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Live axle to de dion
Micael - 12/7/07 at 12:07 PM

I'm thinking of switching from a live axle (Escort MK2 german axle*) to a De dion axle. There are no avalible LSD-kit to my live axle

I have an Sierra LSD diff from an 4x4 with driveshaft, brakes, etc

Can I use my tralingarms, panhard and prop or do i need to replace/rebuild them?

I know that i have to fabricate some brackets for the diff.


* I think my axle is called "köln" and it looks like an small atlas axle, but it is much weaker.


graememk - 12/7/07 at 12:11 PM

i wouldnt bother, to be honest i've been thinking about taking out my lsd and going open.


Jubal - 12/7/07 at 12:42 PM

quote:
Originally posted by graememk
i wouldnt bother, to be honest i've been thinking about taking out my lsd and going open.


Why is that then?


Fatgadget - 12/7/07 at 06:57 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Jubal
quote:
Originally posted by graememk
i wouldnt bother, to be honest i've been thinking about taking out my lsd and going open.


Why is that then?


Considering the expense involved,i doubt the disadvantages of a well sorted live axle over the advantages of an average de-dion are worth the effort.
Years ago I remember Ford motorsport though Andy Dawson did a practical feasibility assessment of both configurations on a tarmac spec Escort....The rest is history.


ChrisGamlin - 12/7/07 at 07:34 PM

An LSD in a reasonably powerful live axle'd car (especially on track) is a must IMHO, even with just a Fireblade engine my BEC used to spin up its inside wheel something chronic coming out of tight corners, now with the Quaife its light years better in this department, with no discernable disadvantages (no understeer etc). In an IRS car like an Indy its not quite as bad with an open diff judging from friend's IRS Westfields with the same engine, but an LSD still improved the traction of their cars.

Micael, why not just fit an English Mk2 Escort axle then you'll have a multitude of LSD choices and it will be a far simpler conversion?

Chris

[Edited on 12/7/07 by ChrisGamlin]


Micael - 12/7/07 at 09:19 PM

Its not the de deon i'm after, its the traction that comes with the LSD i'm after.


The English MK2 axle is fairly rare here in sweden. If I would find one, the price is to high, round 400£ for a used non LSD. Then you need the LSD kit.

I also think that the flange on the english axle is smaller than the flange on my german axle, which i have heard has the same flange as Sierra. If this is true i can use my old prop in the de deon setup.


ChrisGamlin - 12/7/07 at 09:51 PM

I have a spare axle casing with drum brakes and a 3.89 diff you could have for a hell of a lot less than £400! It would need half-shafts (as I need those as spares) but thats about all, its even had Locost mounting brackets welded on but as they were done by the previous owner I couldnt vouch for their accuracy.

Im not sure about shipping etc but I know a mate who could probably make it happen if you did want to look into this route

The flange on a propshaft can be easily changed, so dont let that problem sway your decision.

cheers
Chris


britishtrident - 13/7/07 at 07:05 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Micael
Its not the de deon i'm after, its the traction that comes with the LSD i'm after.


The English MK2 axle is fairly rare here in sweden. If I would find one, the price is to high, round 400£ for a used non LSD. Then you need the LSD kit.

I also think that the flange on the english axle is smaller than the flange on my german axle, which i have heard has the same flange as Sierra. If this is true i can use my old prop in the de deon setup.


English axle diff had a small flange in the MK1 when fitted to the MK2 it usually had a large flange.

[Edited on 13/7/07 by britishtrident]


Micael - 13/7/07 at 07:33 AM

Thanks for the offer Chris.

But I think is just the halfshaft that makes the english axle so expensive here.

The axel is used in historic racing and the halfshaft seems to be a weak point. So everyone is "hamstering" them.

One could use quife ones, but they are not exactly locost

How does an MK1 english axle differ from a MK2 english axle?
Here all MK1 escort used the MK1 english axle and all MK2 escort had the german axle.


ChrisGamlin - 13/7/07 at 09:43 AM

You can pick up halfshafts (in the UK at least) for £20-30 a pair, but if you wanted a complete axle you could pick one of those up for £100-150 here, so even with shipping it would be a lot less than £400.