VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 early chevrolet axle breakage

why did early axles break so easy ive looked back through the last years topics and could not find this subject my dad had a 32 and carried a spare axle with him i have a friend who has a 27 coupe and is scared to run it hard or even put it in a hard turn for fear of breaking a axle doe they make a new axle that will not snap ?

In my opinion the problem is greatly exaggerated. And YES a repo axle is available, although a bit expensive. Have not heard of a breakage with the repo axle. Contact Gary Wallace chev4cyl@swbell.net

I agree with the Antique Mechanic. I think the most axles broke because of the roads that they drove on and the driving characteristics. Most roads back then were dirt and heavily rutted or if paved had pot holes. It is a great shock to the drive train (read: axles) when the rear wheels hit the uneven road service. Most drivers did not take pains to protect the vehicle as it was the primary transportation and not a collector vehicle. It is the shock that will overstress the rear axles causing them to break.
The only axle that I have broken in over 30 years was cracked nearly through a long time prior to my purchase. The back wheel even wobbled and several experts never found out why (they thought it was a bent wheel even though we checked all the wheels) until the axle broke.

do you think that the axles were forged with slight defects in them .(slag or scale on the dies)and just waiting for a bad hit to break.? you can remove the axles and have them crack tested to reasure yourself that you have the best possible. jim

Just to add to the total sample of comments here, I have been told in the past by an elderly farmer friend of mine about the axle problem. He also remarked about the 490 as being called that because it was usually 4 days on the road and 90 days in the shop. No offence , really, just word for word!

99% of all the old Chevrolet axles that will ever break have already broken.

Except for the one in my car! :eek: :eek: :( :( :confused: :confused:

Well d2d2 there probably have been a jillion axles broken since the first car with poweraxles was built, is that what you meant?
Yeah, that is probably so, but just wait tell all of those 4 cylinder cars being restored get back on the road! (there will probably be 50 cars at the National 4 cylinder tour in New Mexico in June)I have faith in my comrades that some more axles will bite the dust.

Anyone want to enter a axle snapping pot?

My guess is 1.

If they didn't have a problem why did they keep trying to improve them?They even made a running change in 1932.Remember my fathers '31 and people asking him as to how many axles he had replaced.(just one). The 1933s were the first to have a decent axle shaft. The rather quick Chevrolet clutch didn't help either.

...And all of that low end torque...

thanks for all the thoughts on axle breakage guys dad had a 32 2 door just after the war and like i said carried a spare axle he says proudly that even learned to change it himself and beleive me dad is no mechanic my neighbor lady drove a 34 coupe she bought new untill about 1986 and put 56000 miles on it and never had axle trouble so i know the problem was solved bye then if just had dads 32 today

Hi All

I went through 3 axles over the past 20 years. In speaking with others and some remaining original drivers of the 1928 era, these axles were known to give. Most of this happened near the spider gear in the differential. I had two machined at the local speed shop to the tune of 600 dollars (about 3 years ago) They were rated to withstand tons of horsepower so no chance of them failing. Most of the discussions I had seemed to reflect the use of inferior steel in the making of these axles. Many gave as a result of clutch chatter. Just my 2 cents.

mromano

Hi Guys,
If anyone is interested I have been running the C&P Chrome Moly Axles and Drive Shaft in my 28 Roadster for about 6 months. They are available for 1925 to 31 and the driveshaft comes in standard and overdrive lengths. I believe these are available from Gary Wallace, Filling Station and others including C&P for about $190 ea.
Herb

When I bought my '28, I was told it has a late model clutch plate fitted with the usual anti chatter springs. Apparently this was a straight swap in. Only the most fanatical restorer would object to fitting a late model clutch I would imagine. The anti chatter springs must go a long way to stop the high frequency shocks that would cause a percentage of axle breaks.
Just my 4 cents worth (allowing for the OZ/US exchange rate, plus 10%GST.)
Tim.

i must say that i think it had something to do with the steel in the axles in the cars only we have put many miles on the one ton and never broke a axle have shifted with and wwithout clutch both hauled loads and even hauled wheat to the thrasher in july all day in first gear at a idle and it never even tried to get hot lets a model tt do that

In support of my argument that axle breakage had as much to do with the type of clutch used as any other factor, I submit the following quote from an article in Restored Cars, issue 143 (Australian magazine).
In the article, an interview with Alf Wiemers, whom held a drivers licence for 70 years and drove 'service cars', a1920s/30s version of the stretched limosine, on a dirt mountain road between Toowoomba and Brisbane, he states the following.
"One problem with the Chevrolet, was that they used to have a diaphram pressure plate (no springs), they would destroy them slipping the clutch when bogged, ruin them with heat and often break axles when they ceased to slip."
Tim.

I have to disagree with the guy because the Chevrolets that used a diaphram clutch were the 1938s and up which did not have common axle breakage problems.Also if the clutch would be abused as he said it would be more likely to slip than grab.From my experiances the clutches that would apply fast were the pre 1938 coil spring jobs.After these cars got old and worn out with broken motor mounts and other loose "joints" the clutch became brutal on the drive line.