clubstylus

Can anybody tell me how to identify the different types of live axle? I took mine from an old escort but haven't got a clue as to what sort it is, I'm okay figuring out what the final drive ratio is. If I have picked up some wierd oddity I'd rather know now before I go much further and do something about it..
Thanks in advance

Pete C..

If it was from an escort then it would have to be an ENGLISH which is the standard donor part for a Stylus kit build. The only variation I know of in Escorts is the ratio and that's it. Just one alteration can be the drum size at either 8 in or 9 in. The 9 in comes from the RS M2 Escort.

Rob.(unless of course some smart arse has put an ATLAS in it )

Thanks for that info. The axle did come with the smaller drum brakes but a local dealer had a larger set that I fitted on return from the ssc mods. Is this the same axle you use? How strong are they?

PeteC wrote:Thanks for that info. The axle did come with the smaller drum brakes but a local dealer had a larger set that I fitted on return from the ssc mods. Is this the same axle you use? How strong are they?

I think most live axles in the stylus are English (mine is Robs is) as for Strength Tim runs 225 through his any more and its a set of quiafe half shafts me thinks

Phil

PeteC wrote:Thanks for that info. The axle did come with the smaller drum brakes but a local dealer had a larger set that I fitted on return from the ssc mods. Is this the same axle you use? How strong are they?

Well , if you consider that my axle was secondhand when I built the car in 1997/1999 , having done miles and I've been competing it in sprints/standing starts ever since , shuving 200bhp through it ---------- it's strong enough. Who cares anyway even if it breaks , they're cheap to replace or fit Quaife shafts at £100 each or so .

Rob.

i've got a live axle in my car. however i reccomend changing the standard diff and getting a quaife one in there as you will destroy the standard one as i did. the small gears inside the ford diff can't take the power modern engines put through it. however the half shafts don't seem too bad so i think 200 bhp is fine through these.

An ATB diff from quaife will set you back about £460 new and about 100 quid to rebuild it. don't attempt to do it yourself unless you've got a DTI and you know what you are doing.

Also think about changing the ratio of the rear diff. get the gear calculator from the quaife website to see what suits you best!

hope this is good advice. might save you a bit of heartache in the future as i found out. pull away with anger and the rear diff just gave up!