Stag half / drive shaft lengths

[Guest]

Are the Stag half shafts different lengths? If so, by how much, is one side longer? Is the longer one on the drivers side?

The other question I have is about how the half shafts vary in length. For example if the car is jacked up on the chassis and the rear wheels are naturally 'drooping', are the half shafts at their maximum length or are they full compressed in that position? Thanks Spin

PS: anyone know of an article that explains how all the rear suspension components work in normal operation?

[Stagdad]

Best thing to do is remove the spring and then play around with the trailing arm taking measurements at top middle and bottom travel .I think you will find the shaft is shortest around the middle of the trailing arms travel.
Cheers steve

[les M]

Spin
The halfshafts are both the same length, however the standard stag diff when fitted is offset and therfor the halfshafts are different lengths when fitted. The maximum length of the halfshaft is as you say when the wheels are "drooping" and the they are at the shortest when the rear suspension is compressed enough so that the halfshaft is horizontal. I know that you don't have a standard diff so I hope this information helps.
Les.

[Guest]

Spin
The halfshafts are both the same length, however the standard stag diff when fitted is offset and therfor the halfshafts are different lengths when fitted. The maximum length of the halfshaft is as you say when the wheels are "drooping" and the they are at the shortest when the rear suspension is compressed enough so that the halfshaft is horizontal. I know that you don't have a standard diff so I hope this information helps.
Les.

Thanks Les, that explains my problem with the halfshafts on my BMW diff. I have adapter plates on the diff flanges so I can play around with the thickness of those. Spin

[les M]

Spin
What size bmw diff have you fitted is it the mediun case or large case, if its the med case then I may still have the measurements that I took from mine when I was playing with C V joints ,I will have a look for them. Also I thought that you were looking to fit stronger halfshafts to your's to take all the torque?

Les.

[Guest]

Les, Its the E30 8 bolt medium case.
I already had a set of Datsun shafts that I bought a while ago so I am fitting them. I have had them altered to take the bigger Datsun UJ's all round so I will see how they go. If they break then I will get some Porsche style CV shafts made.
Thinking again about the shafts lengths, they would be at their longest with the wheels drooping but when on the ground with the weight of the car, wouldnt the shafts then be at around the half way mark and not at their shortest? I say that because when driving the car the shafts needs to extend and contract with the road conditions? Let me know if you find those dimensions, might save me some time. Thanks Spin