[Spridgets] Axle thoughts...

[Kitterer Bob]

Early axles broke at the end of the splines, out side the  
differential,  but this was the result of radial fractures originating  
down the face of the splines to the center of the axle.  Both the  
metallurgy and the machining have changed since then an other than  
racers does anyone break an axle these days?

Knock on wood,  I have not lost an axle since around 1965.

Bob Kitterer

1960 Austin Healey Sprite (Mk IV in disguise)
1966 Austin Healey Sprite Mk III (Trevor) - still in boxes
2000 Miata Special Edition

On Jun 6, 2009, at 7:47 AM, Bill Masquelier wrote:

> I have never heard of an axle stripping out the splines to the  
> differential,
> the common mode of failure is for the axle to break just as it comes  
> out of
> the spline. The spline interface is not the weak point, the axle is.  
> What does
> it matter if there is 1/2" less axle engaged if that area never  
> wears-out?