Drilling 37-40 ford axle does it make it weak?

Question about drilling an axle

Does drilling lightening holes in a 37-40 ford stock axle make it weak?

I am about to do this any input would be appreciated!

 

It makes it weaker but not enough to do anything. Just dont go bigger than 1 inch and dont put em too close together..

 

I think you should be alright just really depends on how many, and how close together they are.

 

haha what he said^^^

 

Yes and no, there isn't much stress in between the wishbone mounts, most of the stress is from the wishbone mount out to the spindles. The axle does see abit more stress though with split bones in the way of twisting, but shouldn't be a problem. Drilling holes has been done for years, just don't get too carried away and take your time to get them spaced evenly.

Here is a later axle with basicly the same dimentions...lots of holes

 

Cool thanks for the fast responces!

 

As already stated don't go over board with something your going to drive on the streets reguarly.

 

Yes , removing any material makes it weaker. However, an I-beam axle is just that , an I-beam, and an I beam gets its real strength from the flanges ( top and bottom ) of the beam. Under normal loading the bottom flange is in tension and the top flange is in compression.

 

An old Ford front axle is one of the toughest pieces of steel ever made. As others have said, it's not going to make a huge amount of difference in the strength of the axle, as the axle is far stronger than it needs to be in order to be safe. Bear in mind that your only gains will be cosmetic, you will gain coolness but you won't be taking out enough weight to improve your time in the quarter mile. The weight of the metal you will remove will be negligible.