After doing a spring over on my 1987 Samurai, I realized with my 3 inch Rancho springs and a shackle reversal from Calmini I had some driveline issues. Not only were the stock drivelines incapable of reaching the angle I needed, there was one heck of a vibration. I had to do something with the drivelines.

I live in St. George, Utah, and have a lot of variation in terrain. From the Coral Pink Sand Dunes to the rocks at the UROC Challenge in St. George in February. I knew my stock drivelines would never cut the mustard. Power from my 98 Tracker motor and my poor drive line angles were going to war on the u-joints. Who knows how many I went through?

I finally put in a call to Oscar Trevino at Driveline Solutions, also known as Arizona Drivelines. Their website has informative information about drivelines and what you need to know before ordering. See their FAQ page for any questions you might have. Oscar was also very helpful and courteous. Not only that, he knows his stuff. I have included important information to aid you in your decision about purchasing a driveline.

Driveline Solutions drive shafts all come with half-ton u-joints as well as an option of a ten inch slip yoke. Ten inches, talk about travel! There are different types of long splines available from Arizona Drivelines which are not found anywhere else. One is the long conventional yoke with 7" of working travel, and the other is the automotive (i.e. non-agricultural) extreme travel driveline that can provide up to 26" of travel. These parts are made solely for the sale of this company and its wholesale customers. Arizona Drivelines is the originator of the Rockcrawler long spline. At first, the agricultural 10 spline was used. (Some companies who copied the design still use the 10 spline.) Their long spline drive shafts can be used either front or rear, at any speed and are precision balanced. Arizona Drivelines long splines are sealed and fully grease-able for longer life. Tubing is a nearly indestructible .250 DOM tube literally impossible to bend or twist.

A variety of Arizona Drivelines' drive shafts

When constant velocity is a must, these 30 degree flanges are the answer. They have versions to fit early or late model Samurais with no spacers, adapters or any long, weak bolts. Installation is a snap with your stock bolts and nuts. The flanges are also made to hold the head of a half inch head bolt so you just have to turn the nut.

Arizona Drivelines drive shafts can be ordered custom-length to fit any application. They don't only make drivelines for Samurais--call them for any of your needs, regardless of your vehicle make.

The original Rockcrawler Shaft is made tougher than nails. This drive shaft has an excellent track record of 4½ years of satisfied champion rock crawling, mud bogging, and off-road customers all over the world. You will be the star of the show with one of these stout drive shafts. All drivelines have a warranty for all parts except u-joints and bearings. The splines on the long splines drivelines have a lifetime warranty on them. The welds and the tube have a one year warranty. Because of the fact that these drivelines are so heavy duty you will never have a problem.

After the experiences I have had with driveline spacers, and with having a front driveline shortened for the rear and the front extended, I have decided that all the money I have spent trying to make the wimpy stock drivelines work was money down the drain. I could have bought a set of drivelines from Driveline Solutions in the first place. Don't make the mistakes I did by just 'making due.' My front and rear drivelines from Arizona Drivelines have solved all my vibration problems as well as given me plenty of travel on my splines. There is nothing worse than having your driveline fall out of the splines onto the ground. I would suggest a Extreme Driveline from Driveline Solutions to anyone with a rig that requires a heavy duty all purpose driveline that will last.

Driveline vibration not only causes problems with bearings throughout your vehicle but, just imagine just one bolt coming loose in your rear end and going through your Rocky Road 5-89 ring and pinion and your LockRight. Ouch! Take another example, think about how much you spent on your transfer case gears and bearings. Protect your investment! You will save time and money. Just one occurrence of one of the problems I mentioned above will cost more than two drivelines from Driveline Solutions, who will meet or beat any competitor's price.

I plan on doing more product reviews as well as showing progress on my two Samurais. Thanks for reading my review and I look forward to next time.

--Casey Lofthouse

Photos courtesy of and ©2002 Casey Lofthouse and Driveline Solutions