Drive Shaft & Propeller Shaft Forging — Yokes, Flanges & Shaft Blanks
Shivam Forge manufactures hot-forged propeller shaft yokes, companion flanges, solid and hollow drive shaft blanks, universal joint yokes and coupling forgings for commercial vehicles, tractors, off-highway equipment and marine applications from our Shapar, Rajkot factory. Drive shaft forgings are produced in EN24T (817M40 / 4340), EN19T (42CrMo4) and SAE 1045/C45, with optional spline hobbing, CNC balance-turning and 100% magnetic particle testing. Mill certs and full mechanical test reports accompany every batch.
Propeller shafts transmit full engine torque through phased universal joint angles to the rear axle — a combination of torsional, bending and shear loads that makes material quality and grain structure critical. A shaft yoke with slag inclusions or a companion flange with a sub-surface crack will fail without warning, leaving a commercial vehicle immobilised on the highway. Shivam Forge produces drive shaft yoke, flange and solid shaft forgings in EN24T and EN19T with documented mill traceability and 100% MPT. We supply drivetrain assemblers, OEM Tier-1 suppliers and aftermarket rebuild specialists across India. Call +91-9265772827 to discuss your propshaft component programme.
Front and rear propeller shaft slip yokes and fixed yokes for two-piece propshaft assemblies on trucks, buses, SUVs and commercial vehicles. Yoke ear geometry, U-joint bearing cup bores and splined bore are forged near-net and machined to OEM or DIN/SAE dimension. Forgings are supplied in EN24T with Q&T heat treatment — core hardness 28–35 HRC, with spline bore induction-hardened to 58–62 HRC on request.
Rear axle companion flange forgings connect the propshaft to the differential pinion. Flange OD, bolt circle diameter (BCD), pilot bore and pinion spline bore are forged and machined to OEM drawing. Produced in EN24T for heavy-duty applications and EN19T for medium-duty LCV differential flanges. Face runout is machined to ≤0.05 mm on critical flanges.
Solid drive shaft blanks in EN24T and C45 for small and medium vehicle drivetrain applications. Hollow shaft forgings (tube-forged or pierced) for weight-optimised propshaft assemblies where higher polar section modulus per unit mass is required. Shaft blanks are supplied with consistent OD, controlled straightness ≤0.5 mm/m, and end-face squareness for subsequent CNC machining.
Universal joint yoke forgings (weld yokes, slip yokes, tube yokes) and cross (spider) forgings for Spicer and OEM-equivalent U-joint assemblies. Yoke eye width, bearing cup bore diameter and journal cross arm OD are forged and machined to DIN 808 or SAE J901 dimensions. Cross forgings in EN24T are case-hardened at needle bearing journals to 60–64 HRC.
Stub shaft forgings for gearbox PTO connections, inter-axle drive applications and pump-to-motor coupling configurations. Produced in EN19T and EN24T with machined spline profiles, keyways or flange mounting features. Coupling forgings — disc couplings, jaw couplings, gear couplings — are forged to raw shape and machined to close tolerance for drivetrain assembly.
Heavy truck (GVW above 25 tonnes) and off-highway (loader, grader, harvester) propshaft components operate at higher torque levels and through larger U-joint angles than standard applications. We forge oversized yokes, flanges and shaft sections in EN24T with post-forging normalising plus full Q&T treatment, producing core hardness of 30–38 HRC to handle peak torque spikes during grade starts and off-road articulation.
Billets are sourced from approved primary steel mills — Tata Steel, SAIL, Mukand or Electrotherm — with EN 10204:2004 3.1 mill test reports confirming chemical composition and mechanical properties. Each billet heat is identified with a heat number linked to the mill certificate. This heat number flows through the entire production record to the final batch inspection certificate, providing complete material traceability.
Propshaft yokes and companion flanges are produced by closed-die hot forging on our 150T to 500T hammer presses at 1,100–1,250°C. Yoke ear geometry, web thickness and bore area are established in multi-impression tooling designed with draft angles of 5–7° to ensure clean die release without forging laps. Flash is trimmed and the forging is straightened in a sizing die before heat treatment.
Spline profiles on yoke bores and shaft ends are cut by hobbing or broaching to SAE or DIN specification — SAE spline 6B, 10B or customer-defined profiles. Keyways are milled to DIN 6885 or equivalent. Spline surface hardness, effective face length and root form are verified by CMM and functional gauge. Induction hardening of spline profiles to 58–62 HRC is available for high-torque applications.
Propshaft yoke forgings supplied to shaft assemblers require the yoke shank OD to be machined concentrically for balanced rotation. CNC turning is performed to ±0.05 mm OD tolerance with surface finish Ra ≤3.2 µm. Flange face and pilot OD are turned to ≤0.03 mm runout relative to the spline bore centreline. CNC turning operations are documented in the process control plan with dimension record on each production lot.
Every propshaft yoke and companion flange forging undergoes 100% magnetic particle testing using wet fluorescent method under UV at ASTM E709. Zero linear indications are accepted on yoke ears, flange body and spline bore area. Post-test dimensional inspection covers yoke ear spread, bore ID, bearing cup seat diameter and overall length against drawing tolerances. Records are retained for 10 years.
New drivetrain forging programmes require PPAP Level 3: Part Submission Warrant, 30-piece dimensional results measured on CMM, material test reports with chemical and mechanical properties, process flow diagram, PFMEA, control plan and MSA for gauges measuring safety-critical dimensions. Material test reports include UTS, YS, elongation, reduction in area, hardness and Charpy impact at -20°C where specified.
EN24T is the dominant grade for propeller shaft yoke and companion flange forgings in commercial vehicle applications. The nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy combination delivers UTS of 1000–1100 MPa with elongation above 10% — a balance of strength and ductility essential for components that see occasional shock overloads. Q&T to 302–363 BHN. Charpy impact at -20°C available on request.
EN19T (42CrMo4) is specified for LCV propshaft yokes and tractor PTO shaft forgings where EN24T would be over-specified. Q&T to 255–310 BHN (860–1000 MPa UTS). The absence of nickel compared to EN24T reduces material cost by approximately 10–15% at acceptable performance for LCV duty cycles. Certified to BS EN 10083-3 or IS 4367.
SAE 1045 (equivalent to C45 / EN8) for economy passenger car and light-duty vehicle propshaft components where cost is the primary driver and torque levels are low. Normalised to 170–220 BHN. Used for yoke blanks in aftermarket applications where OEM EN19T or EN24T is being cost-optimised. Mill cert to IS 1570 or BS EN 10083-1 included.
20MnCr5 (SAE 8620 equivalent) for splined shaft end forgings where a hard, wear-resistant spline surface of 58–62 HRC is required over a tough core. Carburised to 0.8–1.2 mm case depth at temperatures of 920–940°C and oil quenched. Used for sliding slip joint splines that see high surface contact stresses and wear. Case depth and core hardness are verified on sectioned samples per batch.
Stainless steel 431 (1.4057, 17Cr-2.5Ni martensitic stainless) for marine propshaft coupling flanges and flange yokes operating in salt water or high-humidity environments. Q&T to 700–900 MPa UTS with good corrosion resistance — superior to CS grades plated with zinc in marine service. Delta ferrite content and Charpy impact at -10°C are verified for marine-grade certification.
For propshaft yoke spline bores and U-joint journal cross arms, selective induction surface hardening achieves 58–62 HRC at 1–3 mm depth while maintaining a tough EN24T core at 28–35 HRC. Induction coil design is matched to the spline geometry. Hardened depth is measured by sectioning and Vickers microhardness traverse on first articles. Process is controlled by power, frequency and quench parameters per approved setup sheet.
A propeller shaft transmits torque from the gearbox output to the rear differential across a span that may exceed 2 metres, through one or two universal joints operating at non-zero phase angles. The load combination — torsional, bending and phased cyclic shock — is one of the most severe in the vehicle drivetrain. Yoke forgings bear the interface loads between the shaft tube and the U-joint bearing cups; companion flanges carry the full drivetrain torque reaction at the differential pinion. These components cannot be cast: the dendrite structure of a cast yoke or flange would fail early in fatigue under cyclic torque loads. The continuous grain flow established in a closed-die forging — flowing through the yoke ear, around the bearing cup bore and along the shank — aligns the material's maximum fatigue resistance with the maximum stress direction. This is engineering fact, not marketing.
From our Shapar, Rajkot factory, we produce propshaft yoke forgings in EN24T (817M40 / SAE 4340) and EN19T (42CrMo4) for the full commercial vehicle and LCV drivetrain market. Yoke geometries include slip yokes (with internal spline bore), weld yokes (plain bore for tube welding), tube yokes (crimped onto steel tube) and flange yokes (bolted to companion flange). Companion flanges are forged and machined to OEM dimension with pilot bore, bolt circle and pinion spline — the three features that must be concentric for vibration-free propshaft operation. We supply both rough forgings to shaft assemblers and finish-machined components to drivetrain OEMs and aftermarket rebuilders.
Grade selection for drive shaft forgings is non-trivial. EN24T at 1000–1100 MPa UTS handles heavy truck propshaft yokes where peak torque at startup on a grade may be 3–5x rated torque. EN19T at 860–1000 MPa UTS is adequate for LCV and tractor applications where GVW and engine torque are lower. SAE 1045/C45 normalised is used for economy aftermarket forgings where service replacement is planned at shorter intervals. For splined shaft ends, case-hardening in 20MnCr5 produces a 58–62 HRC case that resists the fretting wear of the sliding slip joint during driveshaft length change, while the tough core prevents brittle fracture under shock load. We confirm grade selection with each customer before tooling commitment.
Inspection discipline on drive shaft forgings starts at material receipt — every billet batch is verified against the mill certificate and stored with heat number tracking before entering production. Post-forging, 100% magnetic particle testing catches surface and near-surface discontinuities that would be invisible to visual inspection but would initiate fatigue cracks in service. CMM dimensional inspection on first articles covers all drawing dimensions with results documented in the PPAP report. Production dimensional checks are performed on sampling plans defined in the control plan, with Cpk monitored for yoke ear spread and bearing cup bore diameter — the two dimensions most critical to U-joint assembly fit.
Drivetrain assemblers and OEM Tier-1 suppliers looking for a reliable propshaft forging source in India should discuss a first-article programme with us. We recommend starting with a yoke or companion flange that has well-established OEM drawings and known acceptance criteria — this gives you a clean basis for comparison against your current supplier's dimensional performance and certification quality. First articles are produced within 4–6 weeks of drawing approval, and PPAP documentation is submitted within 1 week of first-article dimensional completion. To start the conversation, call +91-9265772827 or email sales@shivamforge.com with your yoke or flange drawing and annual volume.
Yes. We manufacture propshaft yoke forgings (slip yokes, weld yokes, tube yokes), companion flange forgings, solid and hollow shaft blanks, U-joint cross forgings and coupling forgings from our Shapar, Rajkot factory. Both rough forgings and machined finished components with splines, keyways and flanged features are supplied. Call +91-9265772827 or email sales@shivamforge.com with your drawing.
EN24T (817M40 / SAE 4340) is the standard grade for commercial vehicle propshaft yoke forgings — the nickel-chromium-molybdenum alloy provides UTS of 1000–1100 MPa with sufficient ductility to absorb driveline shock loads without brittle fracture. EN19T (42CrMo4) is used for LCV and tractor applications where EN24T would be over-specified. SAE 1045/C45 is used for economy and light-duty aftermarket forgings. Grade selection is confirmed based on vehicle GVW and torque requirements.
Yes. Companion flange forgings for rear axle differentials are a standard product. We produce flanges in EN24T and EN19T to OEM or customer drawings, with machined face, pilot bore, bolt circle diameter and pinion spline bore. Face runout is machined to ≤0.05 mm on critical flanges. PPAP documentation is prepared for automotive supply programmes. Call +91-9265772827 to discuss your flange drawing.
Yes. EN24T (BS designation 817M40) is the British Standard equivalent of SAE 4340 (AISI 4340 / 1.6562 36NiCrMo4). We produce propshaft yokes in EN24T with chemical analysis and mechanical properties conforming to both BS EN 10083-3 and ASTM A29/A322 Grade 4340. Mill certificates reference both designations for customers requiring American standard documentation.
Yes. Spline hobbing on yoke bores and shaft ends is available as part of our machined component offering. We cut SAE internal and external splines (6B, 10B, 16/32 pitch and custom profiles) and DIN 5480 splines using gear hobbing and broaching. Spline inspection is performed with optical CMM and functional gauges. Induction hardening of spline profiles to 58–62 HRC at 1–3 mm depth is available for high-wear applications.
Yes. Drive shaft blanks are machined to consistent OD with balance-turning on CNC lathes to ±0.05 mm OD tolerance. While we do not perform dynamic balancing of assembled propshafts, the yoke and shaft blank OD concentricity is controlled to minimise inherent imbalance in the rough forging before the shaft assembler performs final balance. Forging die design minimises flash asymmetry that creates imbalance in yoke-type forgings.
MOQ varies by component type. Propshaft yoke forgings (typically 2–8 kg): MOQ 25–50 pieces per part number. Companion flanges (3–10 kg): MOQ 25 pieces. Solid shaft blanks (5–30 kg): MOQ 10–25 pieces. U-joint cross forgings (under 1 kg): MOQ 100 pieces. For OEM new part development programmes, first-article quantities of 10–30 pieces are accepted at tooling-recovery pricing.
Send your part drawing (PDF or STEP format) with material specification, heat treatment requirement, any spline or keyway dimensions, surface treatment needs and annual volume estimate to sales@shivamforge.com. We review the drawing for forgeability, confirm the appropriate material grade and machining operations, and return a detailed quotation within 48–72 working hours. For urgent requirements, call +91-9265772827 directly.
Why Choose Shivam Forge
Shivam Forge delivers precision hot-forged components from our integrated Shapar, Rajkot facility — covering forging, CNC machining, heat treatment, and quality inspection under one roof.
