63 replies to this topic

[patrickshelby]

We are still hanging around....
Have you managed to make this CF driveshaft retrofit as a bolt-on piece?

[slowbra1]

How did this workout ?

[Tob]

It hasn't - yet.

[patrickshelby]

Keep us informed.
If it works out it's going to be a good mod!
Thx.

[Tob]

Still working on this...

[patrickshelby]

GOOD
thx Tob!
You probably know that there have been some issues with aftermarket CF driveshafts...So the OEM CF driveshaft upgrade might very well be the only safe one!

[2010KonaBlueGT]

patrickshelby, on 30 November 2012 - 11:15 AM, said:

GOOD
thx Tob!
You probably know that there have been some issues with aftermarket CF driveshafts...So the OEM CF driveshaft upgrade might very well be the only safe one!

Yeah, I was gonna say: I hope you have better luck with a OE CF 1-pc than I'm having with my PST.

UPS just picked it up yesterday, after 4 months of back & forth BS with VMP/PST. VMP has been helpful (so far) but PST has been a total PITA.

I'll post the whole story when it's complete...When (IF) I have a new replacement driveshaft in my hands and in my car.

In the meantime, I'd advise against buying a PST until we find out what the resolution is. IF it's resolved.


Phill

[03 DSG Snake]

2010KonaBlueGT, on 30 November 2012 - 12:23 PM, said:

Yeah, I was gonna say: I hope you have better luck with a OE CF 1-pc than I'm having with my PST.

UPS just picked it up yesterday, after 4 months of back & forth BS with VMP/PST. VMP has been helpful (so far) but PST has been a total PITA.

I'll post the whole story when it's complete...When (IF) I have a new replacement driveshaft in my hands and in my car.

In the meantime, I'd advise against buying a PST until we find out what the resolution is. IF it's resolved.


Phill

I'm guessing the adapter piece might be causing issues? I have been running a PST carbon on my 03 Cobra for awhile and so far so good. Weary of spending the $$ on the GT500 version however until the best solution is found.

[Tob]

I think it is great that there are small business pioneers out there willing to risk developing new and exciting products with their own hard earned money. Enthusiasts and the aftermarket are what seem to be driving a lot of the changes Ford has made as of late to our beloved Mustangs.

I've noticed the progression of S197 products over the years and how they continually improve. Case in point, the advent of the one piece shaft in the S197 in both steel and aluminum and carbon fiber. It looks like the aftermarket has gotten much better in terms of quality and choice.

That said, I'm a huge supporter of factory efforts be they SVT or FRPP. Nobody has the resources they have. So when it comes to delivering on the subject at hand, a carbon fiber driveshaft, I defer to their expertise. However, I am a bit upset that FRPP has failed to deliver - so far. I know they have some huge hurdles to surpass be they:

- Legal....liability is always a major consideration. I won't pontificate on the potential issues here but rest assured it is a consideration.
- Ford Parts and Service....they have a beef with FRPP selling certain items at a 'discount' and have had an impact on the release and price that sometimes runs contrary to the wishes of the enthusiast community.
- Limited funding...FRPP has a budget and as such has to make the choices it feels best serves their interests as well as that of their potential customers. They just can't deliver everything at once.

That said, I expect them to get it done. To keep pushing and to continually strive to achieve that which they didn't previously. As such, there are now six years worth of GT500's that could benefit from a factory/FRPP effort to bring a '13 retrofit kit to the market. Goddu (George, Manager of the Ford Racing Performance Group) this effort, or lack thereof, lies squarely with you. This isn't the Tanner Faust/Ken block, social media, Focus/Fiesta, going green, group. But rather a contingent that has patiently waited for the effort you manage to bring leather Recaro's,  2013 GT500 brakes/struts/shocks/driveshaft, real factory wheels that allow a 305/315 out back, and more, to the market. The business case is there. Of that I have no doubt. The obstacles, well that is your job to make it past them so that the Group can continue to turn a profit while simultaneously giving the people what they want.

The 2013 FRPP catalog is out. We have been waiting since 2006 for a performance driveshaft offering for the GT500 models from the mothership. The factory now has a fully developed carbon fiber production piece at their disposal. Those that have enthusiastically supported FRPP over the years should be given consideration with respect to a part that fulfills that desire.

[2010KonaBlueGT]

03 DSG Snake, on 30 November 2012 - 02:21 PM, said:

I'm guessing the adapter piece might be causing issues?

Nope. The problem was on the other end.

The aluminum U-joint yoke broke loose from the carbon fiber tube and was spinning inside of the CF shaft.

It felt like a failed clutch in that the engine would rev/free-wind when I got into the powerband.

I originally thought it WAS a clutch. I put a witness mark across both ends then got it to 'slip' while on stands with the E-brake set. The marks moved (substantially) and confirmed my suspicion.

It happened on a 1-2 "short shift" (but under power), on the street (not on a sticky dragstrip launch pad) on OEM/Street tires. That's what concerns me. If it was under a high stress circumstance I might be less inclined to be worried.

I shifted it from 1st to 2nd and got a LOUD "smack". And when I say loud, I mean LOUD. After that the engine would rev when I hit boost or gave it a lot of throttle. And it continually got worse. I also noted a "squeek-CLUNK" going from forward to reverse or reverse to forward (the yoke slipping one way, than the other way).

PST was trying to blame me because I moved my rear end back in the car 1/2 inch...to compensate for the driveshaft that was 1/2" too long that Justin said I needed.  He said they were seeming them at 51-1/2" but when I got it, it wouldn't go between the flanges (it was too long).  I talked to PST and they said they were seeing them at 50" which is 1/2" shorter than what I had and what I should have had in the first place.  I just moved my axle back (w/Roush adjustable UCA/LCA's) 1/2" in the chassis to allow the shaft to be used without sending it to PST and having it shortened for $200.oo.  PST finally realized why I moved my axle and just NOW (after 4 months) asked me to ship it back to them (at their expense).

I remains to be seen what I'll get back. I shall report in full if/when I do.


Phill

[08KR525]

Good info Kona.  I have pretty much made up my mind to go with the DSS cf shaft.  I have read nothing but positive reviews and no one has had to measure before they place their order.  They seem to have great customer service too, which to me is as important as the product. Kona, will PST shorten the ds  so that you can put the rear in the right place, since they already have
it?

[patrickshelby]

Phill is "lucky" to have such a failure instead of the driveshaft going away from the front yoke and dangling on the road!
It could have been disastrous!

[Shipwright]

2010KonaBlueGT, on 01 December 2012 - 10:12 AM, said:

Nope. The problem was on the other end.

The aluminum U-joint yoke broke loose from the carbon fiber tube and was spinning inside of the CF shaft.

It felt like a failed clutch in that the engine would rev/free-wind when I got into the powerband.

I originally thought it WAS a clutch. I put a witness mark across both ends then got it to 'slip' while on stands with the E-brake set. The marks moved (substantially) and confirmed my suspicion.

It happened on a 1-2 "short shift" (but under power), on the street (not on a sticky dragstrip launch pad) on OEM/Street tires. That's what concerns me. If it was under a high stress circumstance I might be less inclined to be worried.

I shifted it from 1st to 2nd and got a LOUD "smack". And when I say loud, I mean LOUD. After that the engine would rev when I hit boost or gave it a lot of throttle. And it continually got worse. I also noted a "squeek-CLUNK" going from forward to reverse or reverse to forward (the yoke slipping one way, than the other way).

PST was trying to blame me because I moved my rear end back in the car 1/2 inch...to compensate for the driveshaft that was 1/2" too long that Justin said I needed.  He said they were seeming them at 51-1/2" but when I got it, it wouldn't go between the flanges (it was too long).  I talked to PST and they said they were seeing them at 50" which is 1/2" shorter than what I had and what I should have had in the first place.  I just moved my axle back (w/Roush adjustable UCA/LCA's) 1/2" in the chassis to allow the shaft to be used without sending it to PST and having it shortened for $200.oo.  PST finally realized why I moved my axle and just NOW (after 4 months) asked me to ship it back to them (at their expense).

I remains to be seen what I'll get back. I shall report in full if/when I do.


Phill

This exact same situation happened to me as well. The bond between the front billet yoke and carbon fibre tube let go (the car was running stock power at that time), causing a temporary squealing sound when the clutch was engaged (pedal out). However, PST' response was much better to my concerns than was yours, all it took was an e-mail describing my dilemma and a short video of me spinning, by hand, the yoke inside the CF tube. Within 20 minutes of sending the e-mail I got a response saying "We have improved our bonding technology since that shaft was made" and "please return the shaft for repairs", I paid for the shipping to PST, they covered the repairs and shipping back to me. I've had no problems since, eventhough I'm currently making 703 rwhp.

If the DS fails in the future, I'll probably go an aluminium tube.

Edited by Shipwright, 05 December 2012 - 09:13 AM.

[2010KonaBlueGT]

Shipwright, on 05 December 2012 - 09:03 AM, said:

This exact same situation happened to me as well. The bond between the front billet yoke and carbon fibre tube let go (the car was running stock power at that time), causing a temporary squealing sound whe the clutch was engaged.

Yep, that's *exactly* what happened to mine. But my yoke wasn't quite as loose so I could drive the car with low power but as soon as i steppd on it, it would slip.

But having said that, this isn't good. PST said they have NEVER had a problem like this before (and hence another reason they were pointing fingers at me).

When did yours fail? I mean, how long ago (e.g. Was mine first like PST said or was yours before mine)?

And now I"m wondering if I had "the new/improved" bonding compound, which should also be apparent by when yours happened.

If mine fails again, I'm not willing to just throw away $1200 and buy a aluminum shaft. That IS however what I've wanted to do. If PST refunds me (in event of a second failure) I'll definitely dump the CF for a aluminum shaft.


We shall see,
Phill

[Shipwright]

patrickshelby, on 02 December 2012 - 11:19 AM, said:

Phill is "lucky" to have such a failure instead of the driveshaft going away from the front yoke and dangling on the road!
It could have been disastrous!

Would it really be that disastrous? Isn't one of the benefits of carbon fibre is that it shatters on impact, absorbing energy in the process? So one good smack and it turns into  a spinnning bunch of fibres.

[2010KonaBlueGT]

patrickshelby, on 02 December 2012 - 11:19 AM, said:

Phill is "lucky" to have such a failure instead of the driveshaft going away from the front yoke and dangling on the road!
It could have been disastrous!

Phill is more than lucky, Phill is smart.

Phill has a Steda Driveshaft Loop and brace under his car!



Phill

[2010KonaBlueGT]

08KR525, on 01 December 2012 - 12:38 PM, said:

Good info Kona.  I have pretty much made up my mind to go with the DSS cf shaft.  I have read nothing but positive reviews and no one has had to measure before they place their order.  They seem to have great customer service too, which to me is as important as the product. Kona, will PST shorten the ds  so that you can put the rear in the right place, since they already have
it?

Do you have a link to the site that sells the DSS CF shaft?

Does it have a CV joint on one end? Both ends (like the OE one has)?


Phill

[Shipwright]

2010KonaBlueGT, on 05 December 2012 - 09:09 AM, said:

Yep, that's *exactly* what happened to mine. But my yoke wasn't quite as loose so I could drive the car with low power but as soon as i steppd on it, it would slip.

But having said that, this isn't good. PST said they have NEVER had a problem like this before (and hence another reason they were pointing fingers at me).

When did yours fail? I mean, how long ago (e.g. Was mine first like PST said or was yours before mine)?

And now I"m wondering if I had "the new/improved" bonding compound, which should also be apparent by when yours happened.

If mine fails again, I'm not willing to just throw away $1200 and buy a aluminum shaft. That IS however what I've wanted to do. If PST refunds me (in event of a second failure) I'll definitely dump the CF for a aluminum shaft.


We shall see,
Phill

The shaft was purchased winter of 2010/2011 but wasn't installed till late spring 2011. The shaft completely failed in April/May of this year (2012) within 5 miles of me noticing the problem.

[2010KonaBlueGT]

Shipwright, on 05 December 2012 - 09:26 AM, said:

The shaft was purchased winter of 2010/2011 but wasn't installed till late spring 2011. The shaft completely failed in April/May of this year (2012) within 5 miles of me noticing the problem.

Damn. Identical to my purchase, installation and failure.

What was your first inclination of the problem and how did it occur?

Mine was on a 1-2 shift.



Phill

[Shipwright]

2010KonaBlueGT, on 05 December 2012 - 09:28 AM, said:

Damn. Identical to my purchase, installation and failure.

What was your first inclination of the problem and how did it occur?

Mine was on a 1-2 shift.



Phill

The story is that the club was on a cruise on some backroads when I had to pull over for an urgent "Pit Stop" while the rest of the club carried on. When I had "Drained the Radiator" I had to catch up with club, this required some agressive driving, It wasn't until I went WOT in third gear on a straight stretch that I felt some "Slipping" my first thought was, great my clutch is slipping. So I backed off a little, the slipping stopped and I finally caught up with the rest of the club. I thought I could baby what I thought was a failing clutch until I got home, but it wasn't to be. It didn't take too long before shaft started slipping at lower and lower rpms before it failed completely leaving me stranded on the side of the road. Thankfully the club stopped and waited with me (No Mustang Left Behind) until CAA showed up.

Edited by Shipwright, 05 December 2012 - 03:12 PM.