Before I start:
Like an engine; tubing for driveshafts also have an rpm limit called critical speed. The manufacturer of the tubing determines the critical speed base on length and diameter. For example, two ds's that are 60" long, one 3" and one 3.5", will have different critical speeds. The 3" will have a critical speed somewhere around 3300rpms, the 3.5" will have one that is higher. Aluminum also, increases the critical speed when compared to steel.
You'll find out when you reach critical speed becuase you shaft will explode in the middle and cause damage to your truck, ask me how i know, lol!!
I've been thru 3 shafts already and i'm still experiencing vibrations. The vibration is noticeable starting at 75mph. It gets worse as i increase mph.
With my 4.10 gears and overdrive, the shaft spins a lot faster than with my 3.42's.
So, after installing my third shaft and still having vibes, i've had it. This shaft was made of 3.5" steel tubing and i'm still getting vibration. Although, my new aluminum one is also 3.5", i was told aluminum has a much higher critical speed. Critical speed isn't the only problem i have, most local shops can only spin a shaft about 1-2K rpms, that is no where near enuff to fully balance a shaft. I don't think at 75mph i'm reaching critical speed, i think i'm experiencing a poorly balanced shaft. I was told i could send my shaft in and get it rebalanced, but after shipping, balancing, and the cost of resizing my dshaft, I decided to have one built. btw, the local shop built my dshaft a little too long and it's a pita to remove the shaft, we had to use a pry bar to push it forward so that i could remove the caps, then it would come out.
After all this, i ordered this.
My new shaft
I got a 3.5" Heavy Duty Aluminum driveshaft
Greaseless spicer HD joints
HD trans yoke
1350series pinion yoke(comes with straps, bolts, seal, greased)
This thing better fix my problem, if it does, i may be off line for a while cause i just may throw the current dshaft threw my local shops window.
I'll keep ya'll updated,
allen