Installed Mk8 aluminum driveshaft today

[Mike Puckett]

I picked up a one piece 93 MK8 driveshaft at one of the local junk yards for $75 2 weeks ago and had it shortened, balanced, and installed for $181 today. $256 installed, not a bad deal. The U joints in it were in perfect condition so they left them in which saved a few bucks. The car feels much smoother now. I won't be able to track test it until Feb, though.

[quick35th]

How much did it need shortend? Do you have any before and after pics? I would like to do this and appreciate your help.

Shane

[Mike Puckett]

If you have an AOD just change the front yoke and it fits. For my 5 spd I think they shortened it about 4 inches or so. I didn't measure it so I don't know exactly. Sorry, no pics, not much to show really. The drive shaft is pretty much hidden by the gas tank.

[quick35th]

Well its a 5spd so it will have to be shortend. I'll just have to take both the stock and Mark VIII shafts with me to a shop to have it cut right. How much weight did you lose with the swap?

Shane

[Conan56]

I thought the Aluminum Drive shafts only fit the 94/95 SCs

So If I change the Yoke it will Bolt into my 90 SC?

[Mike Puckett]

Oh darn, I didn't weigh them but it was a noticeable difference carrying them. It's rotating mass, too, remember so there's less drag on the engine. The driveline shop that does the work will take care of everything. Take it to them with the red fuel light on because they'll want to drop the tank to get the driveshaft out. Our stock driveshaft is a 2 piece. I didn't realize that. One tube inside of another and star shape crimped in the middle.
The MK8 shaft is 58.5 in long. As far as I know they're the same for the AOD but I could be wrong about that. I didn't measure my AOD's driveshaft to be sure. A driveline shop can lengthen one as well as shorten one. The Mk8 yoke is shorter and the splines didn't match up when I tried to insert into my spare 5spd.

[Dick Hughes]

Just a note of caution: I, and a lot of Mk8 owners (I have a 98) have replaced the stock 2 piece aluminum drive shaft with an aftermarket aluminum metal matrix shaft because of high speed vibration issues with the stock shaft. I understand that the very early Mks (93's?) had a 1 piece shaft. But perhaps the conversion of any Mk8 shaft to an SC would be OK. I'm not sure.

[gldiii]

Driveshaft lengths:

http://sccoa.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12757

[Mike Puckett]

Thanks for the length info George. If the 58.5 in length indicated on the one I bought is correct then the 93 MK8 one piece shaft should be able to work in any of our SC's by cutting to the proper size. I specifically went with the 93 one piece shaft to avoid any problems due to a 2 piece design. I just hope it can handle the torque. The driveline shop said that it was made from the heavy duty aluminum tubing he would have recommended and should be fine.

[racecougar]

I just hope it can handle the torque. The driveline shop said that it was made from the heavy duty aluminum tubing he would have recommended and should be fine.

It should hold up just fine as long as you don't get any gouges/deep scratches in it. It doesn't take too deep of a scratch in an aluminum driveshaft to cause a stress point.

-Rod

[quick35th]

Well I just bought one of these at a local junkyard today out of a 93 MK8 for $100. I have not seen it as they hadn't pulled it yet and I had to get to work but I am picking it up tomarrow. Besides cutting it to the proper length what all do I need done to it to put it in my 90 5spd?

Shane

[darkstar_one]

yo, i know this is an old as thread, but do u guys think a DRIVE SHAFT from a 1995 MARK VIII would work? it is not the one piece drive shaft! do u guys think it would work? if so let me know please!