I saw the new Tera aluminum center section for a Dana 50 I belive and also a blip on some CV joints they where working on for a D50 as well. I think the center section is a good idea due to the weight saving for a lighter rig but the strength would be something I would be worried about. The CV joints aren't such a bad idea. They are stronger the u-joints. Sealed and greased always. They don't take out other components when they blow. Sure you don't want to rip the boots but I'm not sure how you would do that. The boots are fairly though. We run them on our baja car and they have withheld many mours of tearing through sagebrush, etc. Baja racers for the most part also run CV's. So what do you all think. Are these going to be new trend in the 4x4 arena?

I suppose T-6 aluminum would be strong, but I don't know enough on what stress goes on the diff to make an intelligent opinion.

As far as the CV joint, I am going the CTM joints in my axle build up, but I've been talking to people that are working with a super heavy duty CV joint that should stand up. THe week ling to the CV joint is in the stress when turning. You can't get a real sharp turning radius and many people set the stops to sharp and bind the U-joint. THis won't be a problem with the CV. I have no doubt that the CTM's will hold up to the alloy axles, but I don't know how the turning radius will be. I might sell them down the road and change to a CV when the development is further along. I just don't have the proper equipment, or time, to do any developing on my own. THe people that can have fun when they work have it made.

You mean weak link to U-joints right??

I want to see how a CV is stronger then a U-joint. I know this isnt true for Grand Cherokee's, they commonly swap to U-joint axles in the front for a strength upgrade and I'm sure DC spent lots of cash on design of those CV's. Also I've seen a few CV driveshafts blow and maybe 2 U-joint style. This may have had something to do with angles but honestly I didnt look that close.

Where are the CV experts? I want some facts on strength. Also I don't think the Desert race truck can be compared to a Rock crawler in anywaythey don't see near the torque loads even with ALOT more power (power is a function of torque blah blah blah)

Actually I would think they see quite a bit of torque loads. It's not like car racing where the tires are in contact with the ground all the time. They would have huge dynamic loads when getting air and coming back down. Example: Our mini indy car at school has around 800 lbs/ft at the rear joints. Our baja car doesn't have nearly the same power, only a 10hp engine, but our dynamic loads are close to their 800lbs/ft.

Originally posted by Weasel
You mean weak link to U-joints right??

Yes, that's what I meant. Sorry, not enough coffee at that point !

I believe they can make a CV joint strong, there just hasn't been a want, need, desire or whatever you want to call it. Everyone was snapping U-joints then the CTM was developed. I'm thinking that if a U-joint like the CTM can snap alloy axles no problem, then a CV joint can be similarly developed.

I am going with the CTM and waiting to see. I know of at least one person who is doing the CV thing and I'm going to stay in touch with him and see how it pans out. They may not stand up to the hardest of hardcore wheelers, but may work fine for me. I want to see what my turning radius is and see a little bit of a track record on the CV's before I make a switch.

Originally posted by Weasel
Actually I would think they see quite a bit of torque loads. It's not like car racing where the tires are in contact with the ground all the time. They would have huge dynamic loads when getting air and coming back down. Example: Our mini indy car at school has around 800 lbs/ft at the rear joints. Our baja car doesn't have nearly the same power, only a 10hp engine, but our dynamic loads are close to their 800lbs/ft.

Very good point, but still saying desert racers use CV's is a bad example because they have more money into alot of those rigs then most of us do in our houses.

im not up on what a cv actually consists of but arent they kinda like a birfield? i am prolly wrong but i have never had any interest in cv jionts nor any experiance cept replacing one in a grand cherokee that couldnt take the abuse of 31s.

Originally posted by NE-RokToy


Very good point, but still saying desert racers use CV's is a bad example because they have more money into alot of those rigs then most of us do in our houses.


Yeah it is a bad example.....I was just trying to show that they can hold up but maybe you have to drop of bunch of $$$ in them to make like that. Not sure what the deal with the Grand's is. Maybe DC used a smaller CV then would be the u joints?? Not sure though.