SD1 Half Shafts

ian.stewart · Post by **ian.stewart** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 9:51 am

start narrowing Atlas axles and the price goes out of reason, http://www.fostek.co.uk/index.html

One of the things I dont like about modified Atlas axles is the use of 2 piece shafts, Quaife shafts are similar in design to the MGB shafts, but the flanges are sacrificial, I think they are designed for rallying where sooner or later you are going to clip somthing and bend a shaft, the Quaife flanges are quite soft, designed to bend first, its a damn sight quicker in service to undo 1 nut, 1 caliper and replace a flange than remove a shaft, and as such the flanges are unreliable with big HP high grip situations, I have seen a few 2 piece shafts break the splines at SantaPod, a lot more than stock forrd shafts for sure.

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 9:33 pm

Kev
I'm still using factory MGB halfshafts in my 4.6 with the original Salisbury axle.
These have been running 8" wide Mickey T / ET streets all year with no breakages as yet.

Dont know whats going to happen when I try the new slicks next year though. But as the shafts are 10 a penny I can afford not to change the axle for a while yet.

I've had the shafts out recently and there are no signs of twisting either.

CastleMGBV8 · Post by **CastleMGBV8** » Mon Nov 10, 2008 10:05 pm

Perry,

I know the MGB axles are pretty tough and the only week point is a part of the speder gear, i think you have welded yours so that should hopefully prevent breakage.

I was a little concerned that the SD1 axle having been narrowed might not be as durable.

I don't plan on doing anything immediately just looking for info. Still fancy a Jag irs with positive lock diff, whole rear ends are dirt cheap at around £250 but then youve got the rebuild and conversion costs which come to around £1500. Thats about half the price of a Hoyle IRS.

Kevin

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 12:58 pm

Yep!
Mine broke due to pressure from the small pinion gears on the diff pin under hard acceleration. Not enough slippy stuff to stop the small cog welding itself onto the diff pin and twisting it in half.

So for the time being I have just welded all the cogs to each other so nowt can move. I know I've just passed the stress on to the next weak link, and I guess I'll find out what that is in 2009

poo slinger · Post by **poo slinger** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 10:51 pm

koln axles are a poop german version of the english.

the atlas on mk1 capri's were 50" wide but are not as strong as the axles off the mk3 capri's wich were 52".

mk1 escorts run 48.5" axles but never used atlas axles.

CastleMGBV8 · Post by **CastleMGBV8** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 1:46 am

mgbv8 wrote:Yep!
Mine broke due to pressure from the small pinion gears on the diff pin under hard acceleration. Not enough slippy stuff to stop the small cog welding itself onto the diff pin and twisting it in half.

So for the time being I have just welded all the cogs to each other so nowt can move. I know I've just passed the stress on to the next weak link, and I guess I'll find out what that is in 2009

Can you go round corners now,

and what happened to that locking device you had installed, was it any good?

Kevin.

chodjinn · Post by **chodjinn** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:55 am

I was looking at the Hoyle set up again the other day. Surely it can't be that hard to make a diff cage using Sierra parts?? The Cosworth 2WD driveshafts are pretty beefy, as are the diffs. I think the Hoyle set up, although excellent, is very expensive (£3k roughly).

I'm still keen on the 4-link kit from Bill Guzman, although I have been waiting 4 months for him to reply with spring rates and shipping costs from the states!

JC. · Post by **JC.** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 1:54 pm

I have a friend with the same setup as you.
Although, he got a set of shafts made up in canada. I think they wre made by Hauser racing? Not sure. They were expensive though.

You may as well sell on the SD1 axle and buy a propper factory V8 / MGC axle as the MG axles are as solid as you like! Easily capable of taking 350-400 horsies and maybe more.

JP. · Post by **JP.** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 2:55 pm

poo slinger wrote: mk1 escorts run 48.5" axles but never used atlas axles.

Well infact they did, called the Baby Atlas in the dimensions you'll describe.
But we may had these only on the continent and not in the UK.

CastleMGBV8 · Post by **CastleMGBV8** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 3:52 pm

JC. wrote:I have a friend with the same setup as you.
Although, he got a set of shafts made up in canada. I think they wre made by Hauser racing? Not sure. They were expensive though.

You may as well sell on the SD1 axle and buy a propper factory V8 / MGC axle as the MG axles are as solid as you like! Easily capable of taking 350-400 horsies and maybe more.

I still have the MGB axle thst came out of the car when we swapped in the free SD1 axle.

The b axle would need a 3.07 crown wheel and pinion and they are £300 + the cost of rebuilding the diff and swapping the axles over, just not cost effective for very little gain except a little peace of mind.

Kevin.