Front Universal shaft Issue

[05Fronty4x]

My Wraith kit came in today and I'm about an hour into the build and came across a road block. The short side universal will not slide into the bearing that goes into the end of the axle housing. The diameter on the shaft is 4.99mm, and everything else that goes into the same size bearing measures 4.90mm.

Bummer.

[Johnnysplits]

Do you already have the shock brackets installed? If so, take the screws back out and the axle should slide right in.

[05Fronty4x]

I haven't got that far. The universal physically won't fit in the bearing. Axial has another shaft on the way.

[ZippoMan]

You beat me to the solution!! Warranty plain and simple.....not every kit is perfect. I had a bent rear axle shaft and they sent new ones.

[05Fronty4x]

Yup, they have great support, and I'm in no rush. My electronics won't be here for another week or so. My rear axle shaft bottoms out before I can get the lockout all the way on too. On to the tranny and chassis I suppose.

[Meatwad]

Chuck it into a drill and sand it down till it fits.

[ZippoMan]

Always good to get warranty items then you can monkey with a fix for spare parts!!

[dittohead]

Originally Posted by Meatwad

Chuck it into a drill and sand it down till it fits.

Thats exactly what i would do, im not the type to wait around for warranty parts, im FAR too impatient for that

[evan03]

Let me buyy it for 5 bucks and I'll install it on mine pronto

[ZippoMan]

I have patience....too much!! I also feel a person shouldn't have to modify new parts to fit that were supposed to fit in the first place. If companies get too many Warranty claims maybe they should wake up and see what is happening!! Too much cheaply made garbage these days!! Not just in this hobby!! GRRR yes I am on my soap box....time to step off and go to sleep...lol

[05Fronty4x]

I can completely relate to both sides. My patience is prettly low, and believe me I've had to modify countless things over the years by hand due to defects. I even sanded the lip on the shaft thinking maybe there was a burr or somesort of small defect before calling Axial. If I had a lathe I'd tap the pins out and chuck the shaft up and reduce it. If I were in to competition and I didn't have time to wait for the replacement, you bet this thing would be in the drill getting some fat trimmed, but for this particular issue I think it's best to just get a proper shaft. I want my axles to spin as true as possible with minimal slop, and won't even have the stuff to finish the build until the end of next week.

Another example which followed about 30 minutes later...I found that the rear short axle shaft bottoms on on the ring gear before I can get the lockout on all the way. I tried flipping the gear, taking the gasket out of the locker housing and even went to recess the ring gear more so the shaft would slide in further and accidently drilled all the way through instead of only the 2mm or so that I planned on. The lockout goes on now, but the axle shaft has nearly 1/4" of in and out play. Then I thought about just rotating the lockouts and drilling new holes, but I don't want to weaken my beefless housings any more than they are.

I definitely exhaust any practical options before turning to a replacement, which is very close to my last resort, but not quite.