When you’re building the custom truck of your dreams, it’s important to think about practical upgrades on top of all the exciting stuff. While most of those exciting things are also practical – bigger tires, beefier axles, taller suspensions, et cetera – they all add weight to your truck, which is already a heavy machine. The more weight you add, the more your acceleration will suffer, as well as fuel and drivetrain efficiency.
If you consider adding weight saving upgrades like carbon-fiber driveshafts as well, however, you can counteract those disadvantages to continue building the lifted truck you’ve always wanted. Today we’re here to discuss this great upgrade option and why it’s something you should definitely contemplate.
What Is a Carbon-Fiber Driveshaft?
First things first, what exactly is a carbon-fiber driveshaft? As you probably know, the driveshaft is what transfers power from your transmission to the axles. Traditional driveshafts are typically made from steel or aluminum, which are both very strong materials but also heavy. Carbon-fiber driveshafts are instead crafted from composite materials engineered to deliver extreme strength while maintaining minimal weight.
Advantages of Weight Savings
Now that we know what exactly a carbon-fiber driveshaft is, and how it differs from the aluminum and steel varieties, it’s time to take a closer look at the actual advantages of the weight savings switching would bring. Compared to steel, a carbon-fiber driveshaft can weigh anywhere from 40- to 60-percent less. Reducing the rotational mass by that much can lead to the following benefits:
- Faster acceleration
- Improved fuel efficiency
- Improved throttle response
- Reduced transmission, differential strain
The more weight you add through heavy-duty components and oversized tires, the more your vehicle will thank you for these weight savings. Making the swap restores balance and responsiveness to your truck, as if shedding unnecessary baggage without compromising strength.
Are They Actually as Strong?
In a lot of things, reducing the weight of something can also mean losing strength. But that’s not the case for carbon-fiber driveshafts, which are just as tough — if not more so. It’s hard to imagine something being as strong as steel, but most manufacturers – such as QA1, a company very well known for their carbon-fiber driveshafts – design their shafts to handle extreme torque loads, high RPMs and even off-road abuse. That makes them a great choice for most lifted trucks, even if you don’t care about weight savings.
Plus, speaking of toughness, carbon fiber naturally dampens vibration. That means smoother operation and less wear on surrounding drivetrain components, which in turn enhances longevity in addition to all of the performance benefits.
Why Do Lifted Trucks Need the Upgrade?
We’ve highlighted the basic benefits of the weight savings that upgrading to carbon-fiber driveshafts will bring, but why exactly is it such a good idea for lifted trucks? Improving the rotational efficiency of your truck and reducing its unsprung weight can counteract many of the unseen setbacks that lifting your truck can bring, such as:
- Heavier wheel, tires
- Higher torque demands
- Increased drivetrain angles
- Increased stress on U-joints, yokes
Upgrade Your Driveshafts at Glover Customs
There are definitely some things to consider before deciding to upgrade to carbon-fiber driveshafts, of course. For one thing, they’re going to be more expensive than steel or aluminum options, but the advantages are certainly worth the extra cost. You’re also going to want to ensure proper fitment, especially considering your lifted suspension system. Our expert technicians here at Glover Customs can help you find the perfect option based on your budget and specific setup, so give us a call whenever you’re ready to discuss your upgrade.