Join and Clutch: Horrible
 

It takes a lot to piss me off, but this place.

I take them my 4inch Aluminum DS (Built by DriveShaftShop) to be cut shorter to be used with my new 4l80E transmission.

I write down my lengths, 62 3/8's tail housing to rear (center of half moon)
Output shaft protrudes 1 1/2 inch

He says No Problem. I ask about High speed balancing, he says he has nothing but the best out there.

OK. Pick it up today, first it's easy to figure out which side was cut, welds were grinded down and all over. Next I notice a very large weight that was welded on. Already feeling pretty bad about deciding to go here.

Get home, nice doesn't fit.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...d91/tolong.jpg

Welds:

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...91/welds-1.jpg




I messure it, it's 65" tip to tip.Not sure how a 65inch shaft fits in a 62inch length, and then a 1 1/2inch output shaft to make the gap smaller. Well, it doesn't.

Take it back, he says " how much more do you want me to take off". And I quote " I don't know, I don't build these things. I gave you my lengths. I then show him the pictures your looking at and my huge mistake say "An inch, maybe 1 1/2, 1 3/4, I just need it to slip in the rear and not bottom out.

He take an 1 3/4 off. Again, my mistake for not saying "if you cant build it base on my measurements, I shouldnt be here"

Instead, I go with that. I go back to work and come get it afterwords. Get it home, it's to short.

Now WTF. Pretty sure I have about $575 in this thing now and it's nothing but a fucked over paper weight. Should have went back with guys that know what the hell they are doing, but trusted a local shop.


http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s...91/image-1.jpg

they must have someone new working up there, ive delt with them personally on 5-6 driveshafts and never had one issue. and a lot of other people on here have delt with them wothout an issue

Have you went back since you realized it was too short? I had my shaft made and didn't have any trouble. The way he told me to measure it was have the slip yoke in where I wanted it and measure from the center of it to the center of the yoke on the rear.

thats the way i have always measured. and never had an issue

When I went there it was an older dude with long hair. I stayed and watched him do it make it. It was pretty simple.

Same guy, long hair. Their balancer goes to 3k rpms. After more research thats a truck DSS balancer, basic setup. Same machine that balance my stock one that came ripping apart at about 110 MPH. DSS who built this one balances with a 9.8k rpm machine. When I got it back the second time there wasnt even a damn weight on it. I'm sure those welds must have made it Dead on balanced.

I'm just pissed, I haven't talk to him yet since they are closes. But to be honest, I really don't want a shaft built by him. My fear is my truck will be down another week and i'm looking at another $450 to get a nice shaft that FITS again.

Even if he offers to make a brand new one, I've triple checked my meassurements. He's proven he can't build it already.

Damn! on what cars?

Dont feel bad man. I know exactly where youre coming from, but just had my troubles with Fleetpride. Ive heard nothing bad about joint and clutch, and they balanced my ds after Fleetpride fucked it up. This is not to say that everyone will always have a good run-in with every company.

Hope they fix it for you, or reimburse you the way you want it to be done.

I have always given driveshaft measurements from center of one u-joint bore to the center of the opposing u-joint bore. To be able to do this, the yoke you are going to use needs to be in the trans where you need it and the vehicle weight needs to be on the rearend.

It is odd that Joint and Clutch was so difficult to deal with. I do know from talking with Larry in the past that they don't particularly recommend aluminum shafts for high horsepower work over 550-600 horsepower. I don't trust aluminum above that level myself. But, that doesn't excuse them for any crappy work they may let out the door, either.

that shit sucks! but, another 450,, just a quick trip to iraq and back. does this guy thinks this is a jeep or something?

oh and p.s. those welds look like shit, and id send it out to rebalanced at 9.8k

When I was in SC and had my shop I had Joint and Clutch do all my drive shafts with no problems. They had excellent customer service and were very easy to deal with. Almost everyone I know in SC that races had there drive shaft made there. My drive shaft that I have in my racecar ended up not needing any weights, and it has no vibration. It seems like you took them some measurements and said make me a drive shaft, its always best to find out how that shop wants the measurements done, each is a little differnt. Something doesnt seem right though, but it seems odd you gave them two measurements and get two drive shafts that dont fit.

I brought Larry measurements based off what my last shaft was built from. My first question when I got there was do you need anything else. Trust me, I had no problem answering any other questions they may have before cutting into my $450 driveshaft. Larry said no.

I'm really surprised that a 2.8k balance machine, same maching used for Peter Built trucks and what have you keeps your high MPH cars together. However, I doubt any of those cars ran a 60" plus single drive shaft where critical shaft speed and balance become big players.

do you want me to come get your vehicle and tow it up there to them, and let them make it off their measurements?

Zac & I have little winches to pull it up on a trailer.

or you can borrow my winch if you have a trailer.

they did some work for me, and i think they will WANT to make it right, because there is SO MUCH word of mouth in town, the high performance circle of guys all know each other, and all talk. so i think they will fix it if you just take the car to them and say "measure it your self...."

I don,t know a whole lot about balancing but once you equalize the offset weight . Shouldn't it stay balanced no matter what the rpm.

They are great people and do good work. Anybody can make a mistake. I would be more interested to see if they make it right. Especially if it is there fault.

I didn't have a problem with them either on the modified DS for the Blazer. I just asked what measurement he wanted. I supplied the dimension and it fit perfect. I will still have him build a steel one once I can no longer use the aluminum one.

Do keep us posted though. I'm curious as to the customer service "Make it right" too.

Larry made mine from scratch with the measurements from gerald, and no problems. Mines not 60" long either..

When I worked with Lorenz. Dumbass

OUCH! :eek: