DeTomaso Mailing List: August 99, Message #46

Tomas,

OK, that make's sense. Is the Pantera suspension geometry such that it's
pretty constant under hard cornering? Also, I can see that the shaft speed
will vary due to misalignment. But since the input/output speed is
constant, the only force on the shaft would be that needed to
accelerate/decelerate it's mass (moment of inertia). Hard to believe this
is a problem with steel. It could be with aluminum which, as I understand
it, accumulates fatigue at any level of stress.

Richard

Tomas Gunnarsson wrote:
> 
> Richard,
> 
> The end-to-end misalignment answer is simple, it is a combination of the rear wheel camber and toe. This is most likely much less than 5 degrees.
> The thing is that even if the misalignment would be zero you have the drive shaft piece betwen the joints operating at an angle and thus constantly changing velocity even when the end flanges are in perfect synch.
> This causes constant stress on the drive shaft.
> 
> Tomas
>