[ChrisOfPa]

I ran across an article stating the Driveshaft in the V6 fails at high speed's. I wanted to get some H-Rated tires and the BAMA tune so I can open it up at the track. So are these Driveshafts weak or was the person driving this car stupid or both? Here is the link: Watch what happens when a Ford Mustang driveshaft fails at 135 mph

Please share your thoughts.

 

[jkaser85]

the drive shafts are weak, i have 4.10's in my car and u can feel it vibrating at around 110 mph, it would prob be best to get an aluminum d.s if ur guna go that fast

 

[Joenpb]

http://www.allfordmustangs.com/foru...323776-another-driveshaft-failure-135mph.html

 

[Radioguy]

I ran across an article stating the Driveshaft in the V6 fails at high speed's. I wanted to get some H-Rated tires and the BAMA tune so I can open it up at the track. So are these Driveshafts weak or was the person driving this car stupid or both? Here is the link: Watch what happens when a Ford Mustang driveshaft fails at 135 mph

Please share your thoughts.

Both of the cases below show drive-shaft failures with the car running over 135 mph. That may be "extreme driving" for a moderate cost Ford, but I really wish the drive-shaft had a much greater safety margin in their design. Hard to know if any of the aftermarket drive-shafts are really any better:?:


drive shaft snap on 2011 mustang v6 on dyno @ 162 mph - YouTube

2011 Ford Mustang V6 Driveshaft fail at 135mph.flv - YouTube

 

[bluebyu12]

because American Muscle's car that is using one is running 11's... thats much more stress then we could ever put on our drive shaft on a NA setup.

 

[will_0828]

Idk but I think this is a munual trans related problem. The transmission might be causing som vibration that causes the driveshaft to broke... because correct me if I'm wrong all the cars with driveshaft problems have been manuals aren't they?

 

[Radioguy]

because American Muscle's car that is using one is running 11's... thats much more stress then we could ever put on our drive shaft on a NA setup.

Well, I would have thought that also - thinking start up torque or torque in second gear might put the maximum force on the drive-shaft (as in a run at the drag-strip). However, both of these cases indicate that "sustained high drive-shaft rpm" may be the cause of the failure. That could be associated with a "resonant vibration" that get setup along the length of the drive-shaft due to the shaft's centrifugal forces from spinning. That might explain why the 117 mph "sustained speed" limiter. That would never occur on a drag-strip.

 

[Radioguy]

Idk but I think this is a munual trans related problem. The transmission might be causing som vibration that causes the driveshaft to broke... because correct me if I'm wrong all the cars with driveshaft problems have been manuals aren't they?

It looked to me like the 135 mph case was an automatic?:?:

 

[bluebyu12]

It looked to me like the 135 mph case was an automatic?:?:

yes no doubt that car was auto in the video.

 

[Turbofred]

Did some math...

So, I did some "research" about this topic. I think, it is a rpm-related problem - the faster you drive, the more rpm's you have on your driveshaft.

Example:

I assume we have some 235/50-18 tires on the Stang, with the conversion tool from 404page.html that would be a circumference of (roughly) 85.6 inch. If we drive governed limited, that is 113mph - these are 7159680 inches an hour.

Divide the 7159680 inch through 85.6 inch (tire) these are 83641 rounds per hour. Assumed, that an hour has 60 minutes, this will be 1394 rpm on the tire.

Now we have different gears, multiplied with the gear ratio we have the rpm's on the driveshaft:
With 2.73 = 3805rpm
With 3.73 = 5199rpm
With 4.10 = 5715rpm

Now we can calculate with the (stupid!?) 135mph, as one example this will be 6212rpm with a 3.73 gear, which will have a lot of you (and me) guys.

So I think, here lies the rabbit in the pepper (German saying!)

I think we will need a well manufactured drive shaft which has really less tolerances and is well balanced. So, what promises give us all the driveshaft manufactures? Speed? That depends on our gears!
May be the manual trans has a little more vibration than the auto, but over 60% more rpm's have to be in mind.

Open for better suggestions, Turbofred

 

[Guest]

Hehehehe. What?

 

[Floorit]

I wonder if this is still a problem with 2.73 gears. Not sure what gears the mustang in the first video has, but the mustang in the second video has 3.31's. I've hit 140mph in my car twice now without any noises or vibrations, but sounds like the stock DS is just a ticking time bomb at high speeds..

 

[Scott197]

Just install the latest CV driveshaft from the Driveshaft Shop and you will fine. http://www.allfordmustangs.com/foru...iveshaft-shop-cv-driveshaft-so-different.html

 

[Joenpb]

The Driveshaft Shop doesn't have a listing for the V6.

 

[IbleedBlue]

I wonder if this is still a problem with 2.73 gears. Not sure what gears the mustang in the first video has, but the mustang in the second video has 3.31's. I've hit 140mph in my car twice now without any noises or vibrations, but sounds like the stock DS is just a ticking time bomb at high speeds..

My car has definite vibrations starting at 80 and they get worse the faster I go, ever since the gear swap to 3.55s. I had the same problem with my built-up 2000 Town Car after a gear change due to Ford's lousy balance job on the driveshaft.
I've had my Mustang up to 120 a couple times, I don't dare go any faster as I really don't want this tin turd exploding under my car.

The Driveshaft Shop doesn't have a listing for the V6.

Nope, they sure don't, and American Muscle's listing for one says out of stock. Going to swing by my local shaft shop tomorrow with a wad of cash to see what they can make up for me, I'm tired of pussyfooting around with my car. I mean for crap's sake, I drove a car with rust holes in the driveshaft for a year without a problem back in college.

This is f%@##ing b%@#$hit!

 

[Driveshaft Shop]

The Driveshaft Shop doesn't have a listing for the V6.

I had asked a few people to work with us to develop one but it seemed that the 749.99 price tag was too much (ever though the less expensive shafts didn't work so well) I'm still interested in doing it. i need dimensions and flange patterns and would be willing to give a decent discount for a few to work with us on the project.

 

[Guest]

I split time between Norfolk and Raleigh. I'm interested but not sure how I can get to Charlotte to make it work.

 

[ChrisOfPa]

Thanks for the responses guys, this is quite disturbing news. I have taken my Mustang to 115 MPH a few times and haven't noticed any weird vibrations myself. From what I can see no one has really made an upgraded driveshaft for the V6 Mustang yet. However I can assume when this driveshaft does come around it's going to cost at least $750 before installation. I rarely take my Mustang above 100 MPH for extended periods so for now I can live with this. However when I get this car paid off I think I will invest in a stronger driveshaft, this powertrain has so much potential. I don't want to spend a fortune on headers, cat backs, tunes, tires, etc just for this weak point to fail.

 

[frankp]

I wrote an article on aluminum drive shafts for V6 Mustang Performance which discusses the reasons for aluminum drive shaft failures. The steel drive shaft is a two piece, sliding fabrication with a longer tube than the V8 drive shaft. This additional length limits the maximum RPMs that the drive shaft can withstand. This has the potential to create harmonic waves down the length of the drive shaft, which can have a synergistic effect on the potential for failure. The two piece steel drive shaft is poorly balanced from the factory, and can be a problem, especially in a lowered car with the pinion angle not accurately set. The automatic transmission V6 Mustang has the longest tube length of any 2011 + mustang, therefore the lowest max. RPM rating. This is why the RPM is limited.

There were two manufacturers of aluminum drive shafts. One has pulled their one piece aluminum drive shaft off the market place. I'm trying to get another vendor interested in manufacturing an aluminum drive shaft, but with all of these problems, that may prove to be very difficult.

westcoastsc

Shaftmaster’s 3.7L V6 Mustang Driveshaft Failures | A 3.7L V6 Mustang Owner Resource for Modifications and Repairs

 

[MD 1]

Thanks for the responses guys, this is quite disturbing news. I have taken my Mustang to 115 MPH a few times and haven't noticed any weird vibrations myself. From what I can see no one has really made an upgraded driveshaft for the V6 Mustang yet. However I can assume when this driveshaft does come around it's going to cost at least $750 before installation. I rarely take my Mustang above 100 MPH for extended periods so for now I can live with this. However when I get this car paid off I think I will invest in a stronger driveshaft, this powertrain has so much potential. I don't want to spend a fortune on headers, cat backs, tunes, tires, etc just for this weak point to fail.

American Muscle sells a DS for the V6s:

Ford Mustang Driveshafts at AmericanMuscle.com - Free Shipping!

I believe they haven't had any issues regarding their upgraded DS.