Anyone running a cv drive shaft in a medium dragster these days. Broken 2 shafts recently. One really good one and one average one. Wondering if I need a cv. Seems to be a lot of shafts breaking across the country. 4.40 car

After seeing the amount of destruction a driveshaft causes in a dragster when they break first hand in a couple of dragsters, I installed a MW CV driveshaft a couple of years ago in my TD. Besides the obvious safety factor, the price tag is way less than the cost to repair the damage is. No brainer IMO for any dragster

quote:

Originally posted by Nitrous1:
Anyone running a cv drive shaft in a medium dragster these days. Broken 2 shafts recently. One really good one and one average one. Wondering if I need a cv. Seems to be a lot of shafts breaking across the country. 4.40 car

Everyone needs one…

quote:

Originally posted by Nitrous1:
Anyone running a cv drive shaft in a medium dragster these days. Broken 2 shafts recently. One really good one and one average one. Wondering if I need a cv. Seems to be a lot of shafts breaking across the country. 4.40 car

There is no reason you should be breaking DS in a 4.40 car! You either have bad shafts giving you the shaft or something else is wrong! Also note, I have seen too many DS get blamed for breaking when it was really the U-joint first!!! That said, the CV deal seams to be working good also. They will break also if not serviced.

If you have a real fast four link dragster, consider using a DS can like what's required in TS cars. Dan Page make a nice setup that will contain a bust shaft!

quote:

Originally posted by TOP38:
There is no reason you should be breaking DS in a 4.40 car! You either have bad shafts giving you the shaft or something else is wrong! Also note, I have seen too many DS get blamed for breaking when it was really the U-joint first!!!

quoted for the TRUTH and FACTS!

that said, I met Bret Goethe at the 2021 US Nationals Indy and we got talking. Bret wanted my business, came to my pit and measured my car for his driveshaft and it's been installed since March of 2022.

quote:

Originally posted by TOP38:

There is no reason you should be breaking DS in a 4.40 car! You either have bad shafts giving you the shaft or something else is wrong! Also note, I have seen too many DS get blamed for breaking when it was really the U-joint first!!!

Ditto. I have NEVER broken a shaft or U joint and I've been going fast in dragsters for 20 plus years.

Nor have I in over 3 decades in any of my cars, all with aluminum driveshafts, one near 60” long in a 3900 lb. car that had been 1.28 in 60 foot.

I haven't broken a drive shaft in years, considering the technology in today's u-joint has to be how many years old?

I went to the CV shaft 4 years or more back without regrets. Many, many runs on the CV shafts without issue. If it breaks the potential carnage is minimal. The safety side is considerably better.

is CV shaft applicable in a typical door car as well? 9.0 at 2500lb small block car if it matters.

Bret nor MW offer it so there must be a reason. That said this does the job on a 8 second 3200+ lb. car

I have a 2017 American, and owned since new. End of last season, I broke a tail shaft on the trans. It was time for the shaft to be checked for straightness, new u joints, and a balance. When checked for straightness, figured out that it had picked up 10 thou of runout. Replaced with a new one from American and everything is back to good. Moral of the story is, that IF you have a major trans or rear end failure, it is a good idea to have the shaft checked while getting your stuff fixed.

FYI mark Williams will not a build a u-joint style driveshaft for a suspended dragster

quote:

Originally posted by Nitrous1:
FYI mark Williams will not a build a u-joint style driveshaft for a suspended dragster

And why do you think they did that?!!!!

Not because they won't work!!!!!


Also, another issue with short driveshafts that can cause issues, lack of adequate support at the trans end yoke support. Dan Page Race Cars makes a double roller bearing yoke support! This does a great job stabilization the driveshaft yoke!

quote:

Originally posted by Nitrous1:
FYI mark Williams will not a build a u-joint style driveshaft for a suspended dragster

they use to, I had one... it has been several years tho

quote:

Originally posted by Nitrous1:
FYI mark Williams will not a build a u-joint style driveshaft for a suspended dragster

If true only because they now build a CV shaft which they make more $ on.

My Undercover was built new with a MW Aluminum driveshaft and it went back to them for inspection and new U joints 3 years ago.

Aluminum drive shaft is 4lbs lighter than a steel, 8lbs lighter than a CV. Guess which one I have for our new cars!

When I got my MW CV shaft and weighed it I was shocked that it weighed more that the steal driveshaft I took out