I keep seeing RX-8 Carbon Fiber Drive Shafts being posted on ebay. Is there an upgrade or alternative that leads to losing this part? Check this one for example: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...983309980&rd=1

...and there aren't explanations on why or what happened.

 

I wonder if it would fit on a auto. I saw one on ebay also it was $65.

 

^ Huh? I thought A/T's have those too coz it's RWD and all...

 

no, auto's have steel driveshaft

yet another reason the auto 8's got shafted *groan* :o

 

No way that picture is an 8 drive shaft. Too fat. Too long.

 

I suspect the one taken out of my car after it was rear-ended may have shown up on eBay. I requested they replace the shaft after that very hard end-on hit since a CF driveshaft isn't exactly designed to take stresses in that direction. It was outwardly undamaged, but who knows what kind of microscopic fractures might have occurred? Better safe than sorry. My insurance company didn't argue about it.

 

Good choise. The only way to tell if it's still good is ultrasonic non-destructive testing, and I haven't seen that equipment in any auto shops, just military aircraft service facilities.

It would be spectacular to watch it fail though, I'll bet it would disintegrate into a million pieces!

 

According to the shop manual, when removing or replacing the drive shaft, it MUST be protected with a rubber covering or equivalent. Do not remove the protection until all the work is completed. It also says to replace the drive shaft if it has ever experienced any kind of impact. Probably not a good idea to buy a used cf drive shaft that has been handled in an unknown manner.

 

You could also call up an aircraft maintenance facility jsut about anywhere and they could probably give you the name of someone. I'd imagine it'd cost some big money though.

 

it would definitely cost more than buying a new one.