[Lebowski]

Are 4140 or 4340 aftermarket rear axle shafts a worthy an upgrade?
I'm running a 31" tire and plan to use chains for snow and mud...just wondering if this might be a worthwhile purchase as they are on sale.
http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/suzuki-s ... hafts.html

[MrRocky]

I ran 32"s on high traction surfaces with a locked rear for 8+ years with zero breakages of rear axles. I would say def not needed for 31"s. Even with a spool rear the center itself blows up before axles

[Gwagensteve]

I recall people who have run those axles found them no stronger (or maybe weaker) than standard. I don't believe standard rear axles will present a problem on 31's.

[Lebowski]

I found the specs on the tire chains.
Looks like 30lbs per tire....my concern is the weight of the chains may overstress the axle shafts?

[Gwagensteve]

I hate chains and won't ever use them, but still, you'd have to be enormously abusive to break axles with 31's and chains.

[Lebowski]

I'd be interested to hear why your not a fan of chains....I may learn something.
I recall using them while in the reserves, and in the right environment they greatly increased traction offroad. Mind you, that was on large lumbering vehicles that weren't mine and I didn't have to fix.

[tanshi]

those axles are complete shit.

stockers are way better

[pete_79]

Lebowski wrote:

I'd be interested to hear why your not a fan of chains....I may learn something.
I recall using them while in the reserves, and in the right environment they greatly increased traction offroad. Mind you, that was on large lumbering vehicles that weren't mine and I didn't have to fix.

Not sure exactly where in Canada you are, but I would hazard a guess that our pissy little 3 month snow season fails in comparison to your local environment.

Here we have a handful of roads that regulate the use of chains on 2wd passenger vehicles for a very short period in the snow season.

There have been previous discussions in here about the use of chains on our tracks that really have no need for chains at all. Myself I would take an Australian's opinion about snow chains with a grain of salt....

[Gwagensteve]

I'm not ignorant Pete. Chains are very useful for ice which is why they are mandated in alpine resorts for groomed roads where ice formation is common. 25 years of snow driving on ungroomed roads and tracks has taught me chains are much less effective in snow than a moderately aggressive tyre at very low pressure. Lebowski also mentioned potential use in mud. Am I ineligible to comment on that too?

I'll note that chain use is uncommon in North America for exactly the reasons you pointed out. Nobody is running chains for 6
Months of the year.

[pete_79]

Wasn't having a personal dig at you mate. Feel free to answer the question however you like....

Mine was more a broad, general statement.
To me it was a bit like a Victorian asking a North Queenslander how to dress for winter.

[henno]

pete_79 wrote:

To me it was a bit like a Victorian asking a North Queenslander how to dress for winter.

Thongs and shorts and she'll be right mate.

[greenzook89]

Gwagensteve wrote:

I recall people who have run those axles found them no stronger (or maybe weaker) than standard. I don't believe standard rear axles will present a problem on 31's.

Bogga used to break axles on 31s, his rims were beadlocked however and he is the only person I know that has broken axles on that tyre size so perhaps there were otjer factors.

[Gwagensteve]

Lebowski was asking predominately about low traction surfaces so I can’t see it being an issue.

[bogga]

greenzook89 wrote:

Gwagensteve wrote:

I recall people who have run those axles found them no stronger (or maybe weaker) than standard. I don't believe standard rear axles will present a problem on 31's.

Bogga used to break axles on 31s, his rims were beadlocked however and he is the only person I know that has broken axles on that tyre size so perhaps there were otjer factors.

Predominantly weight, my swb was a fat pig. Then on top of this very low pressures and new federal couragia's is when I was regularly busting axles. Driving style you would have to say played a part but I've had axles break taking it easyish.

[bogga]

Gwagensteve wrote:

Lebowski was asking predominately about low traction surfaces so I can’t see it being an issue.

Just to add in line with post, I busted a axle on a low traction clay climb??

[Gwagensteve]

Wheelspin?

[MrRocky]

I normally ran my 32"s at 6psi, i reckon you could snap an axle on 26"s if you didnt get off the gas when it started to hop and bounce in the rear.

[bogga]

Gwagensteve wrote:

Wheelspin?

Yep.
Without diverting to much from the post, I've always wondered if the rear spool also played a part by making the axles weaker when driving on tarmac? I'm far from a heavy footed hoon on road but you knew the rear was spooled.

[Gwagensteve]

Which is why I asked. The point being is that chains aren't supposed to be spun. That's when armageddon happens.

[Lebowski]

I appreciate everyones comments.
Looks like we all agree that both airing down and chains have their place.
Good to know the stock axles should hold up ok. I'm sure they will see some abuse, but I try to keep things sane....use hard but not foolishly hard.
Gwagensteve is correct, chains should not be spun...chains or axles break when they grab onto a rock or root. In some parts of the country here, there are times when they are posted as mandatory for continued legal road travel. Mostly in the mountainous roads with steep inclines.
Yes Pete, your right about the snow. Sometimes we get 20-30cm snowfalls. More often 10-15-20cm. The actual depth is ok if there is no wind, but when windy the snow builds up in to very deep drifts, and that is where we have the most issue with forward progress.... and those darn pesky low spots that get filled in and all of a sudden that flat field has a hidden 3ft deep depression one finds themselves in!
Some good short vids that show why we like chains here, but I admit they are not used by that many 4x4's here. Mostly military vehicles and some larger offroad only equipment.

Some worthwhile watches for tire chains:
Start watching at 1:45 for all the impressive deep snow action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2p3HjSlVJA0

Part 1...Old '40's military truck WITHOUT chains:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7M9ZkeO2Gw

Part 2...Old '40's military truck WITH chains:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atB2V9y9AX8

[Lebowski]

On a side note, in my area, it is common for the Trans-Canada Hwy #1 (the only hwy the runs coast to coast across Canada) to be closed for a day or two to ALL vehicular travel several times during the winter. This is due to blowing snow causing zero visibilty and the impassable drifts. Other times the highway may be closed due to warmish temperatures combined with winds causing glazed ice for stretches of 100-250km. No one wants to drive on chains for that distance!
You get to see quite the backlog of transport trucks, sometimes numbering into the hundreds, waiting for the highway gates to be opened.

[tanshi]

what part of Canada are you from? It my favorite place in the world other than Australia.

Always wanted to get some wheeling in when ive been other there for one of my many trips.

[Lebowski]

Right in the middle...Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Let me know if your ever coming close by!

[vet 180]

Can’t comment on chains as I have never used, but when I was in the Rhône Alps in France the difference a good snow tire made was almost unbelievable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Lebowski]

I do run dedicated snow tires on the car in winter. A real snow tire does offer outstanding traction on icey/snowy roads surfaces. In some provinces here you must run snow tires in the winter, or your insurance is voided. The required tires must have the 'mountain/snowflake' label cast into the sidewalk to indicate their softer rubber compound for cold weather and winter snow rated siped tread design.

[Gwagensteve]

Exactly. Most Australians are completely ignorant about winter tyres.

So ignorant, in fact, that unscrupulous tyre merchants were importing winter tyres and selling them locally more cheaply than local summer rated tyres. I suspect as sales of winter tyres are very seasonal, they could be purchased cheaply overseas in the Northern hemisphere summer.

The safety of driving on a compound designed for <5˚C road surfaces on >60˚C surfaces in summer doesn't bear thinking about.

The rise of Chinese brands seems to have almost eliminated this practice, but it was common for a while.

[greenzook89]

Off topic but I remember many years ago driving a "fresh off the boat" R33 GTST that had studded snow tyres fitted. Was incredibly weird powersliding third/fourth gears on a dry Australian road in a otherwise stock R33.

Would hate to think if the dealer ever sold that car with those tyres on to a young inexperienced driver.

[Joshyboy26]

Gotta say i gave mine shit and never broke rear axles. I broke cross pins and r n p heaps though haha. On 34s