Do the Duramax trucks come with a steel or aluminum driveshaft? I though they have an aluminum like my 8.1 Silverado HD but I was talking to a Duramax owner that said his came with a steel shaft. I was planning on having the aluminum one polished and clear coated so it looks good for awhile.

What cab/box configuration did you order?


If you ordered a crew cab/short box it will be aluminum.

Mine is a crew cab, long bed. The guy that I talked to had an extended cab, short bed.

Then I am not sure. Some with the same configuration will post. There was a discussion about it a while back but I can't remember what that configurations comes with.


You can try a search but lately the search function hasn't been working well. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif

i've seen the same truck (CC/SB) come with both.. mine has the
telephone pole, my buddy's the steel one.. anyone know which is
stronger?

tbyrne, how were you planning on polishing it, just curious?

My CC/LB has a two-piece steel.

Mine's a 2 piece steel.

My Ext. Cab LB is a 2 piece steel.

My extended cab/short box is a steel version, but my dad's extended cab/long box is aluminum. His is an '01, mine is an '04.5. I've never quite understood this subject, but I do have an interesting story that relates to it.


While I was in Moab, Utah last spring, I was in the Chevy garage getting my POS 6.0 gasser's transmission worked on, and they had a nearly new D-Max sitting in the shop next to it. I asked what the deal was, and they showed me the aluminum driveline, which was literally sheared in two! They said the guy was just cruising down the road at about 55 mph, and the damn thing snapped. Clearly a defective piece, as I've never heard of this being a common issue. I guess I'm kinda glad I've got a steel one, but I have no real reason to back that up.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif

My extended cab/short box is a steel version, but my dad's extended cab/long box is aluminum. His is an '01, mine is an '04.5. I've never quite understood this subject, but I do have an interesting story that relates to it.


While I was in Moab, Utah last spring, I was in the Chevy garage getting my POS 6.0 gasser's transmission worked on, and they had a nearly new D-Max sitting in the shop next to it. I asked what the deal was, and they showed me the aluminum driveline, which was literally sheared in two! They said the guy was just cruising down the road at about 55 mph, and the damn thing snapped. Clearly a defective piece, as I've never heard of this being a common issue. I guess I'm kinda glad I've got a steel one, but I have no real reason to back that up.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif





Thanks alot!! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley5.gif I have the Aluminum shaft..... Oh well, I guess that's why I got the 4 wheel drive option...

tbyrne, how were you planning on polishing it, just curious?


put it up on a lift, set cruise about 85mph and start polishing http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/hihi.gif














NO, i wouldn't recommend this way to anyone.





Myself, I'd just chuck it up in my lathe and sand away then polish.

I did this to the shaft on my '02 Silverado HD. I cleaned it up with steel wool. Started off with #03, then used 01, then 00 and finally 0000. After that I applied some Flitz metal polish (that stuff works great!) and used a buffer set at 1200 RPMs to take it off. That truck and the Sierra will be lifted about 9". That's the only reason that I like them polished.


Here is the difference between a polished end and non-polished end -


http://www.tbyrne.com/mis/polishedshaft.jpg

tbyrne that looks nice, how long does the whole process take?

Might have to do that so it matches my T-304 Exhaust.........http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gif


I'll take care of it when I pull the tranny again in the spring.........http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley9.gif


Thttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley2.gifNY

It took a little over an hour from the time I pulled the shaft to the time that I put it back in. The shine will dual over time so I repolish it by hand once in awhile. That's why I'm looking at either using a clear coat or chrome. Chrome is pricy though.

That's why I'm looking at either using a clear coat or chrome. Chrome is pricy though.





Just an FYI, I chromed a driveshaft several years back on my SS454 Chevelle. After a couple months and a few trips down the drag strip, the chrome started flaking and peeling off. I took it back and the place said it was from the twisting and flexing of the shaft during launches. I have not seen that before or since, but I can imaging that the shafts in our trucks may flex from the torque of the Duramax.

Good info! I'll keep that in mind.

Something to keep in mind with Aluminium is it is very stiff for the
same weight or a little lighter which is nice, I suspect the steel has
a little more flex to it. But, when you get little dents in
aluminum tubes, at least under compression, they tend to crumple like a
pop can.



I wouldn't be surprised if this aluminum shaft in moab, the truck had
been off road and sustained a small dent. Then, the torque on the
road along with forces from spinning crumpled.



When steel tubes are dented, they usually don't loose too much
strength. It would be nice if a metalurgist could back up what I
am saying but this is a common theme in bicycles which usually have
aluminum frames (now) and used to be a lot more common to use steel.

ya, don't chrome it. it will not hold up. i would have it powdercoated clear.

Im impressed with how good that driveshaft can look. I swear this forum is full of good ideas. Its amazing what happens when you get a large number of Die Hard GM fans togeather. Keep up the good work guys.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/smiley32.gif

I checked mine today. It's a two-piece steel shaft.