When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hey Asher. This isn't an attack on anyone, so please don't take it that way. Since none of us had taken off the OE driveshaft to weigh it for obvious reasons, I'm curious about the above. Is this what DSS told you (in bold), and who was it if you remember?
I think a few people are a little annoyed that the DSS unit appears to only weigh less than a pound less than OE, not half. I guess it's our fault for not knowing the exact weight of the OE driveshaft, but I think a lot of people based their purchase off of the statement that it would at least be a material weight savings.
Again, just curious, not attacking anyone here. I'm sure it will stil perform well, just isn't what some of us expected.
that came from Frank the owner of DSS and yes I'm not that happy about the weight factor I did purchase on the fact that they said it would be a considerable weight savings. I am yet to install it but I'm going to weigh it and the stock unit to see. Also if I have less drive line power loss than that is a plus.
Last edited by Asher4799; May 22, 2017 at 02:02 PM.
Most things I've read say that the Weistec and other CFDS are similar weight because the one long length requires more strength and therefore more weight, versus a shorther throw for other drivetrain configurations.
I can't see how an 8lb driveshaft made out of anything on this planet would work very well. So something is off here. Is there only ONE part number for our driveshaft? Is it possible that it was lightened in the facelift or mid-cycle?
in fairness, it says :
Key Features:
Reduced Rotational Mass Reduced Weight, 20 Lbs
Improved Acceleration and Response
Eliminates factory rubber bushings on each end of the driveshaft
This could very well mean the unit is reduced in weight and weighs 20 lbs.
Any word from Frank on this? Like an "oops I was wrong" or apology or goodwill credit on axles or anything?
I was a bit later with payment for this GB, and as such my DSS unit was not yet built, so I contacted DSS requesting a cancellation. I explained that we learned from a fellow forum member who stated per DSS, CF unit would be half the weight of stock. This is the response I recvd, it is not signed, and am unclear who exactly sent it as it's a generic DSS email address:
"Hi
canceling is not a problem, no one at DSS claimed this so I'm sorry you were miss led, in all honestly almost all the shafts we make in carbon are still a decent amount of weight as the only this Carbon is the tube, BUT weight is not the real draw on a driveshaft made from carbon. ill cancel the order but please read below about what the true advantage is to the shaft."
The rest of email is what Brad posted up earlier regarding harmonics, etc.
Hope DSS can make it right for everyone, as clearly no one recvd what was promised weight wise.
Has anyone done or have plans to do a before and after dyno with this swap? I would think the car would feel a bit snappier, but it's subjective when using the butt dyno versus an actual measurement of any true reduction in drivetrain loss with the CF driveshaft.
Has anyone done or have plans to do a before and after dyno with this swap? I would think the car would feel a bit snappier, but it's subjective when using the butt dyno versus an actual measurement of any true reduction in drivetrain loss with the CF driveshaft.
I will be next week but my set up probably won't be a good reference to use as I'm also doing fuel system upgrades. What my thoughts are even though the drive shaft is not much lighter the feel will be greatly enhanced being a one piece compared to the two piece factory unit. I do know that KJkidd has been happy with his so far. And again I was not spreading misinformation as to what I was told in regards to weight savings am I a little disappointed yes but I'm glad I didn't buy the Weistec one for double the price as that would really **** me off.
I too called and had my order cancelled yesterday. The DDS shaft is a beautiful work of art. But not ideally the first mod I would do on a stock P31 especially knowing now that it only saves 1-2lbs. I plan to put the $1499 towards my ROW air boxes and Eurocharge v.6 tune. My next mod will be the true two piece rotor upgrade from Racing Brake and a carbon big fin rear diffuser.
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
Got the DSS driveshaft in. Much more direct feel in every aspect of driving. Can't really report on any performance difference, acceleration feels the same to me. Both up and down shifts are much smoother and engage more firmly. With ESC in Sport, traction lights up on hard shifts more than before. Car breaks traction more easily, and you can feel where that point is going to happen better. I think it's fine, glad to have it, but won't have more quantifiable information until I get back on track in June.
2012 P31 C63 Coupe Trackrat, 2019 GLE63S Coupe Beast
More feedback now that I've had a few more sessions with it.
I'm really happy with the driveshaft. The difference to me is most notable in the following situations:
- Transitions from off-throttle to on-throttle are instantaneous now. There is zero hesitation, it just goes. I attribute that to the solid design. Lights tires more easily from a roll as a result.
- Low RPM acceleration in higher gears is massively faster. From 1500rpm in third or fourth gears, step on it and the car leaps forward much more eagerly. No hesitation.
- Shifting is smooth as butter. Upshifts bang, and downshifts feel more direct.
- You can feel the rear end more, what it's doing. Throttle control is increased.
The biggest overall difference is in consistency and immediacy of throttle input. There are no funky shifts, or that slight delay I used to get sometimes from the moment you stomp on the gas to accelerating. I wouldn't have known it was even an issue really without doing this mod. It's made the car feel more nimble and lighter on its tires.
This sounds, like a great improvement. Better throttle response / feel is a big plus for every day driving.
Ritalin, when you get yours installed I would love to see how the car performs.
Originally Posted by BLKROKT
More feedback now that I've had a few more sessions with it.
I'm really happy with the driveshaft. The difference to me is most notable in the following situations:
- Transitions from off-throttle to on-throttle are instantaneous now. There is zero hesitation, it just goes. I attribute that to the solid design. Lights tires more easily from a roll as a result.
- Low RPM acceleration in higher gears is massively faster. From 1500rpm in third or fourth gears, step on it and the car leaps forward much more eagerly. No hesitation.
- Shifting is smooth as butter. Upshifts bang, and downshifts feel more direct.
- You can feel the rear end more, what it's doing. Throttle control is increased.
The biggest overall difference is in consistency and immediacy of throttle input. There are no funky shifts, or that slight delay I used to get sometimes from the moment you stomp on the gas to accelerating. I wouldn't have known it was even an issue really without doing this mod. It's made the car feel more nimble and lighter on its tires.
More feedback now that I've had a few more sessions with it.
I'm really happy with the driveshaft. The difference to me is most notable in the following situations:
- Transitions from off-throttle to on-throttle are instantaneous now. There is zero hesitation, it just goes. I attribute that to the solid design. Lights tires more easily from a roll as a result.
- Low RPM acceleration in higher gears is massively faster. From 1500rpm in third or fourth gears, step on it and the car leaps forward much more eagerly. No hesitation.
- Shifting is smooth as butter. Upshifts bang, and downshifts feel more direct.
- You can feel the rear end more, what it's doing. Throttle control is increased.
The biggest overall difference is in consistency and immediacy of throttle input. There are no funky shifts, or that slight delay I used to get sometimes from the moment you stomp on the gas to accelerating. I wouldn't have known it was even an issue really without doing this mod. It's made the car feel more nimble and lighter on its tires.
Very happy with this. It keeps getting better.
Thanks for the feedback. Glad to hear you can feel a marked improvement.
Carbon prop is back on my mods list.
Lol. Yeah, I'd say at this point I'm committed and it's really not worth exploring any other options. For what I'm after anything new would also have to be compromised to the point of no return, so I'd rather continue down this path.
Let me know how the revised unicorn tune works out. I'm waiting to hear when mine will be ready. Hopefully before the track day....
2008 MB C350 4MATIC/2011 CL63 AMG/2014 C63 Coupe 507
Just got mine installed recently and my technician had mentioned it deff seems lighter than the old 2 piece. Oh and i openned her up yesterday, she wants to rev up to the redline soo much quicker and is way much responsive than before. In my opinion, it was worth it soo far and im curious to see if i unlocked few ponies at all. Its almost a night and day difference when you floor it. It's actually kinda nutty on full throttle..
Hey, That’s awesome to hear. I just took my c63 up to a spirited car cruise with about 50 cars up in Muskoka, Ontario and I have to say this car has a been blast to drive at ridiculous speeds. I disapointingly cancelled my order after some of the early reviews came in. Maybe I’ll reorder one in the future. I really love the tuned W204 C63 kinda more than my Porsche Cayman S. The torque wave is so addictive.
Hm, I see different part numbers for driveshaft for sedan and coupe. Were these advertised as sedan AND coupe? Looks like pfl and fl substitute to the same part number.
2008 MB C350 4MATIC/2011 CL63 AMG/2014 C63 Coupe 507
Have had my shaft installed for few months. Lately, everytime i shift from park to reverse and my car starts moving, it makes a weird 'clunk' noise in the rear. Also, when in auto mode or M mode, when downshift occurs, makes a weird clunk noise in the rear (seems like from 5th gear and down). Going to get it checked out but wondering if the shaft has loose bolts etc. Has anyone come across these symptoms mentioned?
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
