English axle power limitations

[godsy1969]

I've a SEW with an english axle, it has Panhard rod kit attached and a standard 3.9 diff, I've some concerns of the limitations as to what power I can safely put through it.  I've uprated my engine to 230hp.  Anybody know any strengthening accesories without resorting to approaching the bank manager for a new axle setup. Anybody out there put this kind of power through these axles before.  

[Blatman]

Quaife make stronger half shafts, but they probably aren't cheap.

You'll do better with this amount of power in a Westfield than an Escort, but even so I think you're on the limit of what it'll handle safely. Tyres will make a difference too. Sticky ones will increase the loadings compared to not so sticky ones.

Unless you have paid them some attention already, your current weakest point is likely to be the forward attachment point for the trailing arms on the chassis. They have been known to detach themselves quite nicely. They need strengthening/gusseting before trying any racing starts...

I think you need to factor in a possible Baby Atlas upgrade at some point in the future...

[godsy1969]

Thanks for your quick feedback, I've uprated the trailing arms to 1" box section but haven't had chance to look at the mounting points yet.

[John Loudon - Sponsorship Liaison]

The mounting points of the arms at the chassis end will fail. The brackets are wider than the chassis tube that they are weklded to and as such stress fracture at the overhang point. These can easily be beefed up with triangulation behind them to brace them. Axle wise, speak to Mallock Racing. They do mods to the axle casing to improve its strength with double bearing width halfshafts. Fitting an LSD of some kind also improves the strength of the internals.

John

[SADDLEWORTH]

Hauser Racing import halfshafts to your spec from the USA,and are cheap.

Tel.01933312735.

[Greenstreak-Andy D]

After Johns comments about trailing arm mount to chassis failing i checked my Westie last night. A gusset was already in place, (chassis 2001 SEW) ...... Westfield must have already adressed this issue on post 2001 chassis then!

Would be alarming if that was to fail!!!!

Andy

[Matt Seabrook]

I have played with gusseting my race car and have done one season with just short of 230bhp and so far half shafts have been OK on Yokohama A032 super softs. Not sure what the break point will be on the half shafts but all seems well at the moment. I have know more breakages on the early Westfield independent setup until that is beefed up than Escort half shafts.

[cng1]

Standard english axles don't seem to like cossie power, even stock turbo ones.  Baby atlas is the way to go if you're going to give it some real abuse

[Matt Seabrook]

Stock turbo YB will make more torque than an NA lump and torque is what will kill the shafts.

[juansolo]

Got about 200 coming from the Pintworth to an English with a Tran-X plate LSD.  It's got standard half shafts but had new bearings when I fitted the diff.

If you're running sticky rubber of any sort beef up the brackets for the trailing arms to the chassis, these are the weak point and mine were letting go when Paul noticed them and beefed them up.  I've since run 32R/48Rs with no trouble at all.  They were ok the few times I ran slicks but keep a very close eye on them if you do go for the slickage as they'll put huge strain on them.