I was wondering if there was anywhere that makes upgraded CV axles for the IFS front end? I have looked but can not seem to find any?

 

Send a PM to iamsuperbleeder. I think he recently redid his entire front end and if I remember correctly the CV's that he bought were larger than the ones that came on the rig.

 

I think downey makes these special cv joints?

 

they were just new, not remanufactured, OEM replacements from Advance Auto Parts; I honestly cannot remember the brand name, but the center shaft was a little larger diameter, dunno about the actual CV joints though



I think the main point of failure (beside's just old age and tearing boots), as in failure out on the trail, is the outter shaft with the splines that engage with the hub. Either that will shear off, or the flange on the diff that the inner poition of the CV bolts too will shear off the axel shaft It's been a while sence I've actually seen a CV-shaft have a catastrophic failure at the CV joint or at the intermediate shaft between the 2 joints, but it does happen

 

Yeah bleeder I just wanted to push you under the bus there since you're the expert on IFS rebuilds nowadays.

Hows that front end treating you by the way? Does it feel tighter than it did before?

 

OMG yes, it's great!

Probably one of the best things I've ever done with the truck

 

and the typical upgrade is porsche inners with stock outers, and maybe a beefed half-shaft....
The factory outer joints are, IIRC, similar in design to birfields used on SAS and don't break often, but when they do, the stub shaft shears from the joint leaving the hub to do what it normally does- spin, but without 4wd.

 

What is the max angle that the stock shafts can function at?

 

Dunno the angle, but if you were to allow the wheel to droop about 2" lower than stock configuration, you'd be at the max angle.

 

Considering 1.5" BJ spacers can put the wheel (located at least an inch or two further out), at full droop, 2" below stock, then BJ spacers are enough to max out the angles?

Is that what you're saying Matt? Or, where are you measuring travel from?

 

Yes downey makes beefier cv's as well as them being telescopic... I have them

 

Frank (Elripster I think, on YT), the guy who makes BJ spacers, experimented with different height spacers and found that with 2" spacers, some stock axles were binding up (reached their max angle) meaning that 2" more droop caused the CVs to reach their max angle.

The problem with strengthening the CVs, is that you risk blowing the front diff when too much right foot is applied. The CVs act like a sacrificial link so that you do not blow the front diff. Replacing the CVs is do-able on the trail (chances are you or someone else will have a spare) in order to get you home, but how many people carry around a spare front diff?

 

Downey says this exact thing on their website. They advertise their CV's as being stronger than stock, but still weaker than the diff, so that the weak link stays in the CV's, not the differential. With a locker in front/rear, if you blow a CV, you now have three wheel drive. Blow a diff, you are stuck with the rear axle to put the power to the ground.

Downey also has higher angle CV boots. Has anyone tried those? Curious if they are worth the coin.

Mike

 

 

They also have a single u-joint, which means its going to vibrate bad on and angle. you need two u-joints to cancel each other out.

 

Downey or CV Unlimited, but I think it's money wasted. Even with double cases, I only break them when I'm doing something stupid in compound low

 

Hang in there sparky, maybe someone will post a picture of their beefy shaft.

 

I showed mine

 

I have posted pics of my downey cv's a dozen times. I dont have the pic anymore, and its dark out or I would take another one. Let me check on another site to see if I can scramble a old cv I destroyed.

 

here ya go.. and no its not rust but mud..



and here is one I busted