Does This Look Familiar?

[Joe C.]

Re: Does This Look Familiar?

Joe:

No, it was from a heavy foot. I decided to dump the clutch @3500 to clean up the rear rubber. It broke, even with the bicycle tires! That was the right side, I'm waiting for the left side to follow.
Here's why I had the problem. Sometime in the past, bubba must have used a torch to remove the inner bearing race from the original GM spindle. He probably did the same to the other side. I rebuilt both T arms 2 yrs ago, reused the spindles 'cause they looked AOK, and set the bearing clearance to .002".
I replaced the broken spindle with a unit from International Axle. It is a very well made piece, and worth the extry scratch. As advertised, it has very little runout. It has been in the T arm for about 3 months. I would absolutely not replace with a GM piece, because they have excessive runout. Measured runout on the IA piece is .001" (at the stud radius), @ .0005" bearing clearance.

Joe

[Joe C.]

Re: Does This Look Familiar?

Joe:

No, it was from a heavy foot. I decided to dump the clutch @3500 to clean up the rear rubber. It broke, even with the bicycle tires! That was the right side, I'm waiting for the left side to follow.
Here's why I had the problem. Sometime in the past, bubba must have used a torch to remove the inner bearing race from the original GM spindle. He probably did the same to the other side. I rebuilt both T arms 2 yrs ago, reused the spindles 'cause they looked AOK, and set the bearing clearance to .002".
I replaced the broken spindle with a unit from International Axle. It is a very well made piece, and worth the extry scratch. As advertised, it has very little runout. It has been in the T arm for about 3 months. I would absolutely not replace with a GM piece, because they have excessive runout. Measured runout on the IA piece is .001" (at the stud radius), @ .0005" bearing clearance.

Joe

[Terry M.]

And he is trying to teach us - thank you Steve *NM*

[Terry M.]

And he is trying to teach us - thank you Steve *NM*

[Terry M.]

oops - I meant -- thank you Joe. *NM*

[Terry M.]

oops - I meant -- thank you Joe. *NM*

[Steve Pettit]

Re: And Steve, I'll bet you learned a lesson.

Yeah, I did, When I was raising my kids and they did something obviously stupid I didn't always give in to the urge to rub their noses in it. Sometimes I was able to look back and remember how much more of a lesson I got than I would have if I'd been all pissed off cause the old man yelled and screamed. Dad's temper was a little better than mine though. But seeing that little jewel of Joe's sure brought back the memories.

Steve

[Steve Pettit]

Re: And Steve, I'll bet you learned a lesson.

Yeah, I did, When I was raising my kids and they did something obviously stupid I didn't always give in to the urge to rub their noses in it. Sometimes I was able to look back and remember how much more of a lesson I got than I would have if I'd been all pissed off cause the old man yelled and screamed. Dad's temper was a little better than mine though. But seeing that little jewel of Joe's sure brought back the memories.

Steve

[Joe L.]

Re: Does This Look Familiar?

Joe-----

It may very well be that the strength of this axle was compromised by previous "maintenence operations" performed by a "klutz" mechanic. However, as I've said many times previously, it IS possible to have too much power and torque in a 1963-82 Corvette with stock rear drive components. The Corvette IRS was never capable of withstanding "drag racing" type conditions and it WILL break at one point or another if it is subjected to such conditions and/or the "recipient" of the power and torque generated by modern day engine technology.

[Joe L.]

Re: Does This Look Familiar?

Joe-----

It may very well be that the strength of this axle was compromised by previous "maintenence operations" performed by a "klutz" mechanic. However, as I've said many times previously, it IS possible to have too much power and torque in a 1963-82 Corvette with stock rear drive components. The Corvette IRS was never capable of withstanding "drag racing" type conditions and it WILL break at one point or another if it is subjected to such conditions and/or the "recipient" of the power and torque generated by modern day engine technology.

[Craig S.]

Re: Does This Look Familiar?

IA has outstanding quality, maching is top notch, materials and attention to hardening are excellent. The only way to go on a car you intend to twist hard....Craig

[Craig S.]

Re: Does This Look Familiar?

IA has outstanding quality, maching is top notch, materials and attention to hardening are excellent. The only way to go on a car you intend to twist hard....Craig

[Joe C.]

Re: Does This Look Familiar?

Joe:

My engine is a stock L76. I ported and polished, cc'd and gasket matched the stock heads. That's it! The car has the original type bicycle tires (Goodyear goldlines from Kelsey), so I would think that they would act as the "shear pin". All components are stock, including the u-joints, so I believe that they should be the weak link.
That was the first time I sidestepped the clutch out of the hole, and it won't be the last. Everything in moderation, of course, but these cars, in stock form were routinely beat up, and held together well enough. Granted, a standard live axle will hold up much better than the IR, but here again, the difference is with the u-joints, and/or the yokes on the halfshafts.
Better to shake out all the weak links now, and enjoy later. I can only say that I am very glad that those spindle bearings are not the floating type.

Joe

[Joe C.]

Re: Does This Look Familiar?

Joe:

My engine is a stock L76. I ported and polished, cc'd and gasket matched the stock heads. That's it! The car has the original type bicycle tires (Goodyear goldlines from Kelsey), so I would think that they would act as the "shear pin". All components are stock, including the u-joints, so I believe that they should be the weak link.
That was the first time I sidestepped the clutch out of the hole, and it won't be the last. Everything in moderation, of course, but these cars, in stock form were routinely beat up, and held together well enough. Granted, a standard live axle will hold up much better than the IR, but here again, the difference is with the u-joints, and/or the yokes on the halfshafts.
Better to shake out all the weak links now, and enjoy later. I can only say that I am very glad that those spindle bearings are not the floating type.

Joe

[Mike Cobine]

Re: Does This Look Familiar?

Better to shake out all the weak links now, and enjoy later.

A friend had the philosophy, make all the weak parts break now, so you can replace them with parts that last.

I don't know if he ever managed that, since they seem to always be breaking.