Rear axle short shaft issue?

[Katan]

Update: I have bought new rear shafts and they are the same i.e wrong

[Wrecker]

I've got the same problem with my Kit Wraith, I just ended up drilling the recess on the back of the ring gear a little deeper until everything fit like it's supposed to.

[PipeDreams]

My kit wraith short side is doing the same thing... I am using a felsenfest locker and with the other axle not even in there the short side still sticks out to far. So it's not like its getting stuck on the other axle it just won't seat far enough in the locker. Axle or housing is out! I'll have to email axial! Any other suggestions?

Wrecker... what recess? where the four bolts go into the locker?

[Bulliehead]

I had the same problem, everything in reverse and after getting everything right the axle wouldn't close.

I ended up machining about 1 mm out of the ringgear so the axle would sit a little deeper. Works great!

[Wrecker]

Originally Posted by PipeDreams

My kit wraith short side is doing the same thing... I am using a felsenfest locker and with the other axle not even in there the short side still sticks out to far. So it's not like its getting stuck on the other axle it just won't seat far enough in the locker. Axle or housing is out! I'll have to email axial! Any other suggestions?

Wrecker... what recess? where the four bolts go into the locker?

The problem is not the locker, ring gear, or the diff case. The problem is the flange on the short side shaft is too close to the end of the shaft. This flangeon the axle is was set's the depth of the axle into the differential. Also, if you look closely at the back side of the ring gear and the side of the diff case you'll see that the flange of the axle actually sits on a seat on those pieces, it's not going all of the way through and bottoming out on the locker. You can see this by putting the shaft into the back of the ring gear with nothing attatched to it, it doesn't slide all the way through, it stops on the seat. To fix the problem you need to drill that seat about 1/16" deeper so the axle shaft can seat 1/16" deeper therefore allowing the straight axle adapters to slide on 1/16" more and then all the holes will line up properly.

[PipeDreams]

Cool thx. I figured it was the bearing seat flange. I'll get a hold of axial and see what they'll do.

[LumTheMad]

Just started my build and came up against the same POS design on the short rear shaft as others have. Just like the first pictures. I'm tired and pissed off that I have to drill shit out for it to work. This had better be the only problem I find and this is one to many.

[PipeDreams]

I emailed axial and their R&D department is on it. I'll wait till their fix is sent out. I'm not drilling anything. But then again I got the time to wait.

[redbones]

same here with the kit version. I just made new holes on the axle housing to accommodate for the extra length. I'll probably dremel out the diff gear like everyone else later.

[Katan]

Originally Posted by PipeDreams

I emailed axial and their R&D department is on it. I'll wait till their fix is sent out. I'm not drilling anything. But then again I got the time to wait.

Did you get a reply that said that?

[PipeDreams]

My reply from Axial


Hi Mark.

Thanks for contacting Axial Racing. I am sorry to hear you are having a problem with your new Wraith kit. I will pass this information to R&D and production in a effort for better quality control. I did build this kit over the weekend and found the tolerances to be tight but it did go on a didn't affect the performance. I will follow up with you after hearing back from R&D. Please call or email anytime you have questions or concerns.

Thanks again Scott.

Sincerely,
Scott Kerkes

[redbones]

Originally Posted by PipeDreams

My reply from Axial


Hi Mark.

Thanks for contacting Axial Racing. I am sorry to hear you are having a problem with your new Wraith kit. I will pass this information to R&D and production in a effort for better quality control. I did build this kit over the weekend and found the tolerances to be tight but it did go on a didn't affect the performance. I will follow up with you after hearing back from R&D. Please call or email anytime you have questions or concerns.

Thanks again Scott.

Sincerely,
Scott Kerkes

lol "tight" is too lenient to describe the extreme binding that this causes. Will probably lead to motor overheating and premature bearing wear. The machining is a full 1-2mm off on that shaft. It also mashes your diff bevel gear into each other unless you relieve the pressure.

[LumTheMad]

Originally Posted by redbones

lol "tight" is too lenient to describe the extreme binding that this causes. It also mashes your diff bevel gear into each other unless you relieve the pressure.

Very true, I could feel the teeth mesh when I tried to turn it and it was very bound up.

I may figure this out later, but why on earth would anyone mount the steering linkage to the bottom of the metal knuckle tabs? Mounting it to the top seems like a no brainer. I may find out shortly.

[johnnyh66]

So, this is only an issue with aftermarket lockers?
Has an aftermarket locker been found that does not have this issue?

[Katan]

Originally Posted by johnnyh66

So, this is only an issue with aftermarket lockers?
Has an aftermarket locker been found that does not have this issue?

This issue has nothing to do with aftermarket lockers.

[johnnyh66]

Originally Posted by Katan

This issue has nothing to do with aftermarket lockers.

right.
but does the short shaft tolerance issue come up when using stock lockers?
I'm guessing no or else no one's rear axle would work.

so, it only becomes an issue when switching to after market lockers?

[redbones]

Originally Posted by johnnyh66

right.
but does the short shaft tolerance issue come up when using stock lockers?
I'm guessing no or else no one's rear axle would work.

so, it only becomes an issue when switching to after market lockers?

This is an issue with the short drive shaft machined off spec.
It won't go away unless you change the shaft or make adjustments elsewhere.

[johnnyh66]

Originally Posted by redbones

This is an issue with the short drive shaft machined off spec.
It won't go away unless you change the shaft or make adjustments elsewhere.

I understand that the problem is with the Axial Wraith rear axle short shaft being out of spec.

I'm about to start an Axial Wraith axle build.
I was going to upgrade both lockers.
After reading this, I'm thinking that I should use stock Axial lockers in the rear.

Am I correct in assuming that there is not an after market rear locker that will work with the defective Axial rear axle short shaft?

[LumTheMad]

I am having the issue with all stock parts.

[PipeDreams]

No matter what locker it's an issue. It's the axle. I tried stock and after market. Both had the same problem. It's beyond tight. Mine will not go together at all!