marshallhunting

Yesterday on my shaky ride home from Charleston I was pondering on how I could eliminate wearing out my axles so fast. And I have come up w/ this thought.

Step1 Replace inner (diff side) strap with a hose clamp.
Step 2 Drill and tap a zurk fitting into the inboard cup. (Thick part)
Steps 3 reassemble. And pack w/ grease using a grease gun.

By doing step one it would be a lot more simple to replace the grease in the cup but just taking the hose clamp loose and pushing the old grease out along w/ the impurities that potentially cause wear. I wanted some input on what you guys think? Will the zurk fitting weigh enough to throw the axle out of balance? Any other problems arise? I want to cover my bases before I try this, thanks in advance.

Picture attached for further illustration.

glagola1

So you are assuming that the wear and pitting occures due to a lack of proper lubrication. I'm not sure if this is why the pitting occurs. I would guess the pitting occurs due to clutch dumping and when ever the drive train is shocked. If I am right, there would be no benifit to the application of more grease.

I don't think it will help.

marshallhunting

I thought by the old grease being replaced every second oil change or so by this method. would provide better lubrication and less slop in the assembly. and I thought that the pitting was caused by normal wear and tear. there has to be a solution for this. it drives me nuts I got rebuilt axles less than 2 months ago and they are already starting to shake.

Race Miata

I think you're thinking in the wrong direction. Why wouldn't everybody else have to fix half-shafts every 2 months like you do. I know the S'es half-shafts aren't the strongest, but I just think that your "rebuilt" half-shafts are bad to begin with.

marshallhunting

very possible. I haven't looked into it. but Ill tear them apart this weekend. I just didn't want to take apart the supposed (rebuilt) axles. thanks for the input guys.

glagola1

My car developed the shakes around 35k and I finally broke the joint after over 300 drag style launches with race tires at about 50k. I then bought a used axle that had 18k on it and now my car has 70k and still no shakes from the used axle. I don't launch as hard as I used to but I certainly don't take it easy. I do a lot of auto-x... I mean a lot.

I still think the pitting comes from launches and 1st-2nd shifts.