Should I sell my spare axle?

[John Ryan]

Just want some opinions.

 

Last month I swapped my standard Ital axle for Nigel's old one which has LSD and discs. It has done great things for the feel of the car, and I love the change. Some people have said that I should keep the old axle as a spare, but I am not sure, so, 2 questions

 

- Is there any special reason for keeping the old one: i.e are spares really in such short supply?

- What is an Ital axle, with new bearings and brake parts 2,000 miles ago actually worth?

 

Opinions welcome!

[paul abrahams]

Hi John, having previously had a live axle classic, I would say keep hold of it.

They don't seem to come up very often these days, which I suppose says it all.

If your 7 is in otherwise original condition, then if you keep the live axle it can always be returned to this, which from my limited knowledge will command a higher re-sale value at the appropriate time.

I have no idea of the value, but I am sure someone will be along soon to advise, then if someone is very keen to purchase it, you could then decide what premium you want for it, to fund further upgrades.

[Golf Juliet Tango]

John

I bought a spare to ransack for parts (I need to replace one hub)

You may want to speak to Jigsaw Racing and sound them out for spares before making a decision.

See you later.

Stephen

 

_{Democratic dissent is not disloyalty, it is a positive civic duty.}

[Pezky]

Hi John

Ital axle is virtually impossible to find now.

I cannot see how keeping original axle will keep up value, how many other 7's are in there original condition 🤔 I am looking to replace my Ital axle with a ford one which I bought on ebay a few months ago, so might be selling mine.

 

Jonathan

[IKB]

Jonathan. After a couple of blats with markiebabes you are probably going to need your new axle 😬LOL. More seriously what is rare with the Ital axles? is it the CWP, bearings, half shafts or... I thought that all of these components are available through specialist suppliers.

 

Edited by - brunel on 26 Oct 2008 09:48:35

[Pezky]

Hi John

Just about keeping up with markiebabes, the odd speed limit may have been broken yesterday

Never seen an Ital axle for sale on ebay. I had great difficulty finding a replacement halfshaft for the Ital axle, as BL used lots of differnet ones in there axles, although that was before internet days . I am even led to believe that there is a difference between Marina & Ital axles (basically same cars - my dad had Marina's and Ital's when I was young) so halfshafts are not interchangeable.

Upgraded parts can be bought at a price ❗. Ital axle in some ways better as lighter than ford one but ford axle can take more power

I feel that upgrading to a ford one will be better long term as I am planning to do a few track days next year.

Jonathan

[Dee Pee]

Wondered what to do with my spare caterham modded Ital axle. Looks like I'll keep it for rarity value. Someone is bound to need one in the future if they're keeping their car 'as caterham supplied' rather than upgrading

 

 

[drB]

not sure that keeping the old axle will add anything to the resale value as it's a relatively weak part of the car - ford unit will take more power and easier to source for spares?

 

but they aren't the easiest things to source so still have some value particularly in the Grads race club where there are still 20+ live axle race cars out there! Three of us each did a half shaft at the Birkett at Silverstone last weekend... ☹️

 

buy car, race car, win

[IKB]

adbett. In 2007 there was a posting concerning Ital half shafts and referring to "increased hardening" on the Caterham supplied shafts. Are these the ones you are using? Or is it bouncing over the kerbs? (where are the kerbs at Silversone?)

[drB]

of the 3 half shafts that went, 2 were 'normal' failures whilst mine failed because of a badly fitted shim (fitted to remove axial movement between hub and bearing). No idea where any of these shafts were sourced from.

 

Our replacements came from McMillan motorsport which I believe are now sourcing their own supplies.

 

IMO failure for both the half shafts appeared to be due to a surface (or just subsurface) crack initiation at the end of the key followed by a period of crack growth through the shaft (due to cycle loading of the crack as the wheel turns). Once the crack was about half way through the shaft it then fractured ☹️ so that the rear wheel gently rolled past the driver...

 

My guess is that whilst kerbs, impacts and the hammer action of the hub due to any axial play (hence shims) might be responsible for starting the crack; the cycle loading on a heavily loaded wheel causes the crack to grow? Most of the half shaft failures I've seen on race cars are normally on the passenger side - the outside wheel on a clockwise circuit. Silverstone Int'l has some pretty long right hand corners....

 

buy car, race car, win

[drB]

and I think it's the CWP that are difficult to source

 

buy car, race car, win

[Revin Kevin]

Hi all,

Parts easier to source than you think, standard diffs still avaliable from Triumph specialists, LSD, Quaife and Gripper, shafts from Mc Millan, hubs from SPC, CW&P (uprated) from JIGSAW.

 

Cheers

Chris