It was a way to cool brakes. It would actually tend to let water out. There were or are lots of tricks to cool drum brakes, drilled and scooped works well. You drill the extra holes away from the scoop to keep air flowing. You can also score the shoes. A common scoring pattern is diamonds, there was actually a time that you could buy them pre-scored. Red Devils came scored for example. The scoring gave the gasses a path to escape. On a side note and not to slight anyone but running split bones or hairpins does not actually turn the axle into a torsion bar. A torsion bar is a torsional spring used to support weight. It does move the torsional load farther out adding torsional load to the axle that it does not have when it has with a pivoting triangle. So yes it will cause the axle to twist more than in its original geometry a lot like a torsion bar. Actually using applied physics in place of theoretical physics IE real world testing as opposed to equations on a board, the parts in question have proven to be up to the task for way longer than most of us have been alive. This is just a side note and probably not the accepted reality in our internet driven world.
Somebody must have known the dead guy then. Nobody has piped in yet saying, I knew a guy or I heard of a wreak or it happened to me. Just saying! Hot Rodders have been doing it for years, you would think there would be a magazine article or internet form like this stating of the dangers backed up with actual failures.
No one has said anything in this thread about less unsprung weight with a drilled axle.I don't know how much lighter the drilled ones are, but it seems like any reduction should help with suspension action and wear, and tire wear.
I bet no one has ever done an experiment to see if drilled axles really do result in quicker ET's. Any wind tunnel results?
Saw this back in 2015 on a trailer at the Love’s in Williams Az, probably the most “Lightened” front axle in history. Doesn’t look like it had any issues....
6317 views to this thread with no reported failures with a drilled axle. I guess that says something..
Well, I drilled my Chassis Eng. I beam be I drilled my Chassis Eng 4" I beam to allow for a little "flex" on these rough roads in Texas. My hairpins act as torsion bars with just a bit of "flex", not enough for me to feel comfortable. My Deuce highboy roadster weighs only 1 ton plus a bit and should be plenty safe at 80 mph anywhere in the U.S. Split wishbones offer no give when bouncing over uneven terrain and make the ride very rigid. The Chassis Eng I beam is one heavy chunk of forged steel. All this stuff has been around longer than I have (74) and many rodders will argue with me, but we drive all over this country at high speeds while many drove their rides locally. By the way, my axle is used under trucks that actually haul heavy loads, so I feel good about my setup. I simply was looking for a little relief in the front suspension that can be very unforgiving when it is altered.
Trying to ID this axle, does anyone recognize the triangle with the F ? It's got around 49" king pin centers. Thanks in advance.
I have been trying to figure out mine for a long time . I having a hard time laying it out , mine is a tube axle !
To me the holes "can" look good if they are on a car with more of a performance oriented look like Rocky's coupe. No fenders, and wider rear tires and the lightweight axle hints that he has built the car to back up that look. Then the beautiful 32 below has all kinds of things that add weight.........but he uses a drilled axle. Full fenders, bumpers, big headlights, and cowl lights.........but he drilled the axle to save weight. Just doesn't look right or add anything to the car. A beautiful car to be sure but the drilled axle is out of place on this car.
I have never seen a stock axle, produced by Ford Motor Company on any car, pickup, or truck that came off the assembly line, with holes drilled in them. What other people do to their automobiles only concerns me when it is hurtling out of control directly toward my windshield. I am of the opinion if some people could drill holes through their heads and walk around afterwards, others would soon be doing the same. To me drilling holes in an axle is very similar.
'Now we know how many holes it takes to fill Albert Hall,' so said one the Beatles songs. Then again I kinda remember a certain orange Ford Fat-Rendered Coupe that was pretty holey. Holy Moley. I may have overstated the case. Donut holes, they say get larger in hard times. At the beginning of our awareness of the climate damage we were told there was a hole in the ozone layer. Axles with holes doesn't seem such a big deal as all that. I did like the engineering issue of the integrity of the I-beam being at the heart of the argument against, just as much those who like the looks, and others who say it lightens the weight. (The reason for the holey clock stopper orange coupe being so done.) Maybe this issue is one of those like the worm that eats its own tail --- and there is no real beginning or end, nor is there so much a right or wrong. It being rather a matter of personal taste. And, so balances the scales.
Properly done there is no real reason that a lightened axle creates a safety issue. Since some companies sell them with holes drilled in them, they must feel that its not "unsafe". The axle in the 57 Chevy picture looks to have been cut out with a torch and left undressed. Lots of places for cracks to start, and it generally doesn't "look" strong enough .......but thats a subjective opinion on my part. The shocks are extremely rusted as well as quite a bit of rust on the other components, so I'm guessing this is a vehicle that was built a long time ago and has been sitting somewhere. To me, the thing about building a car is that the components that are selected serve a purpose and compliment the "theme" of the car. Everyone has their own ideas about what looks right or good, so my opinion is worth no more than theirs..........but I think when all the components on a car compliment or establish a certain "look", everyone knows it. Its kinda like the old saying about not being able to completely define pornography......but I know it when I see it.
Ford in the early sixties made there axles with a short section smaller to give them flex. They were to rigid and braking to easy..
I believe 1 reason racers in the past started drilling axles was toreduce the anti-roll stiffness of axles on their racecars after splitting the wishbone, done to get a big engine in the frame farther back than the old flathead. The end of the car that is stiffer in roll will push in the corners. So soften the anti-roll effect by removing some of the web. It makes minimal effect to the beaming strength of the axle.
If only there was an engineer here, who could model this, and settle the argument. I guess we will be left to guess.
Now up to 8321 views to this thread and still no one has a story or evidence that an axle has failed because of drilling. Most of you have seen this video of the Ford axle being twisted. It shows the resilience of the Ford axle https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1849448258462939
The fact that these axles can go on living after decades of use/abuse and then survive a new life of average speeds and conditions they weren't designed for is a testament to their quality whether dropped, drilled, both, or stock.
If you want an authentic 50' looking hot rod do you drill the axle? I don't remember seeing them drilled in Hot Rod magazines of that era but I might be wrong. Greg
The Jalopy Journal
