Bracket Talk
CV Shaft for a 4 link dragster

This topic can be found at:
https://drr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/80760912/m/8107005107

April 01, 2024, 02:00 PM
Triple Nickel
CV Shaft for a 4 link dragster
I'm seeing alot of dragsters these days with the CV shaft driveshafts replacing a conventional drive shaft/yoke combination. I've heard of 2 manufacturers making these things, Goethe and Mark Williams are the two names i've seen that are suppling these for 4 link dragsters.

Anyone know of another company supplying these CV shaft conversions for 4 link dragsters?

Thanks.
April 01, 2024, 03:10 PM
Undertaker II
I'm waiting on one for my new car presently. Goethe is my car builders preferred choice but I don't know what Brett's problem is. I haven't had any luck with him responding to a message I left on his facebook page a month ago and the builder has called and left messages as well. I'm ok with a Mark Williams setup as I don't think the price is much different between the two but it would be interesting to see if someone else is getting in the game. When I was ordering my center section from Moser I casually mentioned it might be a good fit for their company.
April 01, 2024, 04:57 PM
Big Steve
I had a MW CV shaft on my blown TD for 3 years. Never had a single problem with it and they actually answer their phone Monday thru Friday
April 02, 2024, 06:42 AM
183N
quote:
Originally posted by Undertaker II:
I'm waiting on one for my new car presently. Goethe is my car builders preferred choice but I don't know what Brett's problem is. I haven't had any luck with him responding to a message I left on his facebook page a month ago and the builder has called and left messages as well. I'm ok with a Mark Williams setup as I don't think the price is much different between the two but it would be interesting to see if someone else is getting in the game. When I was ordering my center section from Moser I casually mentioned it might be a good fit for their company.



I believe many have reported the same communication issues with Bret. I would go MW, like Steve said they actually answer the phone. Why spend your money with someone you can’t get ahold of?
April 29, 2024, 09:04 AM
Triple Nickel
Mark Williams' commitment was 3 weeks when I placed the order, as stated they answer the phone anytime you call. I expedited the delivery to next day air and received the shaft exactly 3 weeks from the day I placed the order. The are a tad expensive but the parts are absolutely awesome. Delivered at 1 pm on Friday, installed, verified pinion angle and headed to the racetrack, getting the pinion nut off was the biggest challenge.

So far so good, the amount of forward/backward slip the CV shaft has is far superior to that of a slip yoke chopped down to only engage on the shorty output shaft. The assembly guarantees 100% utilization of the available output shaft splines. Its an awesome design. Installation of the shaft once the tail housing and yoke are installed is a breeze. I'm not sure why anyone would ever build a 4 link dragster without one of these CV shafts.

Excellent service from Mark Williams for a so far very impressive product.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Triple Nickel,
April 29, 2024, 01:34 PM
TOP38
The CV shaft is no doubt a good design. It also helps the trans too when the DS length changes as the rear end moves up or down. With a normal DS the yoke has to move in or out on the rear output shaft under a high load so it pulls of push on the trans output shaft.

However, when you setup a regular driveshaft correctly, there are also no issues. With the short dragster DS's, small rear movements are magnified. Also there are too many DS that are to short and therefore aren't supported enough at the trans end. Dan Page makes a dual roller bearing shorty trans DS support housing. It does a much better job supporting the DS yoke!

MW has stopped making dragster DS, both aluminum and steel, why? Too many failures that weren't the DS's fault.

With any high stress part, maintenance and replacement are required, including the CV shafts!
May 07, 2024, 04:24 PM
topd1332
I just had my goethe shaft rebuild after 5 years. He said there was no issues but the freshen up was a good idea
May 09, 2024, 01:12 PM
Triple Nickel
Made about 20 passes on the CV shaft so far so good, no issues to note and still seems very smooth when sliding the center forward and backwards.
May 09, 2024, 05:25 PM
jenavet
That Brett geothe absolutely impossible to deal with.mark Williams excellent service and they just rebuilt my shaft and upgraded my rear cover for the bigger output shaft.