Has anyone abandoned the CV shaft idea on a Sidekick and tried putting in a 'driveshaft' with u-joints and how did that work?

-Eric

Such a thought deserves a reply,
not done it yet but I'm working on it
Stay posted !!

Darrin

I have thought about this many nights but that it all I've done. I'll have to look into it again now that I have only one 1/2 shaft to design

Well since this old horse is being beaten again...

One of my other cars is an older Datsun 240Z.  It uses the U-Joint style halfshafts since it has independent rear suspension and is rear wheel drive.  In a nutshell, the guys that are putting more power through the stock axles are switching to CV's right and left because the CV's handle the increased torque alot better.  The U-Joints are breaking left and right with the guys that drag race them whereas the CV's hold up much better.  There's not much of an angle on the joints in the half shafts either, maybe 10 or 15 degrees when the suspension is fully compressed and nearly straight when it's at normal ride height.  Obviously off-roading isn't the same on driveline parts as drag-racing is, more of a constant application of torque instead of a sudden application when a racer dumps the clutch to launch the car, but it seems to me if CV's hold up better in that application they definitely should for offroad use with even larger angles on the axles.

Do you know who to contact that can custom build a stronger CV for the Kicks? I don't mind paying out $'s for something dependable.
Zig

The problem is not the strength, the problem is the travel.
the CV on the kick has a cup to slip in and out of as the
suspension moves through it's range, the cup can't
supply the needed travel without pulling the CV out of it.

The alternative is to change the CV to a U-joint OR a non
slip style CV as in a VW with IRS rear suspension, I thought
U-joints would be a better, greaseable alternative.

As far as strength, some U-joints from a Jeep should do, as
the zuke is smaller, lighter and has less power to deal with.
If the Jeep joints can't take the load then some from a 3/4
ton P/U should hold up, just get some that will do the job
and keep you on the trail.

You guys (and Girls)    should be familiar with the slip drive shafts
on most full size P/U trucks, well these are available in different
sizes, one sized to work in the front driveshafts (diff to wheels)
could supply me wth the travel needed to do a wide front set of
A-arms, I'm thinking about 2" on each side, maybe 3" and as
long as I'm going custom A-arms move the wheel forward 2"
as well, now 35s will fit without beating the wheel wells and fire wall
in to clear big meats. Add a set of pre-runner looking front fenders
and our front monster travel IFS system is complete, well allmost,
some long travel struts OR a upper control arm and twin shock setup
would be cool, haven't decided on this yet, but I think I could get 6"
front lift with this setup, retain the classic sidekick configuration and
get lots of looks going down the road,  Viva La Sidekick!!

Darrin  

My trouble has been with strength and over-extension. I have pulled my share apart, but I have also shattered the inner piece that attaches to the shaft that holds the bearings in place, on three So I'm looking for longer travel and stronger.
Zig

Cvs are smoother and are sealed. They wont rust up and they dont jerk at full turn on the throttle.  U joints are for j##ps.

It was difficult but I made a set of stronger Cvs. I have only broken one inner cup but it was right after a nasty jump bent my strut tower in and bottomed out the cup. I used the left side shaft out of a 95 Nissan Maxima with a V6 5 speed without Antilock brakes. Then I did something similar to the Zukiworld Tech artical I wrote. The shaft is rare but  reliable as heck. Its been close to 3 years now and the only failure has been from basicly a high speed crash. I also ran one of them a whole year of wheeling with no inner or outer boots, wheeling them constantly. Mud, snow, sand, Whatever! Why? Just had some other thing that was always more important to do.  I never did break it but it was clicking so bad I figured I better build one before I went to moab last year.  I no longer fear breaking a shaft.   BTW if anyone reading this is thinking of doing this I am not sure if it would fit if the front wasnt widend.

 Its just my opinion so dont send me hate mail!

Mike

Hey Mike,
   
    Did you need any modifications to the Nissan shaft to make it fit? Also you said left side shaft is that for both sides? And... One more question, what body style Nissan did you get yours from?

 It would take a while to explain. Im asuming you havent read the Tech articals I wrote. On the bottom of the screen click on ARTICLE ARCHIVE and scroll down to the part where youll see a shaded area with a pic of my rig in it. Under that lies a few links you should read.

Unlike the cv article I used a CV from a 95 Nissan Maxima with a V6 5 speed without Antilock brakes. Its stronger but much more difficult to build and Im pretty sure it would need to be widened.

Here is a direct link to the CV article

http://www.zukiworld.com/month_040103/feature_hagencvshaft.htm

and to the widen article

http://www.zukiworld.com/month_120102/feature_hagan_frontendmod.htm

Mike

Hate mail!!  We wouldn't, you da man, you keep us
looking at our kicks and thinking how to make it beefier.
as always, looking forward to the next tech write up.

I only wanted to use U-joints for their smaller Dia size,
I have been torn between the smoother torque transfer
from a CV, but how to incorporate a slip shaft design
to eliminate the CV cup, if I can find a CV without the cup
for in-out movement that would work too.

Any Ideas Mike?? does that Nissan shaft have a cup too?

keep up the good work,
Darrin

The Nissan CVs are Identical to the trackick shafts but almost twice as big.   I just got back from wheeling on 35s today and we were pounding all day. The CVs held up fine but Ive got to do something about the rear. It rubs pretty hard at full flex.

Mike.

The Nissan CVs are Identical to the trackick shafts but almost twice as big.   I just got back from wheeling on 35s today and we were pounding all day. The CVs held up fine but Ive got to do something about the rear. It rubs pretty hard at full flex.

Mike.

Two words:

BUMP STOPS!

-Eric

Two words:

BUMP STOPS!

-Eric

As a last resort. Im working on a few other things first.

Mike

I think ou need to send your resume to BREA CA and get them to hire you as manager of off road projects.