Hardened Half-shafts

[Pyoor_Kate]

Since it seems Rebecca's off the road until the missing bit of the gearbox makes it's way to the engineer's workshop - and I still need to go and collect that Diff (sorry!); I'm contemplating the big-giant list of jobs and wondered if anyone's had any experience of the hardened half shafts?

I thought I'd fit new half-shafts when I do the diff, but since everywhere only seems to do s/h ones I don't really see the point in changing them for other second hand ones (unless mine turn out to be knackered).

So, anyone got experience of the EN24 ones?

(Rebecca will be 1275 engine (with fast road cam) - I think they reckoned around 60-65bhp & 3.9 Diff; otherwise standard transmission wise)

[bmcecosse]

As long as you don't do wheelspin starts, and don't let the axle 'tramp' - the standard half-shafts will be fine. But do inspect them when changing the diff - and if the splines are starting to show signs of 'twist' - change them for better ones !
Are the hard shafts EN 24? I thought the 'hard' shafts were just standard shafts that had been put through a heat treatment cycle. Anyone know what steel standard shafts are made of ?

[MarkyB]

Also don't whack it into 1st if you are rolling backwards or into reverse if rolling forwards .
A chap on the MOT several years ago did this and snapped his half shaft in short order.
Happily someone had brought a spare

[bmcecosse]

Crikey - I carry many things, but not considered a half-shaft! But then I don't venture more than 100 miles from home.

[PSL184]

Crikey - I carry many things, but not considered a half-shaft!

That's done it now Roy - you better get some spares in quick

[d_harris]

I reckon Roy secretly tows a spare car......

he just doesn't tell us........

[bmcecosse]

I do have spare shafts - just don't take them with me ! May have to do so now, or the inevitable will happen.

[Kevin]

As long as you don't do wheelspin starts, and don't let the axle 'tramp' - the standard half-shafts will be fine. But do inspect them when changing the diff - and if the splines are starting to show signs of 'twist' - change them for better ones !
Are the hard shafts EN 24? I thought the 'hard' shafts were just standard shafts that had been put through a heat treatment cycle. Anyone know what steel standard shafts are made of ?

It depends the standard half shafts are often heat treated to become harded half shafts but EN24's are new ones made by someone like Peter May Engineering
http://www.petermayengineering.com/cata ... catalogue5

[Matt]

so what kevin is saying is... you can get

a) Standard Ones
b) Hardened ones
c) Peter May's EN24 ones

[alex_holden]

Am I right in thinking you can't get *new* standard or hardened ones (unless you are lucky enough to stumble across some NOS)? I believe the standard ones you can buy from the suppliers are second hand, and the hardened ones are just used standard ones that have been heat treated.

[Pyoor_Kate]

Aye, that's my issue - I can only find second hand normal ones or EN24 competition ones.

My thought was I'd rather not bother replacing them with other second hand ones; because - well - why bother, unless they're completely shonky, and given the small fortune I'm about to spend on her, then I might as well get competition ones...

[twincamman]

There is another option. Some LCVs had thicker shafts, similar to the Wolsley 1500/Riley 1.5

[bmcecosse]

Don't think so! W and R shafts are exactly the same as Minor shafts.
The 'competition' shafts are a tad expensive - £142 each!! Good reason to change to a different axle I would say - if planning that much power.

[plastic_orange]

It's more cost effective to fit another axle - Ford Escort for example, or even Marina.

Pete

[harrysmoggy]

I have just brought a pair of uprated half shafts cost me £80. This must be a cheaper alternative than changing the axle!

[bmcecosse]

Depends who from and how they have been 'hardened' ! Who was the supplier ?

[glokkk]

Hello Harrysmoggie;
re: "I have just brought a pair of uprated half shafts cost me £80. This must be a cheaper alternative than changing the axle!"
can I ask where you obtained your uprated half shafts from ?
Glokkk[frame][/frame]

[LouiseM]

Welcome to the messageboard. This is a very old thread and the user 'harrysmoggy' has not visited the site since June 2009 so you might have a long wait for an answer! I think a few of the usual Minor parts suppliers sell these so a google search may be the quickest way to locate someone with these in stock.

[philthehill]

I suspect that It may be near impossible to find NOS half shafts today.
Several years ago I managed to purchase a brand new pair of Morris half shafts from Bull Motif and I had them heat treated by a chap in Nuneaton (no longer have his contact details) and they were guaranteed to transmit 175hp. My engine puts out in excess of 130bhp so there is some spare capacity in the half shaft. They have stood up well to many full throttle standing starts coupled with 7" wide sticky slick tyres and have never failed. I also managed to obtain another pair which had the same heat treatment and are kept as spares just in case. So in conclusion heat treated half shafts can work but I would say that only with NOS halfshafts.
See also http://www.mgparts.co.nz/advice/technic ... idget-rear axles/
on how to get a bit more life out of a BMC rear axle half shaft.

[MarkyB]

Broken link, try this;

http://www.mgparts.co.nz/advice/technic ... -strength/