Patent 7997989 was granted and assigned to American Axle on August, 2011 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A balanced driveshaft assembly that includes a driveshaft and a composite weight. The driveshaft has a shaft member and a pair of cardan joints that are coupled to the opposite ends of the shaft member. The shaft member is formed of a first material. The composite weight is fixed to the shaft member, and includes an insert and a body. The insert is formed of a second material that is denser than the first material and is encapsulated in the body. The body is formed of the first material. A composite weight and a method for forming a balanced driveshaft assembly are also provided.