Featured Technical Broken Super Bell axle

The fracture definitely looks like cast to me, it's crystallized like I expect cast iron to be.


....

 

I fear this one may never get finished. Started in 2019 and in 2025, I figured 2026 would be its year. Its not looking good for 2026, and I have limited hope for 2027 too.

 

down here we have to get aftermarket axles x-rayed. There have been a few axles break like that, so the fun police now make new Super Bell axles get x-rayed, stamped and you are given a certificate etc. Something about the metal being used. Apologies if this has been mentioned before, cheers

 

@G***erTodd
Your pic might get removed because of tunnel ,
I do not know your law's , I have found out you rodder's out side USA your Country can be strict .
If you have like the front gl*** , lights
Bolt on & drive it ,

 

Another example of a Super Bell cast axle that bent without breaking. Hanging on his garage wall now.

Another friend wanted one with the drilled holes; told him it wasn't the best idea for a cast axle; but he did anyway and then had it plated. Going to show him the OP's picture.

 

So what we know so far is approx 1mph travelling over 20feet, that to me points to an uncontrolled roll away on the driveway? straight into the front corner of the other unfortunate vehicle.

I look forward to hearing more as it seems unlikely such a 'low energy' impact could cause such a failure on what should be a pretty stout part.

 

Thats the way I read it too.

 

I just received my Ch***is Engineering axle back from Anson Axles for left side collision bend at interstate speeds I would highly recommend Gregory Anson Haynes if in need of repairs to your forged axle, his specialty is dropped axles or steering arms, reversed spring eyes & spindle bushing & kingpins reworked. A top-notch individual, that's Anson Axles 530-537-9322

 

I've drilled them for decades and never had any break. How you drill them, and where you drill the holes is key to whether they weaken the web. Holes drilled too far out near the ends will weaken the axle. But staying between spring perches and not going too far towards the end works. There's very little stress anywhere in the middle of an axle and staying within that range wont make the axle prone to breaking.
Chroming can have more adverse affect on the axle than drilling holes.

 

I don't understand. What's "tunnel"?

 

Tunnel Ram ,
T -R always a issue like some later rim/wheels , T-R I have No issue with
T-R been around since 50's , Here on main form there ones say the Commercial production T-Rs of mid late 60's not allowed , There been times compleat post has been "deleted"
in stead of just that photo .
Me , when comes to wheels
Center Line auto drags, Super Trick look good on pretty much on all .
I have used most of market drag wheel of mid 80s to present ,
Me ,my taste I do not care for
Convo
Pro star
Weld Light
Boyd
80 S R wheels

 

Ford stopped using forged axles in their twin I beam pickup trucks in 1980 when they closed the forge shop.

The later axles 17 years worth in the F150 were cast. I don’t know if they were cast steel or cast iron, though, or if cast iron, what type of cast iron. They weren’t compacted graphite, as that technology wasn’t developed for another for another five years.

Nevertheless, I never heard of a twin I beam axle failing, and they made millions of them.

 

Those Ford axles are cast ductile iron, that has a much better tensile strength and no doubt the SB axles are ductile too.

 

My understanding is the new sbell axles are nodular iron which they've made tons of crankshafts out of for years.

Of course material and manufacturing procedure has something to do with it...

...

 

Ductile cast iron is the same thing as "nodular" cast iron. Ductile cast iron is stronger than regular gray iron. It doesn't matter though, it has no place being in an I beam axle under a hot rod. Anyone got a sore head yet from beating it against the wall?

What are three of the big things - that smartly - get replaced with steel?

Flywheels and especially bellhousings so that you still have feet, and crankshafts so that your very expensive performance engine build has a chance of staying together.

 

In NZ the LVVTA literally banned cast axles [they were specifically aimed at Helix brand aka "Magnum" and "Johnny Law"]
With todays corporate tendency to rebrand products you need to be vigilant

The NZHRA and LVVTA put out a bulletin in 2012 about this
https://lvvta.org.nz/do***ents/infosheets/LVVTA_Info_06-2012_'Magnum'-brand_Axle_Safety_Warning.pdf

https://www.lvvta.org.nz/do***ents/...andard_Aftermarket_Cast-iron_I-beam_Axles.pdf

 

Carbon fiber
Real not fake like sticker pattern sheets

 

Magnum is not a Johnny Law brand.

 

Trojan

 

Magnum is related to Super Bell, I think started by an old employee. Very similar products and quality. Not the Johnny Law cheap stuff.

 

Apparently, both Superbell and Magnum have had problems with their cast iron axles in the past. @ocool25 said he purchased his axle in 2008, about the time there were issues with the cast axles.
Easiest solution moving forward, just go forged.

As for the Helix/Johnny Law stuff....... run like the wind.

 

Magnum wasn't it the Aluminum version around first released 1995 ish
by S-B

 

A lot of suspension components in new cars and trucks ( including big trucks) are cast ductile iron such as control arms, steering knuckles, etc. it’s commonly used so it is not an unusual use.

 

This might help with the confusion..... Straight off the Magnum Suspension website.

Magnum Suspension

Magnum Suspension was originally founded in 1983 as Magnum Axle Co. by former Super Bell Axle partner Victor Leon and TCI Engineering’s Ed Moss in Southern California. In 1989, Ed Moss sold his share of the business to lifelong hot rodder Fred James who also owned Fast Freddy’s. Fred and Victor continued to expand the business and the companies’ product line moving warehousing and retail sales into Fast Freddy’s Santa Ana, CA location with the product manufacturing at the company facility in Hesperia, CA. During the ensuing years, Magnum Axle Company continued to build its’ product line, branching into additional suspension products and a complete line of brake kits and components.
By 1991, Fred sold Fast Freddy’s, and along with his son Mike, relocated the warehousing and sales divisions of Magnum to the community of Oakhurst in Central California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains near Yosemite National Park. While the company also maintained its’ manufacturing facility in Hesperia, CA.

In 2013, Victor Leon and Fred James were looking to retire from their full-time schedules. It was at this time that John Lawson, a devout hot rodder with an impressive collection of cars, acquired the ***ets of Magnum Axle and formed Magnum Suspension, Inc. John relocated the sales, ***embly, and warehousing into a spacious new 10,000 square foot facility in Fresno, CA. In addition to the new Magnum headquarters, John also maintains a full time facility that now serves a role as an in-house R&D and new product development function for the company.

Our product line is continuing to evolve with the additions of our new 6" tube axles and 5' I-beam axles and a host of other new parts and accessories.

In the summer of 2015, after ***isting with the transition of the new company, Fred James retired from day-to-day operations and remains available to the company as a consultant. Mike James, who has been with the company since 1989, has taken over the sales and administrative management roles within the company.

Today, Magnum Suspension is committed to providing our customers with top notch customer service and industry leading technical support. We invite you to visit our website more in depth and welcome the opportunity to work with you on your next build.

 

Very interesting. Anyone here who is a metallurgist? Report mentions that an experienced one should be able to differentiate the percentage of nodularity between acceptable and non-acceptable levels?

 

My Super Bell took a pretty good hit and bent but didn't break. Not plated and not drilled, though.

Gary

 

Sorry this happen to you and grateful no one was hurt.
Good that you showed what can happen for others to see.

 

The old HAMB Metallurgist here. Yes thst fracture surface looks like cast instead of forged. It is NOT hydrogen embrittlement, for several reasons
1. HE fracture is intergranular, this is different than the picture shows which appears transgranular.
2. HE happens in short time once loaded up. This axle was in service way longer than typical 72 hours or less HE fracture.
3. HE is really only on hardened heat treated parts with Rockwell C hardness above 30. I sincerely doubt the axle is hardened.
Now I would expect more bending before the fracture occurred. I don't see any pre-existing crack (fatigue). It's just a low deformation overload fracture.
I'm glad the OP is getting a forged replacement. They are just better.

 

Both were mentioned in separate bulletins that I posted [over 9 years apart]
Just be careful of corporate rebranding! ...... Greed does crazy things to a man

 

Re: Johnny Law and other HOFFMAN GROUP branded products.
Run from the HOFFMAN GROUP like your *** is on fire and they are chasing you with a can of gas.