The driveshaft is the part of your car that takes the engine’s power and sends it to your wheels in order to propel the vehicle. There are two driveshafts in front-wheel drive cars, called half shafts. Rear-wheel drive vehicles have one driveshaft that runs the distance from the front to the rear of the car.
It’s very simple to tell when there’s a driveshaft problem – the car will not move, even if the engine is running. This typically occurs due to breakage, either from undue strain, age, or a combination of these factors. It’s fairly uncommon for the driveshaft to break but if it does, you’re going to need a new one. You’ll want it to be very durable because of the tremendous amount of stress it must endure.
Some things to look out for to make sure you’re getting a good quality driveshaft include:
Choose the correct balance of ability to bear power and price: A driveshaft that is too weak to support the engine’s horsepower will quickly meet its end, but one that is able to transfer more power than the engine provides will cost you more without delivering any additional benefit.
Go with OEM or OE-rated construction: These steel driveshafts are able to handle 350-400 HP, which is more than adequate for most street cars. If you’re interested in racing and performance capabilities, you could go with carbon fiber or aluminum, which are much pricier.
Quality CV joints: If your driveshaft comes with the CV joints attached, look for high quality materials like neoprene boots, as these resist cracking, which will decrease the chances of having to replace the entire driveshaft again due to CV joint failure.
YourMechanic supplies top-quality driveshafts to our certified mobile technicians. We can also install a driveshaft that you've purchased. Click here to get a quote and more information on driveshaft replacement.
