Questions on how the CTS drive shaft works

[grobb284]

Can somone point me to a link on exactly how the CTS driveshaft works?

There must be an informational page on how the shaft works, why the drive shaft is two pieces, with a carrier bearing.

Also on how much angle is acceptable for the rubber biscuits to take.

Working on a swap to another vehicle, so this is important to the installation.

Thanks.

[yomommas]

tell us more about your project and MAYBE you'll get some help.
of course i'm just joking! though, i can't answer your question, i would like to hear about your project.

[CTS Orlando]

Originally Posted by grobb284

Can somone point me to a link on exactly how the CTS driveshaft works?

There must be an informational page on how the shaft works, why the drive shaft is two pieces, with a carrier bearing.

Also on how much angle is acceptable for the rubber biscuits to take.

Working on a swap to another vehicle, so this is important to the installation.

Thanks.

The drive shaft works by transferring the mechanical energy produced by the engine, through the transmission, out to the rear differential. Theres a lot of physics involved, but thats basically how the drive shaft works.
I know that the rubber biscuits are pretty forgiving, but for a custom application like yours, I've heard that buttermilk biscuits are much more reliable.

Good luck with all that!

[urbanski]

Hee hee hee hee... what da ya want for nothing? ... a rubber biscuit?

Bow bow bow...

[dkozloski]

How many of you remember the driveshaft in the original Pontiac Tempest that was a skinny shaft that had a big bow bent into it? The tempest had a similar setup the the Caddy with independent rear suspension.

[grobb284]

Here are some photos of the project:

This is the Aisin AY6 manual transmission (CTS MV1) being installed for checking clearances.





Here's a slideshow of the chassis: Stainless Steel Chassis


It has a 108" wheel base, Viper differential with 3.54 gears, Corvette C4 rear suspension with coil overs, C4 front suspension with coil overs, C5 12.8" rotors and Z06 calipers both front and rear. All stainless steel frame construction, stainless steel chambered side pipes.

Currently has magnesium wheels, 18x9.5 with 255/45/18 rear and 17x8 with 235/50/17 front.

Here is a shot of the front wheel on stands.

[Matt55330]

for what's it worth newer GTO & G8 have a similar setup and most performance builds will change out the flex plate and replace the two piece shaft with a single shaft. Also the point of the flex adapter is to prevent unnecessary stress on the bearings and gears in the diff without the cost of a U or CV joint, it also helps absorb the clunk as the drivetrain transitions between acceleration and braking.

[yomommas]

pleeeeease, please, tell me you're not gonna use a v6 cts engine in your project car!

[yomommas]

i just read some of your other post, and it looks like you ARE planning on using a 3.6L CTS engine. i don't know why no one else has said this before but, DON'T DO IT. i also saw where someone said the performance of the 3.6L is close to the performance of the 5.7L GM motors. i say, BULLSH!T! there is NO aftermarket for this motor. and i pray you're not gonna use the ecu from a CTS (it's virtually untuneable). your project looks great, a 3.6L motor will only ruin it. you'd be better off with an old school 350. personallly i wouldn't use ANY v6 in a project car (well maybe the new nissan skyline GT-R v6). go with a v8. even if you have a 3.6L just laying around; i'd try to sell it.

[grobb284]

Sorry to dissappoint. Will probably be the 3.6l vvt.

A big part of the decision is weight balance of the vehicle.

Looking at supercharging, have done this in the past on other motors. Am aware of the Bosch ECU problem.


My questions on the drive shaft are several. On a conventional drive shaft, the two universals have to be in phase, to prevent a whipping oscillation.

How is this compensated for with only one universal?

Also what is the angular misalignment permissable with the rubber couplers?

Anyone have any idea what the front drive shaft angle is to the horizontal?

Is the rear drive shaft also at an angle (from the horizontal) and is it specifically in line with the differential pinion, since the u-joint is ahead of the carrier bearing?

[yomommas]

Originally Posted by grobb284

Sorry to dissappoint. Will probably be the 3.6l vvt.

A big part of the decision is weight balance of the vehicle.

Looking at supercharging, have done this in the past on other motors. Am aware of the Bosch ECU problem.

if it's not too late: DON'T DO IT!! especially if you want to supercharge it. this motor isn't built to handle much boost. you're not gonna find forged pistons, or many other aftermarket internals. why not use the v8 from a cts-v. there's people here would would give there left nut for a reliable, TUNABLE 3.6L. you WOULD be a god around here if you made it happen, so i hate to be the one to discourage you from completing your project. but even if you were to get all that you want out of this engine, as a project car it would be a helluva a lot better to start with just about ANY v8, even a carbuerated one from a '72 malibu. sorry to rain on your parade, but i can't see why anyone would want to build a project car around such an expensive, aftermarketless, difficult-to-find-parts-for motor that the 3.6L is. i swear people here were just recently getting excited because they used the 3.6L in some new saturn and, apparently, it had "better" heads that you could spend @ grand on (maybe more, maybe less) only to have the ecu negate any gains.

[Matt55330]

Originally Posted by grobb284

My questions on the drive shaft are several. On a conventional drive shaft, the two universals have to be in phase, to prevent a whipping oscillation.

How is this compensated for with only one universal?

Also what is the angular misalignment permissable with the rubber couplers?

Anyone have any idea what the front drive shaft angle is to the horizontal?

Is the rear drive shaft also at an angle (from the horizontal) and is it specifically in line with the differential pinion, since the u-joint is ahead of the carrier bearing?

I don't think there is a permissible designed angle of misalignment with the coupler, it is most likely just there to absorb bodyflex.

this is a solid write up on the reasons and application for a 2-pieces to single swap
4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/driveshaft

this page has some good information on driveline theory, specifically it address driveline phasing
4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/driveshaft/
(I would link but I haven't been here long enough