Not to disagree Randii <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />
Disagree away -- it is one of the things that makes for rich discussions.! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

I agree with all of your points on the downsides to CVs (less ultimate angularity than single u-joints, kinda big, and expensive). Vibration resistance is the single best reason to run one, unless you win the lottery and elect to go for one of the 80-degree drop CV joints....

In a front, offroad use only setup, where the shafts routinely spinning at 5mph, i would think vibration is of little concern.
Here's the rub -- I'm assuming that Troy's location virtually guarantees him some winter on-road runs at or above 55 mph. I run a CV in the rear to minimize vibrations, and simple U-joints up front -- the difference is that I refuse to engage the front driveshaft at speed...

Randii

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by randii:
<strong>Here's the rub -- I'm assuming that Troy's location virtually guarantees him some winter on-road runs at or above 55 mph. </strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Very true, I couldn't even imagine engaging at speeds half that. This weekend i got an oppritunity to test out my new square tube setup that put together myself. Held together nicely for trail abuse... though i think i got up to about 15mph with it and my teeth were about to rattle out of my head <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

I live in a wintery area as far as the southeast is concerned (appalachian mtns), but i've given up using 4wd for anything but offroad crawlin! Should i ever get to lengthen my front driveline, i'd probably then look at a CV shaft and regain 4wd for snowy conditions.

-Rob

I couldn't even imagine engaging at speeds half that.
Me neither -- my double-slip front shaft has seen better days. I have had to drive home on it once a few years back when Dan and I were playing out near Florence Junction when I roached the rear shaft. That half-hour drive at 45mph was actually tolerable, from a vibration perspective, but it *toasted* the u-joints in the front driveshaft.

I do lust after a CV front shaft for on-road performance, though...

Randii