Need help diagnosing a clutch/tranny problem

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by dcdoug

Maybe a different supplier or I had a bad batch of diff stub axles? Who knows. Easier to replace though and easier to diagnose, although breakage may cause more carnage.

I don't know. That pic that I posted looked suspiciously like yours, though. MickMate originally posted it, so he knows more than I. Personally, I can't remember the last time I heard about a half shaft failing. Stub axles, yes, but not the half shafts themselves. Now ERA goes to some extra trouble on their half shaft. They shorten it, neck it down, re-weld it, dip it in the river Styx, and some other stuff. Supposedly to make it "fail safe" -- but who knows. The stub axles have always been the weak point, but when I was there looking over both the plain Jane and ERA rears they assured me they were both good to 600HP, which I don't have, and you don't have. It would be nice if there was an easy way that you could just call somebody up at Shelby and say "hey, were the stub axles in my wheels sourced from the same vendor, and at the same time, as the differential stub axles?" Honestly, though, if it were me, and considering that right now you have the engine, transmission, and rear out of the car , I would go ahead and replace the stub axles in the wheel with stronger ones. Of course, you know you have to phase the universal joints on both sides of the differential so all four of them line up evenly else it will vibrate. (that's a joke, when you think about it, you'll see why....)

[Mdman352]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I don't know. That pic that I posted looked suspiciously like yours, though. MickMate originally posted it, so he knows more than I. Personally, I can't remember the last time I heard about a half shaft failing. Stub axles, yes, but not the half shafts themselves. Now ERA goes to some extra trouble on their half shaft. They shorten it, neck it down, re-weld it, dip it in the river Styx, and some other stuff. Supposedly to make it "fail safe" -- but who knows. The stub axles have always been the weak point, but when I was there looking over both the plain Jane and ERA rears they assured me they were both good to 600HP, which I don't have, and you don't have. It would be nice if there was an easy way that you could just call somebody up at Shelby and say "hey, were the stub axles in my wheels sourced from the same vendor, and at the same time, as the differential stub axles?" Honestly, though, if it were me, and considering that right now you have the engine, transmission, and rear out of the car , I would go ahead and replace the stub axles in the wheel with stronger ones. Of course, you know you have to phase the universal joints on both sides of the differential so all four of them line up evenly else it will vibrate. (that's a joke, when you think about it, you'll see why....)

Never seen a half shaft fail??? This is my 3rd one...... off idle launch did it....

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by Mdman352

Never seen a half shaft fail??? This is my 3rd one...... off idle launch did it....

Kirkham was talking about his half shafts (which are the same as the CSX). Not sure yours are the same. I believe mine are solid (but not positive).

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by dcdoug

Kirkham was talking about his half shafts (which are the same as the CSX). Not sure yours are the same. I believe mine are solid (but not positive).

Right. There's something wrong with mdman352's half shafts. They look thin skinned and hollow. This is what I think of when I say "half shaft."

Originally Posted by dcdoug

Tom tells me that the stub axles going through the wheel hub are a lot larger and not a weak point.

Count Dogula wants to hear from MickMate on that subject. She says that the Shelby stub axles in the wheel are made of cheap metal from China. And yes, we do dress her up for Halloween.

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Honestly, though, if it were me, and considering that right now you have the engine, transmission, and rear out of the car , I would go ahead and replace the stub axles in the wheel with stronger ones.

Tom tells me that the stub axles going through the wheel hub are a lot larger and not a weak point.