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Steel vs Aluminum driveshaft??

CarMech1969

Full Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2016
Messages
498
Location
Scarborough, ON
Hello fellow enthusiasts  :B:

Anyone know the main reason for the two different kinds of driveshafts?

My Avalanche has steel driveshafts, and my 1992 GMC Sierra has an aluminum driveshaft.

Why aluminum on a truck? Isn't steel cheaper, and stronger??

Trying to figure out the logic.

Thanks for any thoughts you may have!

CarMech1969
 
aluminum has less mass so easier to rotate yet has to be larger OD to handle same torq or thicker wall thickness... so end result is lighter truck and quicker rotational acceleration of driveshaft.

Who knows the reason why they went this way as they do not advertise... so not a marketing reason...
Maybe they got one heck of a deal on them?

but 2500 tend to have steel..

and I have only seen the aluminum on 2wd.
 
ygmn said:
aluminum has less mass so easier to rotate yet has to be larger OD to handle same torq or thicker wall thickness... so end result is lighter truck and quicker rotational acceleration of driveshaft.

Who knows the reason why they went this way as they do not advertise... so not a marketing reason...
Maybe they got one heck of a deal on them?

but 2500 tend to have steel..

and I have only seen the aluminum on 2wd.

Thanks ygmn, makes sense.
I suppose that with the smaller engined truck, having a drivetrain that doesn't soak up as much power would be logical.
 
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