Half Off
Steeda Autosports’ aluminum driveshafts for 2005-2014 Mustangs offer a 53-percent weight reduction
By Steve Turner
Photos courtesy of Steeda Autosports
While the S197 Mustang is now the last-generation Mustang, at the time of its introduction in represented a quantum leap in the quality and performance of the Mustang platform. Ford engineers righted many of the wrongs that they had tried to overcome with the outgoing Fox-4 platform. One area of focus for them was a vast improvement in its noise, vibration, and harshness qualities.
Helping them achieve their goals with the car was a two-piece driveshaft that helped isolate driveline sounds and vibrations from the passenger compartment. However, everything has a trade-off, and this shaft is heavy.
Of course, Ford engineers work with specific goals in mind and budgets to abide by, so there are always avenues to improve performance on your Mustang. One of the most popular upgrades on a 2005-2014 Mustang is installing a one-piece driveshaft like the new offering from Steeda Autosports.
The company offers two new aluminum shafts, one for 2005-2010 Mustangs (PN 238-steeda-1766; $699.95) and the other for 2011-2014 Mustangs (PN 238-steeda-2094; $699.95). These bolt-in ’shafts do not require a flange adapter, and they are said to be 53-percent lighter than the stock two-piece driveshaft.
And, if you are concerned that you might lose some of that factory NVH, don’t sweat it.
“We have tested our driveshafts with various modification and gearing combinations and experienced no increase in NVH,†says Steeda. “We even tested this driveshaft in an automatic GT with 3.73 gears—no knocking, increased noise, or ‘clunking’ whatsoever!â€