Words by JD Keating Photos by Brad Morris
The lifespan of an OEM driveshaft is dependent upon the amount of regular maintenance and abuse. Our Jeeps are far from typical and we routinely push our products beyond the traditional life expectancy. One of the first modifications Brad did on Ol’Punk’n – his beloved pumpkin-coloured Jeep JL – was install new and improved driveshafts for more dependability and reliability.
Just out of curiosity, we decided to leave the OEM shafts for Ghst, our White Rubicon JLUR, just to see how long they would last with a 5.5” long arm lift and some serious off-road abuse. Plus, aftermarket equipment can break the bank so is a driveshaft upgrade really necessary?
Brad Morris
The drive shafts from Adams Driveshafts and Off Road are stronger and slimmer.
After a year of routine off-roading with moderate amount of abuse and daily driving, we took a look at the condition of our OEM driveshafts. With no audible driveline concerns, increase in vibration, or apparent flex restrictions, we were surprised to find the factory driveshafts in bad condition.
The overall diameter of the OEM shafts is almost twice the diameter of the driveshafts we received from Adams Driveshaft and Off Road. The big issue is more girth means more material available to scrape against other parts – and scrape they did on the JLUR. The factory boots on the front and the rear shafts were both torn. They became exposed by contacting the muffler and skid plates on full flex, and the boots were torn after spinning against sharp rocks and other debris on the trails. This means they could potentially dry out and eventually seize the spindle.
Brad Morris
Adams Driveshafts are a work of art in the off-road space.
In addition to torn boots, the constant velocity (CV)-style joints at the transfer case and the pinion end were ripped open due to extreme articulation while under load. It’s also worth noting that these factory driveshafts are not designed for the increased articulation provided by a long arm suspension upgrade. So, it appeared that after about a year of overuse, our OEM driveshafts were rendered useless.
Adams Driveshafts are serviceable with greased nipples at all vital points and a double Cardan-style joint replaces the factory CV-style in the rear to allow for increased articulation when under load. What this means is your equipment will function optimally at extreme articulation angles without cause for concern.
Brad Morris
There are no contact points anywhere with these driveshafts.
The 1350 series Adams Driveshafts that we received are custom-made with parts by Spicer and Neapco. They come with a factory warranty on tube twisting and are twice the strength of factory tubing. This is reassuring especially when you consider the added weight and torque that larger tires transfer to your driveline. The company also claims they have the strongest and most solid non-greaseable U-joints on the market, which is backed by a ‘you break it, we replace it’ guarantee.
What’s more, our kit came with a slick t-shirt, shot glass, and drink cozy. So sit back, pour yourself a cold one and start browsing your favourite retailer’s website in the event you feel you may need some new driveshafts for your off-road vehicle.