Well, Jackhammer took out my 31 SP dutchman axle in the rear of my 9". I only put these in in May and had a few runs up til now. I thought these would be pretty bulletproof for my application (XJ, 4.0, auto, 231, 4.56s, 35s). The axle broke cleanly at the splines and left the stub in the detroit (I won't go into details about how I had to take the disc brakes off, drop the 3rd and open up the detroit to get the stub out).

Anybody else break dutchman shafts? Do they even have a warranty policy?

I either had undersized shafts or they had a bad batch of axles. Dutchman uses a 1541-H metal, not 4340 alloy. They also are a company that focuses on street rods, not 4WD which stress the axles differently.

Who else should I look at for axles? Moser, Currie?

THanks

SeanP

some street rod axles are made harder then you would want for a 4x4 because like you said they have different uses. I would call the different companies and tell them what you want ( a tough alloy shaft that will last a long time in a tourqy 4x4) and then see which suits your needs best.

I think I remember them telling last time I was there that they do not warranty shafts for 4x4s but maybe/hopefully I am wrong.

some 9 inch diffs can be converted to 1and a1/2"35 spline shafts i would up grade if possible -seen lots of broken 9 inch shafts on rubicon and fordice -both dutchman and currie stuff.had moser stuff i was assembling for a friend brand new axles .005 run out at bearing seat not good quality control lacking. larger dia. axles less problems for you and cheaper in long run good luck

For a 9", maybe try Strange or Mark Williams. I believe Strange is prob cheaper, and avail through Jegs.

I heard that Dutchman might now be using blanks that are imported from overseas. Anybody hear this.

Any rules as to which 9" can be made into the 35SP?

thanks

SeanP

Originally posted by SeanP
I heard that Dutchman might now be using blanks that are imported from overseas. Anybody hear this.

Any rules as to which 9" can be made into the 35SP?

thanks

SeanP

Form what I know, you heard BS.
Any 9" with a 3.25 main bearing od can easily be built into 35 spline. (only aftermarket are available as such) You can get a 35 spline spool that will fit in to a 3.062" main bearing case, but then the bearings are getting pretty small, especially for wheelin' use. Get a strange center and build from there.
Dutchman only warranties 35 spline and up stuff.

Originally posted by Aggro


Form what I know, you heard BS.
Any 9" with a 3.25 main bearing od can easily be built into 35 spline. (only aftermarket are available as such) You can get a 35 spline spool that will fit in to a 3.062" main bearing case, but then the bearings are getting pretty small, especially for wheelin' use. Get a strange center and build from there.
Dutchman only warranties 35 spline and up stuff.

So you're saying that the only 3rds that have the 3.25" bearing were after market? My axle was built in 91 by currie (low pinion). Maybe I will get lucky with it. I am a bit annoyed that I now have to allocate time and funds into my rear axle, when I thought it was set and all my resources could go into the front. I am kinda thinking, fawk it, and get a 14bolt and D60, 8 lug.

Originally posted by SeanP
I heard that Dutchman might now be using blanks that are imported from overseas. Anybody hear this.

No, you may be thinking of Moser in regards to their 60 alloy shafts.

Sean,

Here is what I think. I think all of the more common known axle builders ie: Currie, Dutchman, Moser ,Etc. use the 1541h material for there blanks, these are most commonly spicer factory blanks but as we all know if they can be found cheaper the companies will buy them.Dutchman claims theres are slightly stronger which may or may not be true, they may reheat treat them to obtain there claim.Over the years I have owned several sets of shafts from all the manufactors trying to obtain the best ones I could.From what I found there are two groups of aftermarket shafts manufactors 1st are the ones previously mentioned Currie,dutchman,moser,dynatrac ect. and the others that actually make there shafts like Mark willams, Strange ,Cone and a few others. There is a difference of night and day between the two , and Ill try to explain.The first groups will have a slightly blueish grey apperance and very distinctive ridges in the shafts itself.They are usually the ones that have there splines hobbed in afterwards.The others groups apperance will appear ither flat black or very shinny.The ridges if any are very minute to no ridges at all to eliminate sress risers.The splines are usally rolled before treating occurs.I like bill will recommend Mark Williams there shafts will usally cost about 200.00 more than any of the first groups but the quaility is more than worth it you will never regret buying the best.:D

You prolly have 3.062 case. The 3.25 is pretty much only used for 35 spline and bigger.

What about getting them cyrogenically frozen?

Originally posted by SniperFire
What about getting them cyrogenically frozen?

they would still only be 31 spline.

go big

I know at least a dozen folks running 31spline 9" rearends in their 4500+ pound Early Bronco's, with 35-38" tires. We never have any problems, and you shouldn't have either!
I'm thinking you got a bad batch of axle shaft's. Currie or Moser seems to be the most popular around here.

I busted a 31 spline Dutchman axle in my 8.8" in exactly the same place on the axle, at the end of the splines. Running a Xplorer with 4.0L, stock tranny and tcase, 4.56's, and 37's with Trac Loc. Dutchman would NOT warranty. I bought another from them, but if it goes again....14 bolt.

Good luck.

Dale

Well, Jackhammer took out my 31 SP dutchman axle in the rear of my 9". I only put these in in May and had a few runs up til now....

Sean P...

What were you doing when it blew. Were you vertical and getting it...bound up? How much of the stub was in the pumkin?

I have an EB and have run 31 spline dutchman's for several years without issue...Knock on wood. Running 36's too... Your set up definitely can break a Flaw-Free 31 spline dutchman in the right conditions.

I would take Camo's advice...go big and cheap...Spool with 35 spline axles keeping the 9". Or...find a 60...that might be even cheaper.

Originally posted by NOTPRETTY


Sean P...

What were you doing when it blew. Were you vertical and getting it...bound up? How much of the stub was in the pumkin?

I have an EB and have run 31 spline dutchman's for several years without issue...Knock on wood. Running 36's too... Your set up definitely can break a Flaw-Free 31 spline dutchman in the right conditions.

I would take Camo's advice...go big and cheap...Spool with 35 spline axles keeping the 9". Or...find a 60...that might be even cheaper.

I was doing nothing. I was not on a hard part of the trail at all. Not vertical, not spinning/bouncing, nothing. I just heard a "ping" and the guy behind me said my pass rear tire wasn;t spinning.

I would prefer to keep the 9" in the rear. I don't know if I have the right third member or even where to find a third member that has the bigger carrier bearings. 35 Spline are the way to go, I guess.

SeanP

also, I didn't mention this, but the other side Dutchman shaft had twisted splines, ready to fail. The stub was the entire splined section that broke.

SeanP

Originally posted by tiessen
Dutchman would NOT warranty. I bought another from them,
:shaking:

Originally posted by TechGuru
Sean,

Here is what I think. I think all of the more common known axle builders ie: Currie, Dutchman, Moser ,Etc. use the 1541h material for there blanks, these are most commonly spicer factory blanks but as we all know if they can be found cheaper the companies will buy them.Dutchman claims theres are slightly stronger which may or may not be true, they may reheat treat them to obtain there claim.Over the years I have owned several sets of shafts from all the manufactors trying to obtain the best ones I could.From what I found there are two groups of aftermarket shafts manufactors 1st are the ones previously Currie,dutchma

n,moser,dynatrac ect. and the others that actually make there shafts like Mark willams, Strange ,Cone and a few others. There is a difference of night and day between the two , and Ill try to explain.The first groups will have a slightly blueish grey apperance and very distinctive ridges in the shafts itself.They are usually the ones that have there splines hobbed in afterwards.The others groups apperance will appear ither flat black or very shinny.The ridges if any are very minute to no ridges at all to eliminate sress risers.The splines are usally rolled before treating occurs.I like bill will recommend Mark Williams there shafts will usally cost about 200.00 more than any of the first groups but the quaility is more than worth it you will never regret buying the best.:D


Nobody uses spicer blanks, they dont make much out of 1541H, too expensive for anythink spicer does. Currie and Dutchman buy their blanks from Foote Axle, and Moser gets them from Spencer axle, I don't know about strange, but they make a similar axle, the S/S one that is the same as above. I haven't heard of any of them buying from over seas, but who know's, alot of that Yukon and Randy's stuff is from over seas.

Here is the real differences between all the aftermarket axles: You have a Currie, Dutchman, Moser, and Strange S/S axles. They are all made of 1541H, and induction hardened. All these companies buy machined and heat-treated blanks, some from the same source. When you order a custom axle, they just cut it off to the right length, cut the splines on a mill, machine the flange and brake hat, and drill the bolt pattern.

There are only 3 companies that I know of that make truely custom axles, Summers Bros, mark Williams, and Strange Race axles. These companies buy forged blanks, but machine them in-house to your specs, hob the splines, thru harden and then finish grind the bearing dimensions. Summers uses 4340, MW uses 4340 or something similar, and Strange uses hy-tuff. These aformentioned axles will have a much smoother finish ( the better material needs it) and the axle will neck down after the splines. (oh my god, did he say the axles neck down?!!!)

Personally, I think you got a bad batch of axles, see if you can send the broken stub back and ask them to test the hardness across the broken section, sounds like they were not heat treated deep enough. You can either spend another $1000 and upgrade to 35 spline 3rd member and get some 35 spline shit axles, or spend $500 on a good set of 31 spl. axles, and likely never have a axle problem again.

Originally posted by GOAT1



Nobody uses spicer blanks, they dont make much out of 1541H, too expensive for anythink spicer does. Currie and Dutchman buy their blanks from Foote Axle, and Moser gets them from Spencer axle, I don't know about strange, but they make a similar axle, the S/S one that is the same as above. I haven't heard of any of them buying from over seas, but who know's, alot of that Yukon and Randy's stuff is from over seas.

Here is the real differences between all the aftermarket axles: You have a Currie, Dutchman, Moser, and Strange S/S axles. They are all made of 1541H, and induction hardened. All these companies buy machined and heat-treated blanks, some from the same source. When you order a custom axle, they just cut it off to the right length, cut the splines on a mill, machine the flange and brake hat, and drill the bolt pattern.

There are only 3 companies that I know of that make truely custom axles, Summers Bros, mark Williams, and Strange Race axles. These companies buy forged blanks, but machine them in-house to your specs, hob the splines, thru harden and then finish grind the bearing dimensions. Summers uses 4340, MW uses 4340 or something similar, and Strange uses hy-tuff. These aformentioned axles will have a much smoother finish ( the better material needs it) and the axle will neck down after the splines. (oh my god, did he say the axles neck down?!!!)

Personally, I think you got a bad batch of axles, see if you can send the broken stub back and ask them to test the hardness across the broken section, sounds like they were not heat treated deep enough. You can either spend another $1000 and upgrade to 35 spline 3rd member and get some 35 spline shit axles, or spend $500 on a good set of 31 spl. axles, and likely never have a axle problem again.

Thanks, this was helpful info.

SeanP

If I heard it correctly you can run a 33 spline shaft with a stock 9" carrier. That way you can save some $$ and not have to buy an aftermarket 3rd.

JP

Originally posted by NOTPRETTY


Sean P...

What were you doing when it blew. Were you vertical and getting it...bound up? How much of the stub was in the pumkin?

I have an EB and have run 31 spline dutchman's for several years without issue...Knock on wood. Running 36's too... Your set up definitely can break a Flaw-Free 31 spline dutchman in the right conditions.

I would take Camo's advice...go big and cheap...Spool with 35 spline axles keeping the 9". Or...find a 60...that might be even cheaper.

I too have never heard of a currie 31 spline snapping

Originally posted by SeanP
I am kinda thinking, fawk it, and get a 14bolt and D60, 8 lug.

:D :beer:

You just answered all your questions ;)

Originally posted by 4x4junkie

:shaking:

I know, I know. But at the time I needed my vehicle on the road asap and I thought my insurance might pay for the axle shaft...