Diff and Driveshaft Skid

[summerof95]

I always thought the front cup on the drive shaft joint, with its flat face and edge, looked like it was just asking to get gashed up and caught by rocks.

A built a skid to allow the front axle and drive shaft joint to slide easily over obstacles.
This prototype is made out of aluminum. Once the snow melts, and the rocks are more exposed, I'll be able to do some real testing.
I could make it from steel, which is generally preferred for skid plates, but I think aluminum makes more sense in this case, as it will occasionally contact the drive shaft ring and I'd rather the wear was on the skid than the ring.




Thoughts or comments are welcome.

[tstmonkey]

How is it attached? Looks nice.

[autonomous]

I like this idea looks like flashing am i right? Its thin but it takes scratches and scrapes pretty well and its smooth which helps! You should also invert your driveshafts so the smooth side is on the bottom closest to the rocks Keep the engineering coming! I like the snow chains btw

[alpine4x4]

Just adjust your link lengths and roll the axle up (IE adjust the caster). Provides a much better pinion angle, gets it out of the rocks, and you maintain plastic to rock contact which is the slickest imo.

[summerof95]

Rotating or" clocking" the axle would also decrease steering efficiency.

Tstmonkey, its currently attached in the front with E6000 adhesive. The rear wraps around the drive shaft. The E6000 seems to hold it quite well, shouldn't be affected by water or mud, and is still pretty easily removable.

[summerof95]

Finally got a chance to test this on some rocks (broken chunks of cement, actually).
It was working great and sliding smoothly over obstacles, until it caught on a jagged edge, in reverse. It popped the skid right off!
Evidently, E6000 wasn't quite up to the task.
I still think the idea is solid, though.

[pvo_srt4]

there is a guy on ebay selling skid plate for the axle's

Junfac J80029 Skid Plate FOR SCX10 AX10 Axle | eBay

[summerof95]

Yes, but the reason for building mine was to protect the lower joint on the drive shaft.

[allanon1965]

I am testing a prototype I built out of galvanized steel...my driveshaft joint is clocked up enough there is not going to be any issues with damage as the lower links hit on obstacles instead of the driveshaft joint.

this is proving out to be very good at what I intended it for and will make a final version soon I think.

[Lentsnh2012]

Originally Posted by summerof95

Rotating or" clocking" the axle would also decrease steering efficiency.

Not if you adjust your caster...

[summerof95]

I wasn't aware that it was adjustable.

[Shinjari]

Originally Posted by Lentsnh2012

Not if you adjust your caster...

Originally Posted by summerof95

I wasn't aware that it was adjustable.

Adjustable via changing link lengths but you need the adjustable/clockable CHUBs by axial to ensure proper caster.

[summerof95]

Exactly.

I prefer to do what I can with what I have / can make.
Building a $0.99 skid plate, verses building new links and buying new chubs.

Plus, it looks to me that rotating the axle may cause some clearance issues between the servo and the frame braces.