How to Measure for a Custom Drive Shaft

[@Maxxis1941]

Leave it to Tom Woods to have the best driveshaft measurement video on KZbin. Best driveshafts, best videos.

[@AutoEdits]

I'm subscriber #3! Glad to see you guys here and thanks again for making the part of my drive train I don't have to worry about!

[@SevenSlotSociety]

Instant sub! Thank you guys so much for donating to Built to Heal 2019!!! Video production quality on this is MINT! I love it!

[@Georgia4Low]

Very helpful information! So glad you guys jumped on KZbin!!!

[@Yeti-Built]

Great video! Gonna lay under the ol’ pick up & get those measurements going. - looking forward to a fresh set shafts from you all! 🤙

[@ramp7t]

I normally shop around. This time I did as I was informed, just buy from Tom Woods. Very satisfied for an awkward build.

[@392hellscat7]

Perfect video! Gonna go check my angles now.

[@brotheus6310]

What amount of suspension travel will require measuring drive shaft length when the vehicle is at full bump? If the axle is too long at full bump things will explode.

[@tomwoodscustomdriveshafts]

The answer to your question could be its own 20 minute video. But in short we mainly look at it when a vehicle has leaf springs and a shackle reversal. In most suspension setups the axle swings forward (if talking about a rear axle), toward the transfer case as it drops down and away from the transfer case which results in a counter-action and a fairly low amount of length change in the drive shaft. A shackle reversal is the glaring exception, this type of setup causes a double action and can cause very big changes in drive shaft length.

Awesome video, great info

[@advapp]

Let's just say I have a 2018 Jeep Rubicon four-door and I have a flange at each end and I have 45 and 1/2 in from flange to flange what would be the length of that drive shaft that I would need and what would be the minimum amount of bottoming out play Right now I have maybe a quarter inch.

[@LukesGarage]

Mine is flange to flange. How will that work. Some kind of slip joint in the middle?

[@tomwoodscustomdriveshafts]

Yes, any drive shaft that does not attach to the transfer case or transmission with a slip yoke will have a slip yoke integrated into middle section of the drive shaft.

[@LukesGarage]

@@tomwoodscustomdriveshafts Thanks for the reply.

[@TickMan26]

So I have a Tacoma with a 3 inch lift kit. Went on the website for a custom build driveshaft. There is two options for the transfer bolt patter and differential bolt pattern. How do I know which one to choose? 60x60 mm(2 3/8 x 2 3/8inches) Or 66x66 mm(2 5/8 x 2 5/8inches)

[@jasondevereaux3369]

If you have to ask, you probably shouldn't fuck with it

[@alexalbis3137]

Could you mate your transmission to your diff with just a yoke or a flat plate? Asking for a friend

[@JF32304]

Uhh sure. This is called a 2WD vehicle.

[@Jeep.Generation]

Great information!

[@staceyparedes2256]

What happens if already got a lift and now I got an angle issue. Do I have to drop it back down to ride height and then measure? Or could I get the oem drive shaft specs for my drive shaft and get one made from you guys?

[@tomwoodscustomdriveshafts]

Having a lift on your vehicle is exactly why you need to measure. Because stock size will no longer fit. We have a couple videos explaining common drive shaft angle issues and their solutions, you should check those out.

[@noahwhite7848]

Must the vehicle be on a perfectly flat surface when measuring the angles for the driveshaft?

[@tomwoodscustomdriveshafts]

Nope! That is because the relationship between the shaft and whatever it attaches to will remain constant regardless of being parked on flat ground. For example: If you measure 10 drive shaft and 5 pinion on flat ground there is a 5 degree difference between the two. Now if you go park on a 5 degree hill you will measure 15 drive shaft and 10 pinion, still a 5 degree difference.

[@STYLEZ864]

It don’t tell me where I need to measure from and to?

[@RS-gh2mf]

What's the optimum angle ?

[@kennedywong9854]

What cost for custom steel drive shalf?

[@Schual29]

Are the length measurements taken at ride height?

[@tomwoodscustomdriveshafts]

Good question and something we should have covered in the video. Yes, you should take all the measurements at ride height. In some instances where angle or compression/extension are a major concern we will also have the customer measure at full droop.

[@andreyka64]

#15 : i feel honored

[@Scrapla1]

Does anyone make a one piece drive shaft for 2nd gen double can long bed tacomas?

[@tomwoodscustomdriveshafts]

I’m sorry to report that no we cannot build a shaft for your truck. There are usually two reasons we cannot built a shaft for a long wheelbase 4WD or pre-runner. The first, when regarding pre-runners, is that the drive shaft usually attaches to the transmission via a slip yoke instead of the bolt on flange a 4WD truck would use. The second, regarding both, is that the length of the drive shaft in a is usually longer than 72” and longer than we can build. We are not able to build a shaft longer than 72”. This is because our equipment is too short to build that long of a drive shaft. Because we specialize in generally shorter wheelbase 4WD drive shafts and because we were limited on shop space when we started buying our equipment we have shorter build and balance machines than the average drive shaft shop. In theory I think that a single piece shaft could and should be made for your vehicle. I’ve actually done a bit of research and calling around to different drive shaft manufacturers looking for someone to refer people with 2WD prerunners or long wheelbase 4WD trucks to. So far I have been unsuccessful in finding anyone that can and will build a single piece shaft for your application.

[@setyowibowo6598]

Thanks bro

[@earthbeing1707]

Yeah, that's what I was looking for also.

[@ericmoore4150]

Wonder what these cost..??... A driveshaft CAN cost more than some people's ride!

[@CMEPUNKU]

Wish you just went step by step like you where ordering one yourself Step 1 Step 2 and actually write measurements Not you can start hear or there