[DeTomaso] The Beast goes down at Willow Springs

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 11/3/09 19 46 27, dfcex at pacbell.net writes:


> Since the forged axles didn't hold for Saxton, I don't see that as a 
> satisfactory fix.
> 

Wrong-o.

When Jim crashed his car the first time, he put it on its roof because the 
stock axle snapped under the stress.   He only replaced ONE axle.   So when 
he crashed it the second time, it was the other, STOCK axle that let go.   I 
was right there, and took close-up photos of it.   I was absolutely 
astonished that he hadn't replaced it when the first one broke, and he confessed to 
me at the time that he assumed they'd both been taken care of as part of 
the car's repair.

The forged aftermarket axles (NOT the stock replacements that Wilkinson 
sells, but the traditional ones that the other vendors sell) are NOT 
hollow--they are solid, and hell-for-strong--arguably much stronger than the stock 
ones, certainly, and probably stronger than the Wilkinson stock replacements.

Nobody, and I mean nobody who has his car set up for the track has any 
business having stock axles on the car.   It's been a known weak link for over 
30 years.   I'm amazed you hadn't dealt with that issue already.   Now you 
don't have a choice.

The quality axles are much more expensive--about $450 each, plus you also 
need new axle nuts.   

You might as well upgrade the inner wheel bearing to the double-roller 
bearing, which is twice as thick and spreads the bearing load across a much 
larger percentage of the axle.   This is a no-brainer modification--all you need 
to do is buy the double-thickness bearing, and then have the spacer in 
between the bearings shortened by the same amount (that is, shortened by the 
difference in thickness between the double- and standard single-row bearing).   
I detailed this modification in depth in the July 2009 PCNC newsletter; 
I'll send you the article separately.

Since you have to take the whole hub carrier assembly apart to do this job, 
you might as well cast a critical eye on your studs, and make sure they're 
up to snuff--if in doubt, now is the time to replace them.

One shouldn't have to fear wheels falling off his Pantera in the 21st 
Century, any more than one would have to fear overheating.   The solutions to 
these problems were pioneered in the late 1970s/early 1980s.   All that one has 
to do is implement them.

Now, get to work and we'll soon see you back on the track! :>)

Mike