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Originally Posted by Lowell W
Assuming the driveshaft IS adequately restrained, is there any danger from the pieces of the yokes and the U-joint that come loose when something fails?
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Here is my gut check. Assume the U-joint is 4 inches across (cap to cap). Pi times diameter give a circle arc length of 12.56", which I will round to 1 foot. Assume 4th gear (1:1 ratio) and 6000 rpm at motor (same for drive shaft). This is 100 revolutions per second, and 1 rev is 1 foot. So the tip speed of the cap would be 100 feet per second. That would be the maximum partical speed.
The slowest hand gun velocities are around 800 FPS at the muzzle. So you are nowhere near gun velocity, but particals could be heavier than a bullet. Granted I wouldn't want to be hit by it, but the floor should stop it or slow it considerably. Also your much more likely to loose it in a lower gear, at lower speeds.
What amount of risk is acceptable? It doesn't take much to loose an eye. I guess everyone will have to decide for them selves. I would put it in the lower risk catagory, when you consider these cars were not designed to safely transport diplomats.