Carbon-Fiber Driveshaft
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,337
Likes: 1
From: Yorktown, VA
Carbon-Fiber Driveshaft
Has anyone put a carbon-fiber driveshaft on their G35 sedan. I am looking to get more power to the ground and was thinking of lightening up the driveshaft. What do you all think about this idea??
Not worth the price, http://www.acpt.com/ makes CF drive shafts but are over $1000 I remember people on the M3 boards mentioning something in the neighbourhood of $1300 or so. That money can be better spent elsewhere.
There used to be a pic floating around here of a 350Z racer holding up his splintered CF driveshaft and giving a thumbs-down. Not sure how much power he was producing or how much abuse it had seen.
It would seem like a nice mod... ...much the same as a lightened flywheel. Let us know if you do this, as I'm sure others would follow suit if they could see the results others were getting with it.
< < < EDIT > > > After looking at the site, I'm a lot closer to being sold, especially considering that I'm staying NA. A 5% increase of RWHP would be between 10-15HP, so it doesn't have a huge bang-for-the-buck value. But that sort of gain, combined with other beneficial results, wouldn't be so bad for the reported $1300 (price not listed... ...must contact). Of course, the gains with FI would be much greater.
As for the pic I mentioned above, it could easily be explained by this statement. The shaft may not have failed at all, only a u-joint:
"Carbon fiber driveshafts are built for strength primarily to transfer torque and can be broken with a hard blow from the side. The result is that when a u-joint or yoke fails the carbon fiber composite begins to disintegrate when it contacts the chassis. As the composite comes apart, the shaft simply turns into a bunch of loose carbon fibers. much like the end of a broom . In fact, in composite technology this failsafe state is called "brooming". Instead of tearing up the driver and shredding the chassis, the carbon fiber broom will probably just polish dirt and paint off the chassis."
It would seem like a nice mod... ...much the same as a lightened flywheel. Let us know if you do this, as I'm sure others would follow suit if they could see the results others were getting with it.
< < < EDIT > > > After looking at the site, I'm a lot closer to being sold, especially considering that I'm staying NA. A 5% increase of RWHP would be between 10-15HP, so it doesn't have a huge bang-for-the-buck value. But that sort of gain, combined with other beneficial results, wouldn't be so bad for the reported $1300 (price not listed... ...must contact). Of course, the gains with FI would be much greater.
As for the pic I mentioned above, it could easily be explained by this statement. The shaft may not have failed at all, only a u-joint:
"Carbon fiber driveshafts are built for strength primarily to transfer torque and can be broken with a hard blow from the side. The result is that when a u-joint or yoke fails the carbon fiber composite begins to disintegrate when it contacts the chassis. As the composite comes apart, the shaft simply turns into a bunch of loose carbon fibers. much like the end of a broom . In fact, in composite technology this failsafe state is called "brooming". Instead of tearing up the driver and shredding the chassis, the carbon fiber broom will probably just polish dirt and paint off the chassis."
Last edited by GT-Ron; May 9, 2006 at 02:34 PM.
I e-mailed ACPT 2 days ago, requesting a price for a composite (CF) driveshaft for the G35 6MT, but have not heard back from them as of yet. If anyone else has the slightest interest in this part, please contact (e-mail, phone or fax) ACPT and put in an additional request for the price of a CF driveshaft for the G35.
Personally, I am interested in this piece, but I'd love for anyone else to make a request so we can get a specific price.
I plan to use the NISMO clutch/flywheel combo, mainly because the flywheel isn't extremely lightweight, and this driveshaft would likely compliment the combo very nicely. In theory, the combo should provide the effect of a really lightweight flywheel without the negative effects of a lot of chatter and difficult engagement.
Regardless, someone please make another price request.
Personally, I am interested in this piece, but I'd love for anyone else to make a request so we can get a specific price.
I plan to use the NISMO clutch/flywheel combo, mainly because the flywheel isn't extremely lightweight, and this driveshaft would likely compliment the combo very nicely. In theory, the combo should provide the effect of a really lightweight flywheel without the negative effects of a lot of chatter and difficult engagement.
Regardless, someone please make another price request.
A carbon fiber driveshaft on a NA car is probably worth only around 5 hp, not 5%. It's supposed to help smooth out the drivetrain at higher revs/speeds as a side benefit though. For the price, I think there are a lot better upgrades you can get.
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5% is what was quoted, which didn't seem to apply specifically to FI vehicles. 5% on NA is aroun 10-15hp, which 10 is probably safe. Still, not a huge gain, but what is on an NA G? 
This would fall under the same category as a lightweight flywheel, IMO. Not a big HP gain but certainly some advantageous change in driving characteristics and acceleration (once underway). Likewise, a reduction in weight would be another desireable benefit.
As for cost... ...it's a relative thing. People will complain about how spending $4000 on an NA G isn't worth it and that the money should instead go toward FI. To each his own. To me, there's a big difference between $4000 and $10k-$15k for FI, so naturally there's going to be a big performance gap if you stop spending at $4k. Besides, my location isn't exactly turbo-friendly most of the year, especially when the vehicle didn't come boosted in OEM form. My goal is, essentially, creating a slightly-lighter and sportier G coupe model, as I wish the factory had offered. I didn't order a 6MT hardtop without Prem/Nav for nothing.
I have most of the few notable, effective NA mods for a RevUp already purchased, so additional mods will have to be a little more creative... ...such as dropping rotational (and overall) weight where I can without an extremely negative impact. Getting an overall feeling of driving a lighter car (without stripping the entire interior) is one of my goals.
This would fall under the same category as a lightweight flywheel, IMO. Not a big HP gain but certainly some advantageous change in driving characteristics and acceleration (once underway). Likewise, a reduction in weight would be another desireable benefit.
As for cost... ...it's a relative thing. People will complain about how spending $4000 on an NA G isn't worth it and that the money should instead go toward FI. To each his own. To me, there's a big difference between $4000 and $10k-$15k for FI, so naturally there's going to be a big performance gap if you stop spending at $4k. Besides, my location isn't exactly turbo-friendly most of the year, especially when the vehicle didn't come boosted in OEM form. My goal is, essentially, creating a slightly-lighter and sportier G coupe model, as I wish the factory had offered. I didn't order a 6MT hardtop without Prem/Nav for nothing.
I have most of the few notable, effective NA mods for a RevUp already purchased, so additional mods will have to be a little more creative... ...such as dropping rotational (and overall) weight where I can without an extremely negative impact. Getting an overall feeling of driving a lighter car (without stripping the entire interior) is one of my goals.
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