CV axle/Joint problems

[Tremp31]

I'm relatively new to the club racing and the IT scene and I definitely going through my learning curve. I've shown some good speed and have been running consistent lap times but my car has been letting me down from time to time. It seems that I've found a reoccurring problem in my CV axle. I've now broke 2 driver side CV joints and both times, the boot has ripped. The second one lasted 4 events. All of my events have been at Watkins Glen, and there are a lot of right turns in 3 & 4 th gear which would put a lot of stress on the driver side axle. The other thing is these axles cam with the car when I bought it, so I have no clue how old they are, if they've been used already, if they are new or remanufactured, etc... So the real questions is, is this just the cost of doing business and I should keep a spare on hand every time I go to the track. Or is there something I can do to make them last longer? Oh also, I'm driving a 1990 Acura Integra. Thanks for the help.

[Greg Amy]

http://www.gatorracingaxles.com

Don't lower the car more than 5" at the top of the pinch weld.

Ensure you have good motor mounts.

GA

[Chip42]

If it's just torn boots then Vent the boots to make sure you aren't just blowing the thing from vapor pressure. Cut the clamp on the shaft side (small diameter end) and slip a small brass pipe from a model store or straw from a can of brake cleaner in a pinch. Reclamp with zip ties or the appropriate band clamp. See if that helps them last. Greg hit on the larger scope mechanical wear affecting items but solved similar issues to those you describe this way.

[Greg Amy]

If it's just torn boots then Vent the boots to make sure youbhavent just blowing the thing from vapor pressure.

Good point. From the description I was assuming mechanical failure...

Without vent tube...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WC3XpTbwtg

[Tremp31]

Ah good advice... the ride height should be at 5 or above. I do have to check the mounts, if the motor is jumping around that could really be a problem. Have you used the Gator axles before? Do they last a good long time? Do you have an idea of the cost?

[Greg Amy]

Gator is a good company, good service, good pricing. Axle rebuilds are typically in the hundred-dollar range (call them for exact details). I've been using them for a couple years now, been extremely happy with their quality and service. I regularly send them axles for inspection/repair/repack.

I suggest scouring junkyards for a spare pair of OE axles; you can usually identify them via the paint marks on the shaft. Send those to them and keep handy as spares.

Other racers also like to use Raxles (http://www.raxles.com/).

[Tremp31]

Ahhh... now I realize that I have to clearify. The first one the boot tore flung grease everywhere and then the bearing failed. The car took a hard left at the top of the esses, caught it before it hit the wall (real scary ) . The second one the boot just tore bearing didn't fail yet. I heard the straw/tube thing before, might have to try that too.

[Greg Amy]

Left axle, inner boot? That was my nemesis: I was tearing boots every weekend which got worse when I started doing the longer National/Majors races. Raxles claimed I was running the car too low (I wasn't), Gator thought I might be picking up road debris (with a full undertray?) That's when I moved my GoPro to under the car and saw it happening (see video above).

Brass tube under the smaller end of the inner boot resolved it completely. I believe Gator does this for all axles now.

GA

[Tremp31]

Greg, just realized that you put the video on there. Watching now... at what minute mark do things start to go bad?

[mossaidis]

http://www.gatorracingaxles.com

Don't lower the car more than 5" at the top of the pinch weld.

Ensure you have good motor mounts.

GA

+1


Glenn Wilson is the man. Dunde Gator @ aol. com

His road racing axles are reliable. They are heavier than stock. Absolutely not a performance enhancer. Protest me, pinch that spot, ask me to rotate my head, tell me to cough and all that. See ya at the track soon.

[joeg]

The only time I have seen an inner boot failure was on account of my motor/tranny mount coming apart.

Ugh!!

But actually, the car ran OK in such state.