Home built front axles??

[fitzee]

Guys I have seen some staight front axles under Gassers and was wondering if you can build axle yourself.Any web sites out there on this tec.Anybody ever try it?

fitzee

[Two-Gun Bob]

One place to start would be with these...

Speedway's axle ends (http://www.speedwaymotors.com/xq/asp/strBase_List./hilt./source.2191/base_no.490101/str_base_no.000%2DCATALOG+RACE%2C490101%2C54614000 %2C546140F%2C5461601%2DL%2C546186%2C5464108%2C5850 575%2C60409010%2C60409020%2C60710030%2C6242001%2C6 24S501%2C8156018088C%2C815C00030%2C8352701130%2C91 003996%2C91032050%2C91032051%2C91032306%2C/header_title.Race+Products%2DFront+Axle%2C+Suspens ion+%26+Steering/page_name.prod%5Flist%5Fdisplay%2Easp/search_type.L2%7E171/search_option./deptsearch./dept_id.L2%7E171/dept_id_p./dept_name./dept_name_p.Race+Products/ShowImages.yes/sq.0/cont.1/intPgNo.1/redirect./qx/product.htm)

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Axles are easy to build. You need to have a pair of kingpin bosses machined to fit whatever spindles you choose to run. Determine what the kingpin angle of that spindle is and weld them into the fish-mouthed tube at that angle. I built this one to use IH 9 degree spindles. I rolled the tube so that the ends are at a 9 degree slope. The fish-mouths were then at 90 degrees to the tube centerline.

[RileyRacing]

The CCR plans that have been making the rounds here lately have the plans and materials needed to build your own tube axle... templates and all.

Jay

[Hot Rod To Hell]

[ QUOTE ]
The CCR plans.....

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought they were a bunch of washed up hippies! I didn't realize they built axles too!!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Where's a brutha got to go to find those plans Jay???

[fitzee]

Guys what wall thinkness should you use for pipe?

fitzee

[**DONOTDELETE**]

fitzee....the axle in the photo is 2" dia. DOM tubing with a .250" wall (it's what I had in stock). You might get by with .188" wall in a light car.

DO NOT use pipe !!!

[Andy]

I made my own dropped axle from an axle someone had cut the ends off of. Cut the swans neck from 1 1/2 plate and made a jig to keep it lined up.

[RileyRacing]

I can xerox ya a set dude... when ya gonna be in town?

Jay

[Hackerbilt]

Hey Fitzee! What the hell you building NOW?
4 or 5 projects just doesn't work. Didn't you look around my place last time you were up here? PROOF all around my place!!! Hahahaha

The "plow truck"(tm) you love so much (LoL) progresses nicely and I just picked up a 9 inch I WON'T have to narrow for the coupe! That just about completes the running gear. Might get a start on it soon in spite of myself!!!

Who is selling DOM around town? Dominion Metals Ltd sells square tube but the round stuff they have is schedule 40 or 80 pipe!

Hmmmm... Whats the deal with pipe anyway? It's thicker (and sized different!) but is it considered brittle or something?
I've bent it for offroad bumpers etc and it seemed "soft" enough not to be considered brittle!?!? What nasty stuff would it be up to if you did use it for an axle or even a frame....?
I bet it was used years ago for stuff...before DOM became readily available. It's not cast iron, its still steel and bendable/weldable!

Pass on some info guys!

Hey Fitzee...Just between you and me...Duct tape those ends on your new axle and bring it up some night so I can do a QUALITY weld on it for ya! That yellow stuff you drip on just ain't gonna cut it bro! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Hahahahaha

Later man!
Bill

Oh yeah! Thanks for the trunk hinges! Looks like they'll work GREAT!

[fitzee]

[ QUOTE ]
fitzee....the axle in the photo is 2" dia. DOM tubing with a .250" wall (it's what I had in stock). You might get by with .188" wall in a light car.

DO NOT use pipe !!!

[/ QUOTE ]

You say not to use pipe,I take it, because it is not seemless??I was wondering about that,I don`t see too many build ups on this topic.There is alot of info to know to do it right.

fitzee

fitzee

[Unkl Ian]

Andy: how much is the drop on that axle?

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Pipe is not generally regarded as structural steel. It is soft and bends easily and, pound for pound, is far weaker than DOM or seamless tubing. Most pipe has a poor finish as well. I can't think of any race sanctioning body that would allow the use of pipe in any structure. There are no race car builders who would even consider the use of pipe in the construction of their products.

[racer5c]

If your going to build an axle you need to either "flag" the kingpin boss or wrap the tube or both. By flagging the boss I mean weld a straight piece on the boss up and down then weld that in the tube also I will try to scan some pics and show you what mean. Sorry my drawing skills suck. All sprint car and midgt axles are supposed to be built this way.
Roy
Road Rockets Indy

[racer5c]

let me try this again

[**DONOTDELETE**]

racer5c....I agree. Flagging is a good idea. However, I'm confident enough in my welds that, on a very lighweight car, I will skip that procedure. I would not weld my axle with a MIG machine. I'll run 1/8" E7018 low-hydrogen rod and set the welder at DC reverse polarity and it will be a bevel weld.

BTW....I haven't seen a flagged kingpin boss on a new sprint car axle in years. The boys are VERY weight conscious these days.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[Hackerbilt]

OK! Thanks guys.
Now we know the score on pipe! Too damn SOFT...not brittle.

I'll have to search out DOM for anything structural. It's around but tough to get to on the weekends or after work.

"Flagging" seems like an excellent idea! First time I've heard of it. Basicly doubles the weld area to the boss AND strengthens the high stressed outer end of the tube at the same time! Smart idea that!

Is it just press fitted into the tube after its welded to the boss, or is the axle tube actually plug or slot welded to the top and bottom of the flagging plate?

I don't have DC capability...that a real problem or just an irritation on something this critical? Wouldn't 7018 on an AC machine give reliable results?
NOT planning to build an axle right now myself or anything but the knowledge could come in handy for something later...

[fitzee]

[ QUOTE ]
Pipe is not generally regarded as structural steel. It is soft and bends easily and, pound for pound, is far weaker than DOM or seamless tubing. Most pipe has a poor finish as well. I can't think of any race sanctioning body that would allow the use of pipe in any structure. There are no race car builders who would even consider the use of pipe in the construction of their products.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ah Oh Bill Don`t tink we`s race Car builders http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

This is interesting cause my understanding was that the you could use pipe for construction,now I wouldn`t use it on a axle but in building frames and roll cages it is understand by me that as long as you use a thicker wall pipe it will be OK.I belive that there is alot of drag cars out there that have pipe roll bars in them,not talking pro stock but a good example is the old gassers.I say many of them are built with pipe.But I could be wrong.Not the first time.

fitzee

[Hackerbilt]

Pipe is out for me in a structural setting. The boys KNOW their shit and I'm not gonna bother questioning what they say. (NOT saying you question them either BTW!) I know the sanctioning bodies don't allow pipe, now I know the reason why!
I'd still use it for bash bars or a bumper overrider on a 4x4 or something but not for a roll bar or suspension member. I bet your right in thinking that pipe is being called tube in many old racecars however! Outside of the big cities its all you were likely to find. Would work fine...until the day you really, REALLY needed it to work!!! Too scary for my old bones.

Ya know...the Trail buggy is built from Dominion stock...I was TOLD it was tubing but now have my doubts! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif Grumble......!
Doesn't really matter as thats just a trail rig with no big top speed...I can deal with it.

The bars in the coupe WON'T be coming from there I can promise you.
I'll be building a new bender once the "Plow truck" is finished and I'll make sure the thing is sized for TUBE only.
Actually...I'm gonna need it FOR the bloody plowtruck cage as well!!! Darn it...sigh!

I think I'll just rent one for that.... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

BTW...Your right...not RC builders. Just "MAD Fabricators (tm)" having fun! LoL

Bill