axles, what works best for us?

[wallace]

Is it the axle or the joint itself that usually fails?

[RoadWarrior222]

A frequent "fuse" point is the slight neck before the splines going into the trans.

[Polygon]

Here's a question.

I did this swap last year. Still not sure what axle I got. But do all the passenger axles have the teeth for the speed sensor?

[Ondonti]

A frequent "fuse" point is the slight neck before the splines going into the trans.

Which is why I don't see how fancy axles will help. Abusive clutch, driver, suspension, mounts won't help a part that nobody upgrades. I only broke a different part of the axle when I ran a non saginaw. Of course it could be that the Saginaw has a good shaft but garbage into the transmission. I don't know why we assume its all golden.

[shadow88]

Here's a question.

I did this swap last year. Still not sure what axle I got. But do all the passenger axles have the teeth for the speed sensor?

Yes they do, as well as all the intermediate shafts all have the speedometer drive gear cut as well.

[Polygon]

Hmm, we must have buggered up the gear on the sensor when we put it in then. The odometer hasn't worked for a while, but shortly after putting in the new axle the speedometer stopped working as well. Add another little project to the list.

[RoadWarrior222]

Yeah you're actually meant to pop the SDS deally out when you put the axle in, and then reseat it when it's in there. It might be okay after you do that now, just doesn't sit right when you push the axle in past it.

[135sohc]

not removing the sensor before removing/installing the axle is all but guaranteed to f-up the speedo gear, gotta remember is just plastic.

[BadAssPerformance]

Which is why I don't see how fancy axles will help.

If by fancy you mean DSS, they use different materials

[turbovanman²]

Is it the axle or the joint itself that usually fails?

Some have snapped the axles, some have sheered them off inside the trans.

[Polygon]

Yeah you're actually meant to pop the SDS deally out when you put the axle in, and then reseat it when it's in there. It might be okay after you do that now, just doesn't sit right when you push the axle in past it.

not removing the sensor before removing/installing the axle is all but guaranteed to f-up the speedo gear, gotta remember is just plastic.

Yeah, I should have done that. At least they're cheap, that's if you can figure out the right one to get.

[RoadWarrior222]

blue yellow or white gear, with or without speedo cable mechanical or later solid state, wtf is there to be confused about? that's only 9 different combinations.

[Ondonti]

If by fancy you mean DSS, they use different materials

So you are saying its a custom housing and splines, not just a worthless shaft upgrade that saginaws do not need. People seem to say something quite different every time. "parts from this and that with a 300m shaft" is what I tend to hear.

[86seeS]

I work for oreilly auto and I swap axles like its nobody bussiness lol I also run 90 omni axles in both chargers

[BadAssPerformance]

So you are saying its a custom housing and splines, not just a worthless shaft upgrade that saginaws do not need. People seem to say something quite different every time. "parts from this and that with a 300m shaft" is what I tend to hear.

And for different car brands there are many different options, I think for Honda's they offer like 7 levels LOL...

For our old-skool FWD mopars, we have two options, Level 3 and Level 5:

For L3, the ends and center bar are chrome moly

For L5, same as L3 but with a 300M center bar

So, yes, the CM ends are why they live longer and put up with the abuse.

I got about an inch of timeslips here since I got the DSS axles the spring of 2005 and just counted them... 48 passes with the 2.2L in it, and 143 passes with a 2.4L. I know I'm missing a couple and I didnt get one on the last launch which it broke, so pretty much 200 passes on those L5 axles. No complaints about that.

[Sundance 6g72]

Find a really late 4 cylinder spirit/shadow ect. Those have the HD saginaw axles in them for the most part if your looking for a junkyard price part. otherwise DSS is the other option as mentioned. Remaned axles are a waste of time and the new chinese axles from the parts stores are going to be hit or miss.

yep.

[Polygon]

This thread really has me considering getting some DSS axles.

blue yellow or white gear, with or without speedo cable mechanical or later solid state, wtf is there to be confused about? that's only 9 different combinations.

Hahaha! That's what I told the dealer when I was trying to find the right one.

[Shadow24]

just my $.02 but...

The saginaw's seem to take a lot of abuse before failing. I had over 100 drag passes, 250,000 miles and probably 30 or so passes with 24.5x8x15 slicks (6000rpm launch RPM on most of those) and the only OEM failure i had was I twisted the diff end off the Driver's side axle. I switched both axles to NEW GSP axles just in case (initially wasn't sure of the original circa 1992 axles with 250,000 miles of god knows what kind of driving). Next race day 1 week later, killed the drivers side again. This time the new axle SHAFT sheared right behind the tripod in the outer CV joint. Ok, no biggie, warranty the axle (shaft was noticeably a larger diameter on the new replacement) and replace. Same thing happened to the passenger side axle the next week, sheared just before the outer CV tripod. Needless to say, I had a Local driveline shop rebuild the stockers and i now have $140 paperweights. I'll never put a set of craptastic "NEW" axles in the car again.


IRGT the DSS axles, Until i start seeing consistent failures of the stock saginaw axles, i CANNOT justify $1000 or more on a set of axles. Especially when the rebuild on the stock axles was $50 per.


I did some research as well, the OEM saginaw passenger axle long shaft is a thick walled tube rather than a solid shaft. It actually will twist and absorb some of the shock load better than a rigid shaft. So for now, its Saginaw stockers for me.

[Polygon]

How can we spot a Saginaw?

[RoadWarrior222]

Yup, tubes can be stronger than bar, because a surface hardening treatment will have 2 surfaces to work on.

I think for Honda's they offer like 7 levels LOL...

But the first two are wet noodle and drinking straw aren't they?