Another driveshaft failure (135MPH)

27670 Views 180 Replies 60 Participants Last post by J Orbit, Nov 1, 2012

MD 1

Discussion Starter · Dec 19, 2011

Watch what happens when a Ford Mustang driveshaft fails at 135 mph:

Watch what happens when a Ford Mustang driveshaft fails at 135 mph

"Before we get started, we feel the need to repeat the standard issue warning about automotive stupidity: Do not try what's shown in the video after the jump, and if you do, make sure it's in the safe confines of a legitimate track facility.

One individual recently learned firsthand what happens when you remove the factory's 112-mph speed limiter on the Ford Mustang V6 and proceed to accelerate to 135 mph. The vehicle lost its driveshaft, which turned itself into a spinning hunk of metal that tore into the floorpan, bashed through its interior bits and generally caused mechanical mayhem.

The term for this type of failure is "catastrophic."

So, what happened? Well, we might first point out that the driver of this particular Mustang was clearly still accelerating after the drivetrain started making suspect noises – never a good idea. We have to imagine the vehicle was vibrating like an overloaded Magic Fingers bed before things went sideways.

As it turns out, 305-horsepower, 280-pound-feet of torque 3.7-liter V6 Mustang is built with a 2.73 rear gear ratio and a lightweight, one-piece driveshaft that's engineered to toe the line between fuel economy and performance. That driveshaft is part of the recipe that allow the coupe to produce yield 31 mpg highway – it simply isn't built to handle the type of speeds the owner in the video after the jump submitted it to.

In a statement to Autoblog, Ford said that the Mustang V6 is "the ultimate in fuel economy and performance," noting that owners looking for more speed should look toward the Mustang GT with its 412 horsepower V8, heavy-duty two-piece drive shaft and variety of rear axle ratio choices. The Mustang GT is limited to 145 mph.

As an aside, we would also like to point out the idiocy of trying to film oneself at triple digits by hand. While the YouTube description says that the impromptu test course is a "closed" road, it looks like it might be a public roadway. The videographer is lucky to be alive. Keep it on the track, people, and hit the jump to see the clip for yourself."

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AMDanBailer

· #2 · Dec 19, 2011

Yea, that's pretty much what it looks like and how it happens! RIP stock driveshaft.

He's lucky that he maintained control and didn't endanger himself or another motorist even more. He definitely should have stopped accelerating at the 120ish mark when the drivetrain started making noise, but even then, I'm not sure that would've saved him. He was also surprisingly quiet about it. I know there would probably be some expletives being deleted from the transcript of the video if that happened to me!

Time for a DS-safety loop!

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geargrabber5

· #3 · Dec 19, 2011

So, does anyone make a lightweight driveshaft that is built to handle the power that the v6 puts out? Surely there's a racing shaft out there that would hold together and still be light.

I guess it's probably a question of money though.

AMDanBailer

· #4 · Dec 19, 2011

geargrabber5 said:
So, does anyone make a lightweight driveshaft that is built to handle the power that the v6 puts out? Surely there's a racing shaft out there that would hold together and still be light.

I guess it's probably a question of money though.

You betcha!

We offer them for both the Manual and Automatic transmissions and you can find them here: 11-12 Mustang Driveshafts - Free Shipping! We've put our driveshaft(the automatic version) through it's paces on our Project V6 which is currently the world's fastest 2011+ V6 Mustang: Fastest 2011 V6 Mustang 11.73 @ 116 MPH Tested by 5.0 Mustangs & Super Fords Magazine - YouTube
Our driveshaft is manufactured by The Axle Exchange and has proven to be significantly stronger/lighter and more performance-oriented than the stock unit. It's been put through rigorous testing by us on our project car in excess of 120+MPH on the track and on the dyno with very pleasing results. You can be confident that what happened in the video Mike originally posted will not happen with one of our driveshafts!

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G

· #5 · Dec 19, 2011

I know that ShaftMasters also made one for the V6, but has since pulled them. No one seems to really know why. Chris, do we know why the AxleExchange DS might be better than say the ShaftMaster or stock DS for that matter?

YerBuddysPony

· #6 · Dec 19, 2011

Hate to see it happen, but when you do stupid stuff...stupid stuff happens.

I wonder if he dropped his phone/camera when that DS blew. That's the part the really gets my goat. Driving with one hand at triple digit speeds is not smart. Much less destroying a nice car. :nono: Not sure if it really is a closed road either...

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bluebyu12

· #7 · Dec 19, 2011

Good times. I still dont get why the V6 and the GT have the same tranny and rear end but different drive shaft. dumb move on Fords part. Lets get .2 better mpg out of a piece of crap drive shaft

G

· #8 · Dec 19, 2011

Bluebyu12, do you still have the stock DS?

bluebyu12

· #9 · Dec 19, 2011

hogasswild said:
Bluebyu12, do you still have the stock DS?

unfortunately yes.. it will be changed though before my clubs track rental in the spring.

soo 135 is critical speed with 2.73 gears?

god mine will probably wanna blow at 115mph with 3.55 gears lol and ive been up there with it. never again, until i replace this thing.

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GT Gone

· #10 · Dec 19, 2011

I was watching it and once it hit 135, I was like "It's at 135, where's th-- DAMN!" Should not have had the volume on high.

Damn, I feel sorry for that poor Mustang :/

Just a quick question about my car (2008 GT) Chris and I know this is a little off topic, but will my driveshaft fail at a speed like that? Because I know this is a new V6 and all, but it still scared the hell out of me and I would NOT want to be in that situation at the race track (when I go).

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bluebyu12

· #11 · Dec 19, 2011

GT's usually have stronger drive shafts, you should be fine man. although you do have 4.10s so the drive shaft is spinning a lot faster then a stock one is.

G

· #12 · Dec 19, 2011

Crap, I have an appointment to get my 3.73s put in. I won't exceed 100mph for sure anyway, and normally I don't drive faster than 75. Hopefully I'll be okay. I have been planning for a DS, but not sure what to do since ShaftMaster pulled theirs for reasons unknown to the public. Makes me worry if there is a proper DS to go to for us.

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Joenpb

· #13 · Dec 19, 2011

Makes me worry if there is a proper DS to go to for us.

I was wondering that too, AM's sounds good, but so did Shaftmasters. I guess the only way we'll know is through use in time, just like Shaftmasters. Which means I'll probably make a switch in a year to year & a half. I'm going to expedite trying to find a decent driveshaft safety loop for now though. If I were getting 3.73 gears, a safety loop would be a certainty.

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aaholland

· #14 · Dec 19, 2011

bluebyu12 said:
Good times. I still dont get why the V6 and the GT have the same tranny and rear end but different drive shaft. dumb move on Fords part. Lets get .2 better mpg out of a piece of crap drive shaft

If you want to exceed the known limitations of a part - like when removing the speed limiter - you are knowingly taking risk with at least the life of your car and in this case with his own life as well. If you wanna play you gotta pay as the saying goes.

This was a hard, $$$, and very scary lesson for this person and I hope something we can all learn from.

Those extra MPG really adds up over the entire run of a vehicle. Hipo enthusiast may take issue with it but MPG count for a lot these days.

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GT Gone

· #15 · Dec 19, 2011

bluebyu12 said:
GT's usually have stronger drive shafts, you should be fine man. although you do have 4.10s so the drive shaft is spinning a lot faster then a stock one is.

Oh I dont have the 4.10s yet unfortunately, that's just my christmas list :bigthumbsup

Thanks bluebyu12! Makes me feel a little better, I was even considering replacing my stock driveshaft after seeing that video, despite the difference in the two cars. Cant be too paranoid!

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3dcspony

· #16 · Dec 19, 2011

Interesting tidbit. I had assumed the speed limiter was in place to match the specs of the base 17" tires (Just like BMW with their sport and non-sport package equipped models).

Joenpb

· #17 · Dec 19, 2011

The driveshaft issue isn't just a problem at high speeds, the fellas at Shaftmasters also expressed concerns when I mentioned possibly taking my car to Race Legal and running their 1/8 mile track (@80 MPH max), & were really concerned about dyno testing w/ their aluminum DS since that is where all/most of their failures occur. Perhaps a steel shaft (not stock) might be best.

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T3RM1N8R

· #18 · Dec 19, 2011

Chris, the drive shafts you guys offer at AM... what brand are they? Are they the shaftmasters ones?

majorbanjo

· #19 · Dec 19, 2011

Stock drive shafts should be better than 135 mph under easy acceleration like that....very poor balance and quality control problems on that one.....IF that's all that caused that failure......I've driven ford trucks to that speed with boost after defeating the limiter with no ill effects....I don't believe this is a problem with all V6 mustangs....:nono:

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bluebyu12

· #20 · Dec 19, 2011

pony_boy said:
Chris, the drive shafts you guys offer at AM... what brand are they? Are they the shaftmasters ones?

they are from the axle exchange.

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