gun-drilled axles in a stick car?

[ram air WS6]

thanks guys! will the aluminum spool hold up to the torque or is a lightened steel spool a better idea?

[Mark Madison]

Originally Posted by ram air WS6

thanks guys! will the aluminum spool hold up to the torque or is a lightened steel spool a better idea?

200 runs and toss it. That's the service life expected for the aluminum spool in a Dana, according to Gary Fratus from Mark Williams.
Mark Madison

[Pvt Parts]

I don't know what kind of axles you're thinking about using but here's my experience. I used to have a sponsorship with Strange. I used all Strange brakes, parts etc on my Superstock cars. They even sponsored my first comp car. One year at a D2 Warner Robins points meet I broke a R&P in my Corvette. My fault, too much clutch. When I went to change rear end I had to use a slide hammer to get the 35 spline Strange axles out and a sledge hammer to get them back in. They were twisted over one whole spline. I called Strange and they told me that their axles will do that and that they would replace them if they moved 2 splines. I decided then that I didn't need that BS.

When I bought Larry Kopp's Olds Cutlass it had Strange axles in it. Running B/A with over 900 HP I didn't want to think about twisting an axle 2 splines, let alone trying to change a rear on the fly. So, I ordered new MW 40 spline rifle drilled axles. I changed them at the first opportunity and caught all kinds of crap from the Strange rep. I told him that if you could supply me with axles that don't twist, I'll use them, otherwise they were unacceptable.

When I won Topeka in B/A, I had to change rears between rounds. The MW axles came out with two fingers and went back in with a tap. Now a lot of people on this forum use certain, dependable parts without consideration of the time necessary to change them between rounds, if needed, but that's important. I always carried spare everything for my car. Including engine, tranny and rear end. I would not have won the Topeka race without the spare rear end assy and the ease of changing it. If you can, buy MW quality, you'll never have a problem with it and you never know when you'll need it.

[Joe Martens]

Use Mark Williams gun drilled axles. You will be fine! By far the best and worth every penny!

[GTX JOHN]

Rod: Those Axles still look perfect as well as the spool!

[Ed Wright]

I had one Strange aluminum spool in my 12 bolt. Won't be another one. Cleaned the right side splines out on the starting line in round one at the Memphis national event in 2009. May had maybe 50 passes on it. Light weight steel Strange spool went back in. Less than 5lbs difference. Peace of mind is nice.