A1 Cardone Driveshaft

If you think that your engine makes your vehicle run, then you are not quite getting the principle. In a literal sense, what causes your wheels to turn is actually the driveshaft. This is an elongated round shaft that converts linear motion into rotary motion, which is produced by the energy transferred by the engine's piston to the gears that turn the driveshaft, thus creating torque that moves the wheels. The process is indeed complicated, but what you only need to know is that your driveshaft must not create too much vibration and must have quality joints. When you perform your annual maintenance, consider tuning up your driveshaft. And if you need to replace it, buy a quality one like those from A1 Cardone. However, before including it in your system, let us first see if it has the specs and performance you are looking for.

Features

• Remanufactured
• With new universal joints
• With measured and straightened shafts for like-new performance
• With lubricated slip yokes
• 100% dynamically balanced at 3200 rpm
• Comes with a three-year or 36,000-mile A1 Cardone limited warranty

We tested this component on a Pontiac Torrent and a Dodge Charger, and here is what we have to say:

Thumbs up

• During our visual inspection of the component, we were satisfied that it was solid and well-rebuilt. Every part of the driveshaft looked as if new, and the moving parts responded properly when we rotated them by hand.
• One of the good things about this product was that it had new universal joints. These are crucial components, so we were confident that the driveshaft would be able to rotate well and jive with the up and down motion of the suspension. The bearings sealing the joints were fit tightly.
• The shafts were perfectly straight, had no nicks or dents, and were sturdy. They would surely be able to withstand optimum stress from torque generation.
• The slip yokes received generous lubrication. That was what we only needed to see, knowing that these slip yokes would always be in motion during vehicle operation.
• We ran the Torrent and the Charger for quite some time to check if the driveshaft would be able to withstand the stress from regular operation. Indeed, the product received good balancing at the regular 3200-rpm speed of the vehicles. There was no vibration and clicking along the joints of the driveshaft.

Thumbs down

• Installing the component took more than an hour. We expected that, but the lack of installation instructions even made the procedure more difficult. Tips could have also helped.

The verdict

With its mid-line price, this driveshaft seems to be a good deal. The product performed just all right, and at some point, we even thought that we were sent a new unit. The problems would only come from improper installation, so make sure that you have someone with experience to install this component with.