Axles Forged vs Cast

All this talk of axles breaking and the forged vs cast debate has prompted me to make a change.

I decided that even the smallest chance of the Magnum cast axle breaking while driving (still under construction) my 26 RPU was too much of a chance.

Even after all the broken axle stories here lately being less than conclusive in whether they broke due to being chromed, or broke due to impact in an accident I decided not to chance using the cast axle.

So now my drilled Magnum cast axle will be shop "wall art".

I took a run down to the local So-Cal Speed shop and bought a new So-Cal forged axle.

Its a really nice forged steel axle and plenty beefy. I got the plain axle will drill it myself just like I did with my previous axle.

No way this one will ever break

http://www.est1946.com/forgedaxles.aspx

 

Definatly the safest choice. The guys who forge those also forge con-rods from what I hear.

 

I would have trusted the cast one if it was not drilled. Most breaks I have seen on hamb are right where the holes would be...a couple inches inboard of the perch bolt. With drilled cast, I would guess a very deep pothole may cause problems.

 

Serious? just show me one documented break om a cast axle, that wa not caused by impact..

Heck, after the crash...what's the diffence?

 

As I said, I don't care about that. I teach welding and metallurgy, and I know enough about the properties of metals to place a lot more trust into forged steel than cast iron for an axle.

Castings can have internal flaws that you won't know about till it's too late.

Simple as that.

 

I wouldn't think anyone would run a cast axle, just too brittle.

 

t\

But after all you have been teaching, and know,,,,,you still bought a casted axle? or did you forget all you knew about metalurgy at the time of order?

 

Most people probably don't know the difference. Cheap and shiney.

 

Jeebus! is this the 4th or twentieth knee jerk reaction thread this week on this subject? Lemmings

 

dont come here to start shit. keep your mouth shut and learn somthing. hes right

 

Those 'cast iron' axles you mentioned are actually 'cast steel'... big difference.

But a forged axle is far stronger.

I guess I would have purchased a Made in USA CE axle rather than SoCal's import but that's me.

 

Ugliest aftermarket axle ever. I'd have to spend 4 or 5 hours with a handful of die grinders and files to get it even close to acceptable. You could have had a real Ford dropped axle for what you paid for that one. But yes, better than cast.

 

You;re right, should be "known" that casted axles break in sunlight....can we get a sticky?

 

Right about what?

Piss in your boot, then I'll keep my mouth shut

 

Just curious as to what part of it is ugly to you? Is it the tapered necks and tapered S grooves in the necks?

 

Around the perch hole, it looks like crap. Why is that area raised, the unnecessary bump. And the perfect routed out recesses....looks like it was carved from a chunk of billet.

This....is good stuff.

 

Should have known this thread would turn into the typical HAMB comedy act.

Cast steel is indeed different than cast Iron, however the forging is still by far superior.

This is copied from Magnums catalog on the axle page :
Magnum's 4" & 5" dropped I-Beam axles feature a one
piece design of ductile iron and will accept '37-'48 Ford or
Magnum spindles. Four widths are available to fit '28-'48
Fords. Specify 2" or 2 1/4" axle boss when ordering. I-Beam
Axles are available plain or chrome. Note that recessed
areas of chromed axles are not polished.

Ductile Iron is essentially malleable grey cast iron, not cast steel. After drilling the holes in my axle (see pictures in my build thread) I can assure you the Magnum axle is indeed malleable grey cast iron, NOT cast steel.

As far as buying the Magnum axle goes, I never really put much thought into what it was made of until afterwards.


No matter, I won't be the first one to buy several parts before getting the "right" one.

4-5 hours to clean up the So-Cal axle ? Not this one it is quite nice now.It will need some smoothing, but to a metalworker like me that's just fun.

Ugly ?, No way it is a very nice axle, and once I clean it up and drill it, it'll be even nicer.


And I don't believe it's kneejerk in the least.


Just a small piece of mind pointed towards safety in construction of my hotrod.

 

"Those 'cast iron' axles you mentioned are actually 'cast steel'... big difference."

WRONG!!! They are nodular cast iron.

 

"Good stuff", no arguement there from me. I am the guy looking at axles at the shows. I like to see the different ways they are dropped. Each guy or shop does them a little different. Looking at metalworkers skills.

 

Yes, you should have known. If you didn't, a simple search would have shown you that... or provided you with all the drama you could want.

 

I meant to say they were cast 'ductile iron'... I had my head up my ass.

But I don't believe nodular iron an ductile iron are same... maybe I'm wrong there, too.

 

FIFTEEN MILLION Model T Fords and FOUR MILLION Model A Fords had FORGED axles, if cast axles were worth the risk Ford would have used them. HE DIDN'T. Case closed.

 

What 37 said

 

Please?

 

Quote:
<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset" class=alt2>Originally Posted by Pete1
"Those 'cast iron' axles you mentioned are actually 'cast steel'... big difference."

WRONG!!! They are nodular cast iron.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
I meant to say they were cast 'ductile iron'... I had my head up my ass.

But I don't believe nodular iron an ductile iron are same... maybe I'm wrong there, too.
<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->__________________

 

Ooops! Gremlins posted before I said; sorry old son, your'e wrong again.

S.G Irons (Spheroidal Graphitic Irons) are also known as Nodular Irons. Because they have superior strength and flexion characteristics over Grey Irons the adjective of Ductile etc. are also used to describe them by character as well as by type.

 

I have posted this several times. I have sold many many hundreds of Super Bell axles plain/chromed, drilled/undrilled over the years and to date I have not had a customer call me with a broken axle. That said, I will attest to the fact that a 34 extended cab truck I built for a customer many years ago with a Magnum axle hit a cement wall and the axle snapped. Magnums fault? I don't think so. Are the forged axles better? Ford wasn't wrong. But with many thousands of axles sold is Super Bell wrong? Each person has to weigh what they want and make the descision. I will get a customer either, all they have to do is ask.

 

Someone wanted to see pictures of a broken axle - see the pictres check this website. Manufacturer said third one in 30000. Owner has a positive attitude but isn't one to many when the car was not involved in an accident.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wadso...7540866&set=pu.121438174591011&type=1&theater

 

I had a Magnum chrome axel, was parnoid too, so never ran it. Bought a Lucky 7 forged axel. I have read too many stories about axels breaking while driving. Heres one Keiths broke while he was driving, not an impact and was a beam Magnum.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=493156&highlight=wreck&page=9

 

Right about what? That an axle can break or that his never will.
I have broken forgings before they can also have manufacturing flaws. Someplace in my stuff I have a forged MOPAR 6 pack rod that separated @ about 4,000 RPM. If it can be made it can be broken.

If I was paranoid I would even get the forged axle either x rayed or sonic tested or both. Paranoia can be your friend.

I am glad that the OP got what he deems to be a better quality axle. One should never run around on what one believes is an inferior part.

OK enough insanity from the 'beaner.
carry on.