CV Joint / Axle Shaft Mix and Match Question

In reply to Gingerbeardman :

Is there an Audi output stub axle with the 6x108 or 6x120mm bolt circle that is compatible with the 01X?  the audi parts diagrams i've seen all say 6x88mm bolt circle.  minor confession:  i havent actually measured mine yet.

Not sure if you've seen this:

http://blindchickenracing.com/How_to/CVJoints_Axles/cv_joints_101.htm

Also this might give you some ideas:

http://www.924board.org/viewtopic.php?t=23820&highlight=torsen

and:

https://www.motorgeek.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=1519&hilit=torsen

It looks like they made adapter rings they welded in place and drilled to the proper bolt pattern.

Also, you might ask the folks here:

https://advancedautomotion.com/shop/

as they seem to be the go-to for Audi-based info.

You might also ask the GRM advertiser http://raxles.com

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ said:

In reply to Stampie :

Holy E36 M3 that interparts link is solid gold, repeating it here in case I ever have trouble remembering it:  big berkeleying list of potentially compatible and swappable axle stuffs.

Well, almost 2 years later, it happened. That link is dead. Anyone have another source, or an archived copy to share?

obsolete said:

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ said:

In reply to Stampie :

Holy E36 M3 that interparts link is solid gold, repeating it here in case I ever have trouble remembering it:  big berkeleying list of potentially compatible and swappable axle stuffs.

Well, almost 2 years later, it happened. That link is dead. Anyone have another source, or an archived copy to share?

I have them downloaded, but I think the internet wayback machine also has you covered.

http://web.archive.org/web/20180221014854/http://www.interparts.com/download.htm

Brotus7 said:

I have them downloaded, but I think the internet wayback machine also has you covered.

http://web.archive.org/web/20180221014854/http://www.interparts.com/download.htm

Huzzah! I didn't know they archived PDFs. Great stuff. Thanks!

here's another resource for dimensions etc by application:

https://www.trakmotive.com/

I believe i've found some unlikely sources for CVs that might work.  It's cold AF up here right now, not sure if i'll go to the u-pull-it or buy the cheapest ones on RockAuto, just for a science experiment.  i'm months (years?) away from actually needing them.

In reply to AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) :

Trakmotive has axle stick dimensions?

Going to check that out later.

I did find that not everyone uses the same spline pitch.  Honda and Mazda and MINI all use the same 26 spline and they all slot in to each other.  Audi did not.  I bought a 5000 automatic axle to discover this.  Fortunately they accepted the return.

I second Dutchman axles. Two complete custom shafts for $600 shipped. No problems and nothing to worry about with sleeving. 

A quick note about splicing two axles/halfshafts together - You are likely to have a disappointment if you simply sleeve/weld the two cut axles together.  You will need (want) to do more work/steps or it will likely fail at one of the two outer welds (even if you've welded where they touch each other, and use Rosette welds).

I tried above and it hasn't worked three times (and each time we took extra steps thinking we had solved the problem).  The last attempt was "professionally welded".  It lasted two track sessions.

Currently I am working with The DriveShaft Shop (https://driveshaftshop.com/axle-measurement/).  They are making me some halfshafts from scratch.  It's a bit over $1,200 and is taking forever, so I'm not actively recommending them.  I started working with them in September 2021 and they've done one end thus far (with the other end's splines still to do, then heat treating and powder coating).  They said it would be 8-10 weeks (not 16+ thus far).

I kinda wish I had done a fourth try of connecting two unrelated axle ends using the following suggestion (from a well know American formula car builder):

"Years ago I made my drive shafts for the FSV, both air cooled and water cooled.

I did it by cutting the spline-ed ends off stock VW driveshafts. I had about 2" of drive shaft to machine down to the ID of the tubes. I then turned the cut ends down to press into 1 inch by .090 wall 4130 tubing. I found it necessary to anneal the cut ends where I was going to machine. I did that by heating the ends to a red glow and then sticking the end into a bucket of sand blasting sand and let it cool. I cut the ends of the tubing square but I think a fish mouth cut to increase the welded area would be an improvement.

After TIG welding the ends into the tubes, I post heated the part to stress relieve the finished part.

Bottom line it was the least expensive way to make drive shafts and I never had any issues. I did that on close to 10 cars."

Yeah Russ- I used Dutchman for my axles-  RX-8 diff to NA Miata hubs. Vastly different shaft diameters- 35mm to something like 25 if I recall with different spline counts. They were done in a week. $600 including shipping. Continuous taper from diff to hub. Just beautiful work.  They fit together with the cv joints nicely. Now it's a matter of seeing if I can break them but I'm a few months off from having a running car so that will have to wait. 

In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :

No axle stick dimensions really, and the website is a PITA on my phone. It worked much better on laptop.

In reply to Russ McBride :

That's good info, thanks!