need a new driveshaft

I had it checked out at a local shop and he said it was out 30 thousandths...and the limit was 5 thou. He took the yokes off(front and rear) and spun it on a lathe looking machine with a dial indicator checking if it was out of round. Is that the proper way to check a driveshaft? Also, when he spun it, he used a sandpaper-like cloth to 'polish' in 4 spots. One area towards an end showed 2 high spots that are a perfect line and exactally 180 deg from eachother. He thinks it was caused by someone putting the driveshaft in a vise for ujoint replacement or something like that. So my question...Id like to get an aluminum driveshaft made, but dont know of anyone around here that can weld/balance aluminum driveshafts. Would you suggest buying a new one, or getting another TC driveshaft and hoping its good, or getting a steel driveshaft from the junkyard cut down and rewelded and such?

Aren't the SVO drive shafts the same? I'm not sure on that, so don't hold me too it. You can buy an SVO aluminum drive shaft from forced4.

Sir The SVO shaft is shorter. The TC shaft is exactly 48" But your shaft is out of true by .030. Thats a little over but not outrageous. Max runout according to ford should be .024-.028 over a distance of 4'. You can have a shaft made by a truck parts supplier like FLEET PRIDE. They make aluminum shafts and thats where i got mine. If your drive shaft guy that measured yours thinks its bad have him make you a new one. Or have yours checked for balance and see if it VIBRATES and is out of balance. Thank You

Most DS specialists can now build AL shafts, if your guy can't, find one that can. Many have had Crown Vic or Aerostar shafts shortened.

Just for general info and DS should never be clamped on the tube section, DS tubing is quite thin and can easily be distorted. If you need to hold a DS in a vice it should be clamped across the yoke.

Originally posted by Paulie:
Or have yours checked for balance and see if it VIBRATES and is out of balance. Thank You

So are you saying its a possibility that the driveshaft might not be out of balance even though its out of round? He said he cant balance driveshafts(doesnt have the right machine( but can build it "true". Wouldnt a driveshaft builder want to toss their work on a machine to make sure?

Originally posted by russ c:
Most DS specialists can now build AL shafts, if your guy can't, find one that can. Many have had Crown Vic or Aerostar shafts shortened.

Just for general info and DS should never be clamped on the tube section, DS tubing is quite thin and can easily be distorted. If you need to hold a DS in a vice it should be clamped across the yoke.

Well said Russ and you are 100% correct. I have seen many a mechanic clamp a shaft in a vice right in the middle and crank the vice DOWN. Thats a NO NO. Thank you Sir

Originally posted by Paulie:

Originally posted by russ c:
[b] Most DS specialists can now build AL shafts, if your guy can't, find one that can. Many have had Crown Vic or Aerostar shafts shortened.

Just for general info and DS should never be clamped on the tube section, DS tubing is quite thin and can easily be distorted. If you need to hold a DS in a vice it should be clamped across the yoke.

Well said Russ and you are 100% correct. I have seen many a mechanic clamp a shaft in a vice right in the middle and crank the vice DOWN. Thats a NO NO. Thank you Sir [/b]

Paulie, I also have seen many a mechanic clamp down on the center of a DS tube, beat out the joint crosses, reassemble, reinstall and wonder why there was a bad vibration. (I just may have done it once or twice as youngster.)

I went to the salvage yard and got lucky. I got a Crown Vic cop car aluminum drive shaft for free. I sent it to Oklahoma City ($22.00 shipping) and Performance Driveline shortened it,added new u-joints,and balanced it. The charge including return shipping was under $130.00. Well worth it.

I wonder how much Horsepower one of those could handle?

Plenty.....

I believe you will destroy the tranny or rear end before the cop car drive shaft gives out.

They are built for high speed in a big fat Crown Victoria....

Travis