt and high application of power. F=M*A, so if you slightly reduce the acceleration of the power application you prolong life of components. *simple way of thinking this, you can put a 10lb hammer on your finger slowly with no damage, however if you slam the hammer you will do allot of damage. Similar concept with the carbon shaft twisting slightly, as it slows down the application of the energy on the component.
4) When the CF shaft fails, the fibers will come apart and un-wind. When a Aluminum shaft fails...well you have a 14lb sledge hammer spinning at over 1000RPM going to town under the side of your car and you just hope it does not penetrate.
The big concern many people have with the CF units is the CF shaft separating from the metal yokes. The adhesive that actually holds the 2 together, how its assembled, and how its cured is a trade secret of these manufactures as this will separate many of the manufactures and really make or break a manufacture.
That was a big concern for us as well when getting into the CF drive shaft market, however after many conversations with PST about they have yet to have a failure of the carbon or the adhesive itself. They state that the failure point is....the metal yokes actually. Not something that they have seen on import applications much in the past, but more or less on 1/4 mile domestic applications. And at that point they have a option to custom make a billet yoke if your car really needs it
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