upgrading axles anyone?

berdugo

New member
I've been thinking of upgrading my axles to prevent my stock ones from breaking. Does anyone know what is the composition of the alloy of the oem axles?

So far here's the list of the aftermarket axles I know, please feel free to add to the list

1. DSS http://www.driveshaftshop.com/impor...i-axle-hub-kits-1200hp-pro-level-axle-hub-kit

I don't know how durable the DSS and I don't know the quality as well, I just read other people complaining about the rated hp and it breaks at much less hp, I don't know if it break due to abuse or mis use. I also read from one customer about the Al DS vibrates, at least the piece that he bought.

2. Albins http://www.albinsgear.com.au/products_manufacturer.php?headerbar=8#subaru

I have no idea what hp or whp it can handle. Buying it in the US is proving to be a PITA for me. I PMed one vendor in other forum asking about the price, I never got any answer at all. Another vendor requires a US based paypal account which I don't have. I emailed the Canadian distributor, I never got any reply.

3. Group N axles sold by RCM http://www.rogerclarkmotorsport.co.uk/shop.asp?catsLevel=199

I don't know if they have a model for 07 STI and the price of the axles are really very expensive. It's a price level I'm not willing to pay or at least I can spend the money on something else. I'm confident that buying it from RCM won't be a problem for me since I bought several products from them already and I can say that RCM is very friendly and accomodating, my only problem will be the price of that Group N axles.

Having this problems, I'm starting to think that maybe I just buy billet Titanium Rod and have it machined to the size of my oem axle. One of my friend here who owns a machine shop told me that I might have a problem with the balancing thus it might vibrate.

I consulted my engine builder and he told me he knows a local machine shop that can machine Ti and balance it too. Sounds like a good deal to me. I wanna know my other options too.
 

HolyCrapItsFast

Drinks beer!
Bump cuz I'm curious to
 

HolyCrapItsFast

Drinks beer!
Hmmm. I think I should be looking into axles soon then. I was 387whp on e85 @ only 18psi. Now I'm well over that and am probably taxing my drive train significantly.

I'm intrigued about machining your own ti shafts. This is an option for me since I know a very good machinist. OP, Pleas let us know how you make out if you go this route.
 

Bluedemon_II

New member
I prefer to have my axles brake as a fuse than to snap a gear. Just my opinion. Its less expensive to replace a stock axle than to take down the hole trans.
 

berdugo

New member
I found this website that sells Ti materials before I made this thread. My original intention was to find a very thin Ti sheet and make it a brake pad shim for my Alcon brakes to prevent too much heat transfer from the back of the pads to the calipers, then I found out they also sell Ti rods.

There are different grades of Ti, one of them seems a very good candidate for axles. The other alloy stronger than Ti is CrMo 4340 and much cheaper too.

http://www.onlinemetals.com/titaniumguide.cfm

http://www.onlinemetals.com/alloysteelguide.cfm

I'm not 100% sure about this since I didn't use a caliper that time, I only used a tape measure, I measured the axle at around 1in in diameter, less than 2ft in lenght.

http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?pid=4736&step=4&showunits=inches&id=180&top_cat=131

2ft with 1in diameter is Ti is $206.37, multiply it by 4 = $825.48, not bad for an exotic material. :lol:

The other option for me, 4340 alloy is so much cheaper

http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?pid=7391&step=4&showunits=inches&id=255&top_cat=0

This 4340 alloy seems to be a very good candidate for drag racing due to it's very cheap price compared to Ti.

FWIW I don't drag race and not dreaming or planning to do it. I just want my car to be super fast on highways and once I'm finished with my setup the track. I'm leaning towards Ti but with the price of 4340, I might buy both materials, use Ti first, if I ever break it use the 4340.

I just need to recharge my pocket for about 2 months before buying Ti rods. :lol:
 

berdugo

New member
I like your shim idea. What would it take for you to fab up a set?

I dont doubt your ability Fuji. I need to test your ability to multi task. drink beer and build motor.

I'll just buy the Ti sheet 1st, show it to my engine builder and ask if he can help my out with the machine shop. I just want to put a shim in between the back of the pads and the caliper, my Alcon calipers just gets really hot on street driving.
 

toomes

New member
I have kicked this idea around with a lot of people and consulted a few shops on the subject because I know after a season of drag racing, I will anticipate snapping and axle and pretty much every time I get the same answer - DSS is hit or miss, but mostly hit. Another theory that was entertained here was the idea of Ti axles, that sounds wonderful, but at the same time, if you axle is going to snap, but is now 5x stronger, whats going to happen to your differential and/or the rest of your drivetrain, like your cv joints if they can't handle the power either and aren't upgraded but all of a sudden the 'safety weak link' I will call it, is no longer there? Just being a network engineer, I have been accustomed to 'moving the problem' from one place to another in the past, lol.
 
F

fixem2

Guest
Talk to Girodisc, they sell Ti brake shims for the Evo and may do the same for the STI/WRX.
 
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