Axle ratio?

marcjagman · Post by **marcjagman** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 11:32 am

Quick one hopefully. Bought an axle that was supposed to a Cortina atlas, and it looks like it too. No ID tags on it. Been told by a so called expert that it's actually a klone? axle. To find out what the ratio is do I secure one end and turn the input until the other wheel end turns once? Currently turning approx 1.5 turns to wheel studs 1 full turn. Sounds a bit wrong to me.

r2d2hp · Post by **r2d2hp** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 11:57 am

Think you then multiply that by 2. 3 as a ratio however would be a little low for a cortina axle

ChrisJC · Post by **ChrisJC** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 12:15 pm

To do it precisely, yes, fix one wheel, then turn the pinion. However for best accuracy, you need to find the minimum number of WHOLE turns of the pinion to give a WHOLE number of turns of the free wheel. You might find it's a pretty high number!, e.g. 50ish. Both numbers will probably be odd numbers, possibly even prime numbers!

Then divide the number of turns of the free wheel by two, and use that with the pinion turns to give you your ratio.

Chris.

marcjagman · Post by **marcjagman** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 12:26 pm

Oh crap, working out at about 4.2:1, not good. Is there a way I can be sure? There is a chap on ebay sell different CWP's at a resonable price and if it is an atlas then I can fit those and get 3.09:1 which is much better.

Darkspeed · Post by **Darkspeed** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 2:21 pm

If its the Cortina axle - has the lugs on the top of the Diff housing There are two types of Axle - One has a flange where the diff cover fits' and the other does not. They are both Salibury (Atlas) Diffs

The non flange is the 1600 axle the flanged being the 2000 - Typically the 2.0L axle is 3.75 ratio and the 1600 3.89 and 4.11

Better to find a 2.0L MK2/3 Capri axle - Typically 3.44 and one of the cheaper live axles around with a suitable ratio.

To tell for certain its very easy - you remove the diff cover and its usually stamped on the pinion. - Gaskets are very cheap.

Andy

marcjagman · Post by **marcjagman** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 4:32 pm

Sounds like it's from a 1600 then, definately a koln axle as cover nuts are over to right slightly, according to the Ford forum. 54 inch long which kind of enforces a koln axle. Anyone got a capri atlas axle going cheap?

r2d2hp · Post by **r2d2hp** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 5:37 pm

FYI - You can also get a 54" Atlas

marcjagman · Post by **marcjagman** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 10:33 am

r2d2hp wrote:FYI - You can also get a 54" Atlas

Found that out on the Ford forum but I definately have a koln axle as the top and bottom cover bolts are ofset to the right